The Blue Ridge Parkway is Many Things
The Blue Ridge Parkway is all these things and more! Learn more about the Parkway |
Historic Parkway Photos and Maps Blue Ridge Parkway Digital Archives are accessible online through the NPGallery Digital Asset Management System. The digital archives include the Blue Ridge Parkway Historic Photograph Collection, which contains digital copies of photos documenting construction of the parkway, ranger-led programs, special events, staff portraits, general tourism, scenic views, and recreational activities from the 1930s to 1970s. Parkway Land Use Maps (PLUMs) and drawings are also available. All digital assets can be downloaded free of charge. Each digitized item is also assigned geographic coordinates so that it can be viewed on a map, enabling users to visualize and analyze the impact of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the people and landscape of western North Carolina and southwest Virginia. Many historic maps (including North Carolina Parkway Land Acquisition Maps and the Park Service's Parkway Land Use Maps for North Carolina) are "georeferenced" (aligned with present landscapes so past and present can be compared). Interpretive essays, called "overlooks," introduce viewers to new research on parkway history, and K-12 lesson plans invite teachers to use the site's primary source collections in teaching. |
Last updated: September 9, 2020