New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
Read MoreCanyon Rim Visitor Center - 1,730'
The main visitor center for the park is located just off US-19 at the east end of the New River Gorge Bridge. It's a fairly impressive facility with an adjacent boardwalk trail which leads to incredible views of the gorge and bridge...
Canyon Rim Visitor Center - 1,730'
The main visitor center for the park is located just off US-19 at the east end of the New River Gorge Bridge. It's a fairly impressive facility with an adjacent boardwalk trail which leads to incredible views of the gorge and bridge...
Canyon Rim Visitor Center - 1,730'
A look at the New River Gorge from the back balcony of the visitor center...
New River Gorge Bridge - 1,650'
The famous New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, as seen from the lower overlook of the Boardwalk Trail which starts from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center...
New River Gorge Bridge - 1,650'
The famous New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, as seen from the lower overlook of the Boardwalk Trail which starts from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Nearly a thousand feet below you can see the old bridge which used to provide the only way across the gorge in this area...
New River Gorge Bridge - 1,650'
The famous New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, as seen from the lower overlook of the Boardwalk Trail which starts from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center...
Tucked deep in the gorge east of modern Oak Hill is the old boom town of Thurmond. Incorporated in 1903, Thurmond was a busy place in the first few decades of the 20th Century and boasted a bustling commercial district. The Great Depression, increase in automotive travel, and the decline of the coal industry all combined to decimate Thurmond's economy. Once home to nearly 500 people, the population of Thurmond as of 2010 stands at a mere 4. The NPS has done a great job of maintaining a handful of remaining structures dating back to Thurmond's heyday, including a portion of the old commercial district and the historic passenger depot...which now houses a small visitor center...
Thurmond - Passenger Depot (ca. 1904)
"The two-story Thurmond Depot was built in 1904 after the original station was destroyed by fire. The upper level housed the signal tower, and the offices of the dispatcher, train master, and conductor. The lower level served travelers coming and going from Thurmond. The ticket agent’s office, baggage room, waiting rooms, restrooms, and a snack/news room were at track level. In 1995, the building was restored by the National Park Service for use as a visitor center. Rebuilt to its early 1900s look, this place gives us a glimpse of Thurmond’s lively days. It remains a flag stop for Amtrak passenger trains." -from NPS Website
Tucked deep in the gorge east of modern Oak Hill is the old boom town of Thurmond. Incorporated in 1903, Thurmond was a busy place in the first few decades of the 20th Century and boasted a bustling commercial district. The Great Depression, increase in automotive travel, and the decline of the coal industry all combined to decimate Thurmond's economy. Once home to nearly 500 people, the population of Thurmond as of 2010 stands at a mere 4. The NPS has done a great job of maintaining a handful of remaining structures dating back to Thurmond's heyday, including a portion of the old commercial district and the historic passenger depot...which now houses a small visitor center...
Thurmond - Commissary/Post Office (ca. 1929)
"Fitzgerald & Company built a commissary to provide supplies to the hundreds of railroad workers in Thurmond in the 1930s. It later became the U.S. Post Office after fire destroyed the Lafayette Hotel and the town post office. In the late 1900s, it housed the last business in Thurmond...Thurmond Supply." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Commercial District
Just three structures remain of the once bustling commercial district in Thurmond. Near to far in this shot are the Mankin-Cox Building (1904), the Goodman-Kincaid Building (1906), and the National Bank of Thurmond (1917)...
Thurmond - Mankin-Cox Building (ca. 1904)
"Marking the southern limits of the commercial district and constructed in 1904 by Dr. J. W. Mankin, this building is the oldest in the district. The Mankin Drug Company was on the right side; the left side housed the New River Banking and Trust Company.." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Mankin-Cox Building (ca. 1904)
"Marking the southern limits of the commercial district and constructed in 1904 by Dr. J. W. Mankin, this building is the oldest in the district. The Mankin Drug Company was on the right side; the left side housed the New River Banking and Trust Company.." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Goodman-Kincaid Building (ca. 1906)
"Constructed in 1906 by the Standard Dry Goods Company, the building’s two upper levels were used as apartments. The second floor included the offices of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Exchange Company and Dr. C. F. Ridge. Over time, the main floor has been home to two stores and several restaurants, including Mrs. McClure’s." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Goodman-Kincaid Building (ca. 1906)
"Constructed in 1906 by the Standard Dry Goods Company, the building’s two upper levels were used as apartments. The second floor included the offices of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Exchange Company and Dr. C. F. Ridge. Over time, the main floor has been home to two stores and several restaurants, including Mrs. McClure’s." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - National Bank of Thurmond (ca. 1917)
"The year 1917 marked the completion of this building by the Bullock Realty Company. It originally housed a jewelry store, clothing store, the Western Union Telegraph Company, and apartments. In 1923, the National Bank of Thurmond relocated there from its original site within the Hotel Thurmond. More recently, the building housed the Banker’s Club Hotel and Restaurant, serving boaters and other visitors." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - National Bank of Thurmond (ca. 1917)
"The year 1917 marked the completion of this building by the Bullock Realty Company. It originally housed a jewelry store, clothing store, the Western Union Telegraph Company, and apartments. In 1923, the National Bank of Thurmond relocated there from its original site within the Hotel Thurmond. More recently, the building housed the Banker’s Club Hotel and Restaurant, serving boaters and other visitors." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Coaling Tower (ca. 1922)
"Tracks ran underneath the coaling station to allow as much as 500 tons of coal to drop via chutes into the coal tenders of the engines. The tower was abandoned in 1960 by CSX." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Coaling Tower (ca. 1922)
"Tracks ran underneath the coaling station to allow as much as 500 tons of coal to drop via chutes into the coal tenders of the engines. The tower was abandoned in 1960 by CSX." -from NPS Website
Thurmond - Commercial District
Just three structures remain of the once bustling commercial district in Thurmond. Far to near in this shot are the Mankin-Cox Building (1904), the Goodman-Kincaid Building (1906), and the National Bank of Thurmond (1917)...
Thurmond - Commissary & Passenger Depot - 1,070'
Looking back towards the old depot as I leave the commercial district. The bridge in and out of Thurmond is out of frame to the right beyond the station...