Originally a family home, the Taylor House later became the "white clubhouse;" a boarding house and social center for white single or transient workers.
The Dunglen Hotel, just across the river from Thurmond. Public domain photograph of 19th-century hotel building, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Thurmond's "Main Street" was the railroad tracks that passed through the heart of the town. The three buildings in the foreground still stand today.
Two steam engines meet at the Thurmond Depot. Public domain photograph of a steam engine, railroad, locomotive, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
As the men drilled and blasted a tunnel through the mountain, they drilled through rock that contained high levels of silica. The dry drilling technique that was used released large amounts of silica dust into More
Nuttallburg residents: Three women at Nuttallburg in 1835
Women and children pose on the Taylor House porch. Public domain photograph - group portrait, 19th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
In February of 1870, workers began drilling the Great Bend Tunnel where the Greenbrier River makes a seven-mile meander around Big Bend Mountain. Over 800 men, many of them African American, cut a 6,450 foot-lo More
The process of building a tunnel in the 1870s was slow and difficult work. Holes were drilled into the layers of rock using a hand drill and hammer. Holes were then filled with powder and blasted in order to ma More
Captain Thurmond on his horse. In 1873 Captain W.D. Thurmond acquired 73 acres of land and began to establish the town of Thurmond.
Storer College, in Harpers Ferry, WV opened its doors in 1867. By 1870, Storer was the only teacher-training institution for African Americans in the state of West Virginia.
The first African American school in Raleigh County was built in 1873 by the Trap Hill District Board of Education at Mills Branch.
The development of the coal lands surrounding Winona occurred due to the efforts of John Nuttall, who had by the 1880s acquired a tract of 30,000 acres of coal lands along Keeneys Creek in the highlands above h More
Mt. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church started as an informal gathering in Ansted in 1891. At that time Reverend Coleman, the state missionary, baptized about 20 people and also agreed to organize a church.
The Gauley Bridge Railroad Station was constructed in 1893. It is one of the pre-designed “company trademark” stations built in small communities throughout West Virginia during this time.
Many black music groups formed in the Appalachian coalfields region. The Whispering Serenaders was one of those groups that performed in southern West Virginia in the early 1900s.
When coal companies designed their towns, they segregated workers by race and nationality, a reflection of life in America at that time.
Mine workers and their families lived in many of the buildings seen in this circa 1900 view of Nuttallburg.
A whites-only nurse training program was established in 1901 to provide better qualified nursing staff at the hospitals.
In 1906 a levy was passed in Fayette County to establish the county’s first high schools, one for white children and one for black children. Eleven years later, this became a reality for African American studen More
People gather in front of Thurmond Depot circa 1910 Public domain photograph of train tracks, railroad station, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Shops and rail yards at Thurmond, circa 1910. Public domain photograph of a steam locomotive, engine, train, railroad, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
C&O employees Hatcher and Marion at Thurmond Depot; 1912.
The town of Quinnimont in 1915
The Playground Shelter near Main Overlook
Through the Mountain, by Braelyn Johnson; Kimball (McDowell County); Creative Interpretation - Color - Youth 6-10: 1st place
A cloudy spring day at the New River Gorge Bridge Public domain photograph of a bridge over the river, water, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ducks sitting on a rock in the river
A close up detail of the coaling tower at Thurmond.
Detail of the windows on the National Bank of Thurmond building.
Morning clouds break over a muddy river Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The Sandstone School - currently the site of Sandstone Visitor Center
Phillips Cooper Farmhouse, by Claire Rozdilski; New River Gorge National River; Event Staff - Color - Adult: 1st place
The park store at New River Gorge sells a variety of books, apparel, pins, passports, maps, children's items, and decorative items.
The Nuttallburg tipple and railroad tracks
Over 800 stairs make this a challenging hike. Remember, what goes down must also come back up.
A steam engine approaches the Thurmond Depot and bunkhouse.
The view from Grandview on a cloudy day Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Old foundations and stone walls are all that remain of most of the once thriving town of Nuttallburg.
The cliffs along the Endless Wall make New River Gorge one of the most popular rock climbing locations in the eastern U.S.
Near the end of the Tunnel Trail the trail crosses a wooden boardwalk under a large sandstone overhang.
A BASE jumper leaps from the New River Gorge Bridge.
Crowds of people gather on the bridge.
Two sides of the arch suspended over the river.
Indian Pipe Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Trumpet Honeysuckle Public domain scan of drawing, 20th-century botanical illustration, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Commercial Row, Thurmond's "Main Street" Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The New River Gorge viewed from Main Overlook at Grandview Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Two BASE jumpers prepare to deploy their chutes as they fall towards the river.
The New River from near Cunard
Aerial view of the construction of the arch. Public domain photograph of a bridge, arch over water, river, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Glimpses of the New River can be seen through the trees along the Southside Trail.
The Endless Wall viewed from Diamond Point Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The Thurmond Depot and RR tracks with bridge over the New River in the background
The remains of the meat shed at Trump Lilly Farm Public domain photograph of a cabin, log house, dwelling in National Park, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A rocky path through the forest. Public domain photograph of hiking trail, National Parks tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A hiker walks along the base of a large cliff along the Castle Rock Trail.
A train crosses the railroad bridge at Prince
Clouds drift through the gorge on a spring day. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
A view into the forest canopy Public domain photograph of tree trunk, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A footbridge crossing Glade Creek marks the midpoint of this 5.6 mile-long trail.
Rafters approach the New River Gorge Bridge at Fayette Station. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The ruins of old coke ovens sit along abandoned rail lines at the bottom of the trail.
The Stretchers Neck Tunnel near Prince Public domain photograph of the train tunnel, railroad, train track, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Workers working on the arch. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Hikers will encounter this seasonal waterfall near the top of the Kaymoor Miners Trail.
Four rappellers dangle beneath the New River Gorge Bridge.
Nuttallburg school children; date unknown Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A monument marks the cemetery where many African American workers were laid to rest after losing their lives working in the Hawk's Nest Tunnel.
Catawba Rhododendron Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Rafter's view of rapids. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cars begin to cross the bridge. Public domain photograph of car racing competition, racetrack, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Some of the Bridge Trail can be steep and rocky.
Stonecrop Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A hiker stands beneath the cliffs along the Castle Rock Trail
Crowds gather on the bridge to watch the jumpers.
Swallowtail butterfly Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A bicyclist rides under the old coal conveyor.
The Southside Trail follows an old railroad grade through hardwood forests along the river's edge.
Squirrel Corn Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The sun setting over the gorge at Grandview Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The Thurmond engine house Public domain photograph of quarry, mining industry, miners, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Thurmond's Commerial Row, taken from across the river.
Thurmond Depot during the mid-Depression; the Mt. Hope local train can be seen leaving town at the right of the photo.
West Virginia Fire Sky, by Nelly McGuire; Meadow Bridge (Fayette County); Creative Interpretation - Color - Adult: 1st place
Rafters approach Fayette Station Rapids Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
dandelion gone to seed Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Shelter #2 at Grandview Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
A view of the New River
A view of the New River Gorge Bridge from directly below.
A close-up view of the Thurmond Depot
Low clouds hang over the river and Fayette Station Bridge.
Luna moth on a tree Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Bridge Day can draw crowds of over 100,000 people.
Grandview Shelter #3 Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Blue Phlox Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
BASE jumpers prepare to make the leap from the New River Gorge Bridge.