Natural Bridge is located along the northern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The bridge was first discovered in the late 1500's by the Monacan Indians, as they were fleeing from the Shawnees. The bridge is 200 feet high, 90 feet long, 150 feet wide at one end, and 50 feet wide at the other end. The span itself contains 450,000 cubic feet of rock. If possible to weigh, the scales would register at 36,000 tons.
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George Washington surveyed the overall area for Lord Fairfax, and Thomas Jefferson later purchased the land from King George III in 1774 (for a mere 20 shillings), so as to guarantee access for the general public's enjoyment. During the Revolutionary War, Colonists dropped molten lead from the top. The sudden change in temperature turned the drops into bullets (a shot tower). Natural Bridge Caverns are nearby.
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