1894 Map of Rockbridge

About this map

Industrial iron production and river-valley transport define this late-19th-century landscape across Botetourt, Alleghany, and Rockbridge counties. The prominence of iron furnaces such as Long Dale Furnace, Princess Furnace, and Salisbury Furnace highlights the region's metallurgical heritage, while the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad follows the winding paths of the Jackson River and James River to serve these operations. Topographic detail captures the steep elevations of Rich Patch Mountain and Purgatory Mountain, which hem in established settlements like Clifton Forge, Fincastle, and Buchanan. Local travel patterns of the era are preserved through features like the Lick Run Ferry and the network of local mills, including Kyles Mill and Waskeys Mill P.O., which supported the agrarian communities between the mountain ridges. The map also documents the early footprint of the Natural Bridge vicinity, showing the area before modern commercial development fully transformed the surrounding terrain.