1959 Map of Park

About this map

The high ridge country straddling the North Carolina and Virginia line defines this landscape, where the Norfolk and Western rail line snakes along the banks of Big Horse Creek. The settlement pattern in the late 1950s follows the deep hollows and narrow valleys, anchored by numerous small family burial grounds like Graybeal Cem and Blevins Cem. Cultural landmarks such as The Tabernacle and the Mt Rogers Sch serve the scattered communities of Whitetop and Helton. Transportation is dominated by the winding path of the Jeb Stuart Highway through Whitetop Gap, reflecting the challenges of navigating the steep elevation changes between Haw Orchard Mountain and Big Spring Mountain. In the southern portion, the communities of Tuckerdale and Lansing mark the transition toward more established road networks and river-bottom agriculture.