Natural Bridge, Virginia

Natural Bridge, Virginia
Unincorporated community

Natural Bridge with a person underneath for comparison
Natural Bridge, Virginia
Coordinates: 37°37′48″N 79°32′35″W / 37.63000°N 79.54306°WCoordinates: 37°37′48″N 79°32′35″W / 37.63000°N 79.54306°W
Country United States
State Virginia
County Rockbridge
Elevation 1,076 ft (328 m)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 24578
Area code(s) 540
GNIS feature ID 1485802[1]

Natural Bridge is an unincorporated community in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States. The community is the site of Natural Bridge, a gorge and National Historic Landmark which gives the town its name. Natural Bridge is located at the junction of U.S. Route 11 and State Route 130; Interstate 81 passes to the northwest of the community.[2] Natural Bridge has a post office with ZIP code 24578, which opened on June 1, 1800.[3][4]

Attractions

The main attraction in Natural Bridge is the Natural Bridge. The site, a National Historic Landmark, is a natural limestone gorge formed by Cedar Creek. The land including the bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, and according to legend, George Washington surveyed the bridge.[5] Other attractions in Natural Bridge include Foamhenge, a foam replica of Stonehenge; Dinosaur Kingdom, a statue park which depicts dinosaurs fighting the Union Army (it soon moved to Grand Caverns in Grottoes after the fire); the Toy Museum at Natural Bridge, a toy museum with over 45,000 toys (which closed November 2012); and the Natural Bridge Wax Museum (which closed September 2014).[6] Natural Bridge Zoo and Natural Bridge Safari Park are located nearby. In addition to the Natural Bridge, the Rockbridge Inn, Vine Forest, and Virginia Manor are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Natural Bridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ Virginia Official State Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Virginia Department of Transportation. 2012. § 8. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  4. ↑ "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ Carrie Hunter Willis and Etta Belle Walker, 1937, Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia
  6. ↑ Barry, Liz (July 30, 2008). "Seeing Natural Bridge Without Seeing the Natural Bridge". The News & Advance. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  7. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.

External links