Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
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Shenandoah is one of the most popular National Parks in America. Located within a days visit of a large portion of the US Population, Skyline Drive and its scenic overlooks have been attracting visitors to the Blue Ridge of Virginia for decades. The views from Skyline Drive are extraordinary, looking out on the magnificent Shenandoah wilderness.
Except, that wilderness… is a myth. Early leaders of Shenandoah National Park would have had you believe that wilderness was unspoiled and untrammeled by the hands of man. But the truth is that the hands of man have played an incredibly important role in shaping the Shenandoah wilderness for thousands of years. In order to tell the full story of Shenandoah National Park, we can’t gloss over that fact. We can appreciate the natural beauty of the area as it is today, while still acknowledging the role that humans have played in shaping it. That’s what this video is all about
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Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
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Sources and Resources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapidan_Camp
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-national-park-idea-to-reality.htm
nps.gov/articles/mountain-settlements.htm
nps.gov/articles/wilderness-by-design.htm#CP_JUMP_5996198
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-not-without-the-ccc.htm
nps.gov/articles/big-meadows-300117.htm?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=large#4/34.45/-98.53
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-national-park-idea-to-reality.htmutm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=small
Historical Photos:
nps.gov/shen/learn/historyculture/collections.htm
loc.gov/item/va1798/](https://www.loc.gov/item/va1798
nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?pg=3527954&id=2017980B-155D-451F-67112A135E04EC77
Administrative History:
npshistory.com/publications/shen/adhi.pdf
The Undying Past of Shenandoah National Park by Darwin Lambert
Rapidan School + Possum Story:
hoover.blogs.archives.gov/2018/06/13/the-presidents-mountain-school
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Images and Music:
National Park Service
Shenandoah National Park
Waynesboro Heritage Foundation
Library of Congress
Storyblocks
Click the link to start your 7-day free trial and get 25% off a premium membership: blinkist.com/nationalparkdiaries
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shenandoah is one of the most popular National Parks in America. Located within a days visit of a large portion of the US Population, Skyline Drive and its scenic overlooks have been attracting visitors to the Blue Ridge of Virginia for decades. The views from Skyline Drive are extraordinary, looking out on the magnificent Shenandoah wilderness.
Except, that wilderness… is a myth. Early leaders of Shenandoah National Park would have had you believe that wilderness was unspoiled and untrammeled by the hands of man. But the truth is that the hands of man have played an incredibly important role in shaping the Shenandoah wilderness for thousands of years. In order to tell the full story of Shenandoah National Park, we can’t gloss over that fact. We can appreciate the natural beauty of the area as it is today, while still acknowledging the role that humans have played in shaping it. That’s what this video is all about
---
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
---
Sources and Resources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapidan_Camp
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-national-park-idea-to-reality.htm
nps.gov/articles/mountain-settlements.htm
nps.gov/articles/wilderness-by-design.htm#CP_JUMP_5996198
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-not-without-the-ccc.htm
nps.gov/articles/big-meadows-300117.htm?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=large#4/34.45/-98.53
nps.gov/articles/shenandoah-national-park-idea-to-reality.htmutm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=small
Historical Photos:
nps.gov/shen/learn/historyculture/collections.htm
loc.gov/item/va1798/](https://www.loc.gov/item/va1798
nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?pg=3527954&id=2017980B-155D-451F-67112A135E04EC77
Administrative History:
npshistory.com/publications/shen/adhi.pdf
The Undying Past of Shenandoah National Park by Darwin Lambert
Rapidan School + Possum Story:
hoover.blogs.archives.gov/2018/06/13/the-presidents-mountain-school
---
Images and Music:
National Park Service
Shenandoah National Park
Waynesboro Heritage Foundation
Library of Congress
Storyblocks
