Natural Bridge, Virginia with poem by B.B. Valentine
Two postcards of the same place are shared this week. Above is an unused Marken & Bielfeld, Inc., of Frederick , Md. Featuring two color photographs. At the upper right corner is the number 122. On the reverse on the upper left side is a blurb: “The Natural Bridge of Virginia is located in Rockbridge County a few miles to the west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Length of bridge, 90 ft., width averages 100 ft., height 215 ft, 40 ft. thick. Granted from George III on July 5, 1774, to Thomas Jefferson 157 acres, which included the bridge on Cedar Creek which flows under it.” The poem, In Old Virginia,” is attributed to B.B. Valentine. The card was found and purchased from a local antique mall.
The second card, shown below, is a used Uberman Novelty Co., Washington, D.C. card dated August 7, 1951. The blurb on the reverse at the upper left: "UN-15 Natural Bridge Va. Formed by nature, Natural Bridge is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The Lee Highway, U.S. #11, passes over the top of the bridge, which is 55 feet higher than Niagara Falls."
The geological formation bridge is situated within a gorge carved from the surrounding limestone by Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek is a small tributary of the James River. The bridge has been a Virginia Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark. It has been managed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as Natural Bridge State Park since 2016. Visitors have to purchase a ticket to view the bridge from below. There is a trail under the bridge along Cedar Creek and by Lace Falls. There are protective fences along the top of the bridge where U.S. Route 11, also known as the Lee Highway, is located.
The Native American Monacan tribe considers the Natural Bridge a sacred site associated with a major victory over Powhatans that occurred centuries before the arrival of Europeans in Virginia.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Bridge_Virginia
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