We took some of the school kids on a field trip to Natural Bridge last Wednesday. We left at 8:30 in the morning and didn't get back until 9:00 that night, but we all had a lot of fun! We were blessed with such beautiful weather.
Natural Bridge is 215 feet high, and there is a 90 foot span between the walls. U.S. Route 11 runs over it. To give you a little perspective of just how huge it is, the Statue of Liberty (minus its pedestal) is 151 feet high, so it could easily fit under the bridge!
In 1774, Thomas Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land, including the bridge, from King George III for 20 shillings. His heirs sold it in 1833, but it has remained privately owned.
This is what it looks like under the bridge. I thought it was so pretty with the creek running through it.
The initials G.W. are carved in the side next to the creek. Many historians believe they were made by George Washington when he was surveying the area for Lord Fairfax in 1750.
My sweet Katie. She had a lot of fun. :)
This is a replica of a Monocan Indian Village.
We had a great guide for this part of the trip. He was very knowledgeable and funny. He told us that the Indians had to be good hunters in order to survive and joked that they invented the word 'vegetarian', which meant 'poor hunter'. I'll have to remember to tell that to my dad and brother. They both like to hunt. :)
The cooking area of the village. This picture makes me appreciate my own kitchen more!
This is the inside of the wigwam, made out of cattails.
This picture was taken not far from Charlottesville, on the way to Natural Bridge. It's such a scenic drive.
These last two pictures were taken from interstate on the way back home.
I hope you've had a good weekend. My husband had a pastor and leadership training meeting yesterday, so Katie and I went shopping and had a great time! We got a lot of Christmas shopping done, then we came home and wrapped it all up! I'm so glad to have that out of the way.
I hope you all will have a great week. Thanks for stopping by! :)
Take care,
Melanie
Very good and interesting pictures! O.k., where do you live, anyway?? We spent the day in Charlottesville today, and go there several times a month if we can. We live a half hour from Charlottesville and fifty minutes from Natural Bridge!! Maybe we could get together some time?? I never travel farther than an hour and a half, though. But I think we may live very close to each other!!
ReplyDeleteKatie is a cutie and she looks like her mom a lot...what a nice trip I'm going to have to look up the natural bridge I've not seen it before. Have a good week. I haven't even thought about christmas...haven't had the time. God Bless Trish
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting day!!! Such nice pics!!
ReplyDeletemy gosh, you guys are ambitious to have some Christmas shopping done and wrapped already! You go girls!!
ReplyDeletethat natural bridge area looks so very interesting!! I bet it was a fun trip for all that got to participate!
betty
Such beautiful photos, especially the one of sweet Katie :-) We've just been studying George Washington. I sure wish we could visit your area someday, there is so much history there!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marcia
Great pictures Melanie! I've been to the Natural Bridge a few times when we would be traveling back home to West Virginia when we lived in Maryland. I loved it there. I didn't realize that the Statue of Liberty could fit under it! I've not been to New York.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things to do is to just see all of these wonderful things like the Natural Bridge that God made back when He created the World. It is amazing to see it all. I really feel His presence when I'm out exploring what He created!
Thanks for bringing back the memory of the Natural Bridge. You know that was back in the day when we were poor and I don't know if I have any pictures of it at all. You would think I would have taken at least one picture. I need to go back there and take the kids! They would love it! Road Trip!
Have a Wonderful Week!
Angela
Well I learn something new all the time. I didn't know the natural bridge even existed. How beautiful that was.
ReplyDeleteAnd my grandson was just studying the Indians I am going to have to show him this.
I am so glad you had a good time.
sandie
I love this place Melanie...one of my favorite sites I have seen yet. Thanks for sharing your fun day with us.
ReplyDeleteHI Melanie I had a great trip along with your school kids and your daughter and you. It was a lot of fun to visit the natural bridge! I've never seen that in my life or heard of it. I am glad you did so well on the test. He he he. I took it again this morning after some sleep because I was up late last night couldn't sleep and I got a 74% which is better. I do not know the other answers either for the other religions. That is hard to know about so many different religions. I know a little about Mormon and Catholics, but I was raised in a Pentecostal church. Have a great week! big hugs
ReplyDeleteOh Melanie...such a wonderful field trip and I love all of the pictures that you shared! Sweet blessings to you! Hugs ♥ Teri
ReplyDeletethat's a great place to visit. your photos are very god. i think children learn so much when exploring. take care rose
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like nature, to make us realise just what an awesome God we serve. How much beauty do we just drive past or over, without giving it a second glance
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, is your husband the pastor of an Assembly of God church? that is the church I was saved in. I should tell the story someday because it truly is a miracle and I don't think people should let miracles go untold. :) Have a great weekend. big hugs
ReplyDeleteOh what a great time you must have had. That is amazing! I am glad you got to do this with your daughter and her friends. Praying you get more fun trips like that!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend,
Sherry
Hi there! I am a CHRISTian too! :) Katie and I are friends! :) I'll come back to comment more soon! I lOVE your blog! Have a great day! :) ~Phoebe :)
ReplyDelete