Shenandoah National Park Official Handbook

In the postcard-perfect setting of Shenandoah National Park, it's sometimes hard to believe you are just ninety miles from the traffic and suburban sprawl of the Washington, D.C. area. How that came to be - how a narrow strip of Blue Ridge Mountains became a sanctuary for harried city-dwellers and road-weary travelers, as well as for black bear, peregrine falcons, and thousands of species of plants and animals - is a complex story. Now, in this first official handbook of Shenandoah National Park, the story is told. With over 175 historic and contemporary photographs, this beautiful first edition reveals the passionate beginnings of "an eastern park in the western tradition" and chronicles its controversial development. For over seven decades, millions of visitors have passed through Shenandoah's gates seeking respite, rejuvenation, and recreation. Detailed and engaging text describes the delights you are likely to encounter in your visits to Shenandoah, and explains the art of preservation that protects the park's treasures for "this and future generations".