DUFFIELD — Saturday is the Virginia State Parks 89th anniversary, and Natural Tunnel State Park will celebrate it in a cave.
Sunday, June 15 is History and Culture Day, with the various parks across Virginia holding events in honor of the state park system’s 1936 first six parks — Douthat, First Landing, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, Staunton River and Westmoreland.
“We understand the value and importance of connecting people with their state parks and we are proud of the programs that our rangers provide that allows guests to elevate their experience while learning more about the park’s historical, cultural and natural resources,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker.Three state parks in far Southwest Virginia — Natural Tunnel, Wilderness Road and the Southwest Virginia Museum — will host a range of events Saturday and Sunday as part of History and Culture Day.
Natural Tunnel State Park, 1420 Natural Tunnel Pkwy., Duffield:
Saturday:
— Tunnel Talk, noon – 1 p.m. at the Tunnel Platform — Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train. A park interpreter will be around during designated times to tell how this marvel was formed and explain more history of the park.
— Pickin’ in the Park: Music in the Mountains at the Amphitheater, starting at 2 p.m. — Join us for a Saturday afternoon of music and fun. Open mic session runs from 2-3 p.m. followed by headline performer Blue Ridge Gospel at 3 p.m. Performers of all skill levels are welcome to join. This series is hosted by the Cultural Arts Council of the Cove Ridge Center. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. For more information visit www.coveridge.com.
— All Dolled Up, Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center, Duffield, 2 — 3 p.m.
Ever wonder what dolls of the 18th century frontier looked like or what they were made of? Stop by the Wilderness Road Blockhouse to learn how the discarded husks of corn can become a child’s best friend. You will have a chance to craft your own corn husk doll.
Sunday:
— Wild Cave Tour: Bolling Cave at Stock Creek Recreation Area, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Explore the underground world of caves in their true form and discover the history this cave holds within it. Guests will be given a helmet, with a LED light on it, along with gloves and knee pads. Expect to get dirty during exploration. This program is open to anyone ages 10 and up. For your comfort and safety, appropriate pants and closed-toed shoes are required. Guest must use park gear. Cost is $15 per person or $12 per person for groups of four or more. To register or for more information, call (276) 940-2674. Pre-registration required.
— Frontier Games and Wilderness Road Blockhouse Tours at Wilderness Road Blockhouse, noon — 2 p.m. — Step back in time and participate in games played in the 18th century. Test your skills and discover how these games have evolved to games in present day.
Natural Tunnel State Park offers red/green colorblindness correcting outdoor glasses by EnChroma during all offered programming; three protan red sensitivity and three deutan green sensitivity are available for use during programs.
Southwest Virginia Museum, 10 West First St. N., Big Stone Gap:
Saturday
— Civil War Bus Tour, Museum front gate, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. The tour will roughly follow Daniel Ellis’ ever changing routes of the Civil War, from Moccasin Gap near Gate City, Virginia, to Clover Fork, Kentucky. Ellis piloted thousands of loyal East Tennesseans across Southwest Virginia to Eastern Kentucky where they could join the Union Army. Brian D. McKnight, Ph. D of History at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, will lead the tour. Participants will meet at the Museum’s front gate and must bring their own lunch. The tour fee is $25 per person. Seating is limited, so be sure to call and reserve your spot today. Registration is required. For more information, call (276) 523-1322.
— Always and Everywhere, Under One Flag, Museum Side Yard, 2 – 3 p.m. Observe the 248th anniversary of the “Stars and Stripes” as the official American flag. Since then, there have been several iterations of the flag as our country has changed and grown. How much do you know about the flag? What does the flag mean to you? Join park rangers to explore and celebrate the story of the U.S. Flag. Learn the proper etiquette for its treatment and display and a little flag trivia as well.
Wilderness Road State Park, 8051 Wilderness Road, Ewing
Saturday:
— The Thread Of Independence, 3 — 4 p.m. — The Battle of Bunker Hill is now infamous. The effects of revolution are spilling onto the Virginia frontier and men have mustered, preparing to march in defense of liberty. A heartfelt symbol of home is presented, both as a reminder and a warning. Sit amongst the women of Martin’s Station, hear the talk of sacrifice and hardship, and watch as they sew the very symbol with which this new nation will solidify its freedom. Standard parking or admission fee applies, but no extra fee or registration required. Children welcome. For more information, call (276) 445-3065 or email WildernessRoad@dcr.virginia.gov
Online:
-
Park-specific anniversary events: visit virginiastateparks.gov/events.
-
History of Virginia State Parks: virginiastateparks.gov/history.