1929 Map of Stony Man

About this map

Stony Man and the high ridges of the Blue Ridge dominate this survey, which documents the landscape during the establishment of Shenandoah National Park. The map includes the proposed boundaries for the park, capturing a moment when mountain communities and backcountry shelters existed alongside the emerging tourist infrastructure of the Lee Highway and the Appalachian Trail. Along the valley floor, the Norfolk and Western Ry connects the town of Stanley and Luray, while the foothills are dotted with small mountain schools like the President Hoover Community Sch and the Thornton Gap Sch. This transitional period is further evidenced by the presence of local landmarks such as St Luke Episcopal Mission and the Sexton Shelter, set against the dramatic elevations of Old Rag Mountain and Hawksbill Mtn. The detailed mapping of gaps and hollows, such as Fishers Gap and Dark Hollow, reveals the complex network of trails and roads that historically linked these isolated settlements before the park's full formation.