Early American Musings

Our journey from Charlottesville to Rockfish Gap, and then along the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive to Front Royal, was not just a scenic drive. It was a journey through history, a road that was a product of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. So the road itself is a piece of history. The Harry F Byrd Visitor Center offers a fascinating discussion of its construction and the role of the New Deal. Construction began in 1931 and continued through the Great Depression, employing hundreds of people through programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The road, with its 35 mph speed limit, not only encourages you to take in the view but also avoids accidents as people pull out of laybys and at the very sharp bends along the route. The road offers some of the most spectacular views in the United States and every mile or so there is a pull off where you can stop and just admire the scenery.

The drive is the only public road through Shenandoah National Park. It runs the entire north-south length of the park, offering unparalleled access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the views were spectacular. It connects directly to the Blue Ridge Parkway, another iconic scenic road and the route that we had considered taking before Hurricane Helene destroyed parts of it. The success of Skyline Drive inspired the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway.