Westmoreland State Park
Westmoreland State Park | |
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IUCN category III (natural monument or feature) | |
![]() Potomac River shoreline within Westmoreland State Park | |
Location | Virginia |
Nearest city | Montross |
Coordinates | 38°9′45″N 76°51′58″W / 38.16250°N 76.86611°WCoordinates: 38°9′45″N 76°51′58″W / 38.16250°N 76.86611°W |
Area | 1,321 acres (5.35 km2) |
Established | June 1936 |
Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Westmoreland State Park Historic District | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. Historic district | |
Virginia Landmarks Register No. 096-0089 | |
![]() Cabin 7, one of the original CCC-built cabins in the park | |
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Nearest city | Montross, Virginia |
Area | 1,321 acres (535 ha) |
Built | 1933 |
Architect | Meyers, E.L. Jr.; et al. |
Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Modern Movement |
NRHP reference No. | 05001265[1] |
VLR No. | 096-0089 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 16, 2005 |
Designated VLR | June 1, 2005[2] |
Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, Virginia. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River and covers 1,321 acres. The Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a panoramic view of the Potomac River, and lower levels feature fossils and beach access. The park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming, although mechanical issues in 2021 kept the swimming facility closed.[3] Located on the Northern Neck Peninsula, the park is close to historical sites featuring earlier eras: George Washington's birthplace and Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.
History[]
Westmoreland State Park, the sixth of Virginia's six original state parks, opened in June 1936 after the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed trails and amenities. Although some of the formerly unemployed workers were recruited in Virginia, most came from Pennsylvania and the Fort Dix, New Jersey recruiting office. Workers originally hand dug most of the roads and trails, and cabins were constructed from local timber and designed to reflect the area's pioneer heritage.[3] Further land was acquired later in the century, and a gatehouse and swimming facilities built in the 1970s.
The Tayloe and Helen Murphy Hall is conference center recently renovated from a CCC-built restaurant dating from 1936. The facility features exposed wood beams, wrought iron hardware, and a large fireplace. The hall still includes a restaurant and now hosts meetings, special events, and educational programs. It is named for W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., former delegate to the Virginia legislature and Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, and his wife, Helen, both of whom are from Westmoreland, Virginia.[4]
Westmoreland State Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, as a national historic district based on its development of the state park system.[1] The property includes 32 contributing buildings, 6 contributing sites, and 16 contributing structures.[5]
Attractions[]
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking trails – 7 trails covering 6 miles
- The park's popular "Beach Trail" leads from the Visitor Center to the shore of the Potomac, below the Horsehead Cliffs. Embedded in these cliffs are fossil remains of porpoises, whales, and sharks from as long as 15 million years ago. Erosion over time exposes these remains and hunting for shark's teeth is a popular activity for visitors.[6]
- Pool
- Beach area – on the Potomac River
- Fishing
- Boating – ramp available
- History and Nature Programs
- Gift Shop
- Visitor Center
Lodging[]
Westmoreland State Park has 26 cabins available for renting. These range from one-room efficiency log cabins to two-bedroom log or cinderblock cabins.
The park has 133 camping sites available for tents or recreational vehicles.
See also[]
- List of Virginia state parks
- List of Virginia state forests
References[]
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Westmoreland State Park". Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ Harper, Jean. "Westmoreland State Park". CCC Legacy. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (November 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Westmoreland State Park Historic District". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying four photos and map]
- ^ Guide to the State Parks of the United States. National Geographic Society. 2008. ISBN 9781426202513.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westmoreland State Park. |
- Official website Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Westmoreland State Park on stateparks.com
- Hiking Trails in Westmoreland State Park
- IUCN Category III
- Park buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- Buildings and structures in Westmoreland County, Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places in Westmoreland County, Virginia
- State parks of Virginia
- Parks in Westmoreland County, Virginia
- Civilian Conservation Corps in Virginia
- Protected areas established in 1936
- 1936 establishments in Virginia
- Beaches of Virginia