Boundary Stones

To Create Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Evicted Hundreds of Families

When Shenandoah National Park was dedicated in the 1930s, it was hailed as a triumph of conservation. But behind the postcard-perfect image was a deeper story of displacement and sacrifice. To create the park, the Commonwealth of Virginia used eminent domain to force hundreds of families from their mountain homes and turn the land over to the federal government.

To Create Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Evicted Hundreds of Families

4m 59s

When Shenandoah National Park was dedicated in the 1930s, it was hailed as a triumph of conservation. But behind the postcard-perfect image was a deeper story of displacement and sacrifice. To create the park, the Commonwealth of Virginia used eminent domain to force hundreds of families from their mountain homes and turn the land over to the federal government.

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