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Jefferson ‘Would Be Proud’ Natural Bridge Purchase Anniversary Celebrated
While speaking at Friday’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of Natural Bridge from King George III of England, Matthew Wells, the director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, noted that the origins of Virginia’s state parks system are typically traced back to June of 1936, when the first six state parks were opened.
“But I think that there’s a good argument to be made that Thomas Jefferson, who was ever ahead of his time, planted the seeds 250 years ago today with that first singular act of conservation,” he continued. “There was both a stake in the ground and a charge to keep.”
Jefferson purchased the bridge and the surrounding 157 acres from King George for 20 shillings, or about $200 in today’s money, in July of 1774, almost exactly two years before presenting the Declaration of Independence to the Second Continental Congress.
That date was one of several highlighted by Rockbridge Historic Society Executive Director Eric Wilson at the celebration ceremony, including Jefferson’s first visit to the bridge in 1767 – after which he described it as “the most sublime of Nature’s works” – and the formation of Rockbridge County in 1778 as a wartime measure, noting the fact that the county was named for the bridge.
Wilson drew particular attention to what was possibly Jefferson’s final visit to the bridge in 1817, when he brought his granddaughters Cornelia and Ellen to see it. Following the visit, Cornelia, as her grandfather had, wrote of the splendor of the natural wonder in several letters. Wilson also noted that Cornelia made mention of the work of Patrick Henry, a freed slave whom Jefferson had hired as the caretaker of the bridge and its surrounding acres.
“There’s clear appreciation for what Henry does, and she’s clearly relaying that because she wants other people to appreciate that access and that support that can be found here,” Wilson said.
Wilson added that one of the “newer through-lines” of the interpretation of the state park system at Natural Bridge was to not only look to Jefferson, but to Henry, and “to think of him as sort of the first park ranger here.”
“I like that concept, and I think it holds up,” Wilson said. “If we come into this space and we think about the work that it takes to manage a property like this, the beauty doesn’t take care of itself. It lasts, but it takes work [and] it takes understanding to help us appreciate what we’re seeing.”
Wells spoke about bringing his son to Natural Bridge for the first time last summer, saying that he was “intentionally vague” about what the bridge was “so that he could see it for himself.”
“I wanted him to come around that corner and have that ‘wow’ moment, because you live for those as a parent,” he said. “And boy, I got it. It’s amazing to be able to celebrate today, not just the broad sweep of history, or the grandeur of this place, but also those personal moments.”
He added that he believed that Jefferson “would be proud to see what the bridge has become.” In 2016, Natural Bridge joined the ranks of the Virginia State Park system and attracted more than 230,000 visitors last year.
“As we look to the future,” he concluded, “I hope that we will continue to draw inspiration from Thomas Jefferson’s vision and dedication; that we will keep that charge that he gave 250 years ago and ensure that this natural wonder will continue to be a place where history, nature, and community come together for the next 250 years and beyond.”
Friday’s event is one of a number of events that have been planned throughout the commonwealth over the next several years as Virginia and the nation celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and this country’s independence. Del. Terry Austin, who now represents part of Rockbridge County, including Natural Bridge, is the chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, which is responsible for planning and organizing these events.
“On this July 5th, as we continue to celebrate our nation’s founding 248 years ago, let us celebrate the men and women responsible for securing our independence,” he said. “Let us celebrate those who had the courage to explore the corners of our great commonwealth [and] of this extraordinary continent, and who had the foresight to grasp its values for future generations. As we stand here, let us reflect on how far we have come as a nation, and celebrate the continuing democracy experiment and the ancestors who fought and sacrificed.
“It is my hope that if we reflect on our history, we will also recognize the priceless natural gifts we have been so blessed to enjoy and take care of for future generations,” he added.
