FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS
NATURE TOUR
MARCH 23-25, 2009
On November 30, 1932 Arno B. Cammerer, Deputy Director of the
National Park Service (NPS) proposed "Provision for colored guest."
Three years before Shenandoah was officially established, the groundwork
for an official policy of "separate but equal" accommodations was being
established.
In the summer of 1938 Virginia Sky-Line Company laid out preliminary
plans for the development of facilities that included a small campground,
small lodge, and cabins at Lewis Mountain- "a development for colored
people."
1937 there was growing demand for picnic areas for colored people, it was
soon decided that the concessionaire would develop the picnic area,
campground, cabins, and restaurant at Lewis Mountain, a departure from
precedent at other areas in which the Civilian Conservation Core (CCC) had constructed the picnic and
campground facilities to be managed by the National Park Service.
Portions of the Lewis Mountain facilities opened in the summer season of
1939 and the first cabins and lodge were in service in the summer of 1940.
During World War II, gasoline was rationed, visitation plummeted, and park
concession facilities closed. Virginia Sky-Line Company did not begin to
reopen facilities until September 1945. December 8, 1945, a general
bulletin to all National Park Service concessionaires was issued by
Washington calling attention to Federal Register, mandating full
desegregation of all facilities in national parks. October 1947, Lewis
Mountain was integrated.
To contact our associate for pricing and to resrve this tour click here
FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS
