National Historic Landmark

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia
Listed
November 18, 1997
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
97001401

About this property

Natural Bridge is a geological formation in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States, comprising a 215-foot-high (66 m) natural arch with a span of 90 feet (27 m). It is situated within a gorge carved from the surrounding mountainous limestone terrain by Cedar Creek, a small tributary of the James River. Consisting of horizontal limestone strata, Natural Bridge is the remains of the roof of a cave or tunnel through which the Cedar Creek once flowed. Natural Bridge has been designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Since 2016, the bridge and its surroundings have been managed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as Natural Bridge State Park.

Location

Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia
37.62792, -79.54485

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONPHILOSOPHYNATIVE AMERICANENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONART
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Natural Bridge

This page lists Natural Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Vine Forest
Industrial
1.8 mi
Rockbridge Inn
Industrial
2 mi
Annandale
Industrial
2.9 mi
Poague, Margaret E., House
Industrial
3 mi
Marlbrook
Colonial
3.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Engagement at Natural Bridge (1864)
1864Civil War
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Natural Bridge listed on the National Register?

Natural Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Natural Bridge?

Natural Bridge is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Natural Bridge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Natural Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Natural Bridge?

The period of significance for Natural Bridge is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Natural Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Natural Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Rockbridge County

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Virginia history

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