Westmoreland State Park
Encyclopedia
Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, Virginia
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...

. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...

. The park covers 1,311 acres. The park's Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a panoramic view of the Potomac River. The park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming.

History

Westmoreland State Park is one of the six original state parks opened in June 1936. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...

(CCC). Most of the roads and trails found in the park were originally dug by hand. Located on the Northern Neck Peninsula, the park is close to George Washington’s birthplace and Stratford Hall, the birthplace Robert E. Lee.

The Tayloe and Helen Murphy Hall is a recently renovated restaurant built by the CCC in 1936. The facility contains exposed wood beams, wrought iron hardware, and a large fireplace. The restaurant has been renovated and now hosts meetings, special events, and educational programs. The hall is named for Tayloe Murphy, former delegate to the Virginia legislature and Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, and his wife, Helen, both of whom are from Westmoreland, Virginia.

Attractions

  • Camping
  • Cabins
  • Hiking trails - 7 trails covering 6 miles
The park's popular "Beach Trail" leads from the Visitor Center to the shore of the Potomac, below the Horsehead Cliffs. Embedded in these cliffs are fossil remains of porpoises, whales, and sharks from as long as 15 million years ago. Erosion over time exposes these remains and hunting for shark's teeth is a popular activity for visitors.
  • Pool
  • Beach area - on the Potomac River
  • Fishing
  • Boating - ramp available
  • History and Nature Programs
  • Gift Shop
  • Visitor Center

Lodging

Westmoreland State Park has 26 cabins available for renting. These range from one-room efficiency log cabins to two-bedroom log or cinderblock cabins.

The park has 133 camping sites available for tents or recreational vehicles.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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