Virginia State Park Program

Walk Through Virginia History

Let your feet do the walking through history in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia State Parks were named America’s Best in Parks in 2001-2003. Virginia is the only state park system in the United States to have opened on one day, June 15, 1936. Six parks throughout Virginia were unveiled that day. Many of the original facilities, most of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), have been restored and are still used.

These sale items will be available through the club sponsoring the event in the state park.
Cost of the header patch is $3.00 and cost of the bar is $2.00.
Virginia State Park Header Patch	First Landing State Park Bar

Starting in 2007 Virginia clubs hosting events in Virginia State Parks will be offering a header patch for the Virginia State Parks and a bar patch with the state park name. Look for details at: www.walkvirginia.com/state_park_program. Virginia State Parks are also offering a Parks and Trails Passport book similar to the National Park Service Passport Book. This passport book complements the Virginia State Parks experience.

First Landing State Park will be one of the events offered during the Jamestown 400th Anniversary weekend on Sunday, October 7, 2007: This park was built in the early 1930s by mainly African-American CCC workers. It was dedicated June 15, 1936.

In 1965 the park’s natural area was included in the National Register of Natural Landmarks because of its distinction as the northernmost location on the East Coast where subtropical and temperate plants grow and thrive together. In 1977, the park's trail system was designated as part of the U. S. Department of Interior's National Recreational Trail System. In 1997 the park's name was changed from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown.

More parks and history will be featured in future issues of TAW. For info contact Virginia State Association POC Nancy Stenger at walkvirginia@erols.com or First Landing State Park POC Ken Eberhart at 536_kle@netscape.com

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