Ever-Flowing Stream
Cedar Creek, Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
"But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
~ Amos 5:24
One of the first scenes you see when you pass through the old entryway for Natural Bridge State Park and head down the stairs is this peaceful little alcove quietly displaying the deceptively gentle force that formed the Natural Bridge in Virginia. Cedar Creek certainly doesn't look like much here, but over millions of years it helped form a 215-foot-high (66 m) natural arch that Thomas Jefferson, before he became our 3rd President, proclaimed to be "the most Sublime of nature's works".
One would think the Natural Bridge itself would be more famous; in 1774 Jefferson actually purchased it from King George III (yes, that King George whom he rebelled against 2 years later; and he only paid 20 Shillings for it!) Before that, a large stone engraved with "G.W." and bearing a surveyor's cross there at Natural Bridge proves that our 1st President, George Washington himself surveyed the bridge when he came through in 1750. Nor were they the only U.S. Presidents who visited the structure; both James Monroe (5th President) and Martin Van Buren (8th President) stayed at Jefferson's log cabin retreat there.
The bridge is even mentioned by Herman Melville in describing Moby-Dick. Yet in spite of all that history, Natural Bridge was only made a State Park, not even a National Park, as late as 2016.
The park features a lot to do besides the creek and bridge, but I still find this spot here to be the most memorable due to its tranquil setting. The power of water, even when flowing gently.
Selected for FLICKR Explore March 25, 2022, # 43.
Single long exposure processed in Capture One.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***
Ever-Flowing Stream
Cedar Creek, Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
"But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
~ Amos 5:24
One of the first scenes you see when you pass through the old entryway for Natural Bridge State Park and head down the stairs is this peaceful little alcove quietly displaying the deceptively gentle force that formed the Natural Bridge in Virginia. Cedar Creek certainly doesn't look like much here, but over millions of years it helped form a 215-foot-high (66 m) natural arch that Thomas Jefferson, before he became our 3rd President, proclaimed to be "the most Sublime of nature's works".
One would think the Natural Bridge itself would be more famous; in 1774 Jefferson actually purchased it from King George III (yes, that King George whom he rebelled against 2 years later; and he only paid 20 Shillings for it!) Before that, a large stone engraved with "G.W." and bearing a surveyor's cross there at Natural Bridge proves that our 1st President, George Washington himself surveyed the bridge when he came through in 1750. Nor were they the only U.S. Presidents who visited the structure; both James Monroe (5th President) and Martin Van Buren (8th President) stayed at Jefferson's log cabin retreat there.
The bridge is even mentioned by Herman Melville in describing Moby-Dick. Yet in spite of all that history, Natural Bridge was only made a State Park, not even a National Park, as late as 2016.
The park features a lot to do besides the creek and bridge, but I still find this spot here to be the most memorable due to its tranquil setting. The power of water, even when flowing gently.
Selected for FLICKR Explore March 25, 2022, # 43.
Single long exposure processed in Capture One.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***