Summary of "Skyline Drive & Shenandoah National Park" Episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class

Release Date: June 2, 2025
Hosts: Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction & Context

In this episode, Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Fry delve into the rich history of Shenandoah National Park and its iconic Skyline Drive. The discussion is sparked by Tracy's recent visit to Asheville, North Carolina, where she explored the Blue Ridge Parkway and discovered historical displays that intertwine the narratives of Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.

Tracy V. Wilson [02:29]: "So my plan was to have an episode where we talked a little bit about Skyline Drive and then focused the rest of the time on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But during my whole note-taking process, Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park evolved into their own entire episode."

Early National Parks and Exclusion of Indigenous Peoples

The conversation begins with a historical overview of the United States' national parks, starting with Yellowstone—the first national park established in 1872.

Unknown Speaker [04:34]: "The first national park in the United States was created under the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, which President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law in 1872."

Tracy emphasizes the Act's role in conserving Yellowstone's natural wonders but also highlights its glaring omission concerning indigenous peoples.

Tracy V. Wilson [06:13]: "This act was ostensibly about conserving and preserving Yellowstone and its natural wonders, but it really didn't make any provisions or exceptions for the indigenous peoples who had been living on, using and acting as stewards of this land since time immemorial."

The hosts discuss how the federal government's portrayal of national parks as untouched wilderness ignored the thousands of years of indigenous stewardship and led to the forcible removal of native populations.

Unknown Speaker [06:41]: "The federal government forcibly removed indigenous peoples who had been living on or using the land in Yellowstone... and publicly presented a fiction that Yellowstone had always been uninhabited and unused."

Expansion of National Parks East of the Mississippi

Following Yellowstone, other parks like Yosemite were established, continuing the pattern of excluding indigenous histories.

Unknown Speaker [07:37]: "The creation of these parks generally followed a really similar pattern. They were formed from federal land under legislation that framed it as being conserved and protected for the people."

Tracy notes that most of these lands were acquired through warfare, genocide, and exploitative treaties, further entrenching the displacement of native communities.

Tracy V. Wilson [08:47]: "The United States had obtained this land through warfare, genocide and exploitative treaties with the indigenous peoples."

Creation of Shenandoah National Park & Skyline Drive

Land Acquisition Challenges

The focus shifts to the early 20th century efforts to establish national parks east of the Mississippi River, culminating in the creation of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

Tracy V. Wilson [10:51]: "Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service, advocated for the creation of a park that was closer to some of the major eastern cities."

In 1924, the Southern Appalachian National Park Committee was formed to identify suitable locations, primarily in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The committee sought areas that offered stunning mountain scenery, extensive forests, and accessibility via rail and road.

Unknown Speaker [17:31]: "Looking for sites that met these criteria... accessible by rail and road."

The committee recommended the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia for Shenandoah National Park, highlighting the potential of a scenic drive along the mountaintop.

Unknown Speaker [19:13]: "A possible Skyline Drive along the mountaintop following a continuous ridge... Few scenic drives in the world could surpass it."

Road Construction and Skyline Drive Development

The establishment of Skyline Drive was intertwined with the construction of infrastructure to support the park. The project was partially funded by federal relief programs during the Great Depression.

Unknown Speaker [35:43]: "As all of this was going on, the federal government was also building Skyline Drive as the park's Road and Scenic Parkway."

Tracy V. Wilson [37:44]: "The road was built along a mountainside or carved out from the mountainside with soil that was then used to fill in other areas for the road."

Efforts were made to ensure that Skyline Drive blended seamlessly with the natural landscape, utilizing local materials and minimizing environmental impact.

Unknown Speaker [38:14]: "Engineers and landscape architects used techniques that had been refined on roads and parkways in the parks in the West."

Great Depression and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Involvement

The onset of the Great Depression introduced the Civilian Conservation Corps, which played a significant role in developing Shenandoah National Park.

Unknown Speaker [39:03]: "Franklin D. Roosevelt... established the Civilian Conservation Corps... part of the New Deal."

Approximately 4,000 young men worked on projects such as building hiking trails, planting native vegetation, and constructing overlooks and guardrails along Skyline Drive.

Unknown Speaker [40:05]: "CCC workers built hiking trails and fire trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, and other amenities in the park."

Park Opening and Ongoing Challenges

Shenandoah National Park was officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 3, 1936.

Unknown Speaker [41:31]: "President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated Shenandoah National Park on July 3, 1936... to this and succeeding generations of Americans."

However, the creation of the park was fraught with challenges, including the forcible removal of approximately 2,000 people from their ancestral lands.

Tracy V. Wilson [44:43]: "Roughly 2,000 people from 465 families were forcibly relocated for the creation of Shenandoah National Park."

The hosts discuss the Resettlement Administration's efforts to relocate displaced families, many of whom struggled to adapt to new living conditions during the Great Depression.

Unknown Speaker [43:48]: "The goal of this program was to resettle people out of the park and into newly established communities."

Segregation and Desegregation in the Park

Shenandoah National Park also navigated racial segregation policies prevalent at the time. Initially, accommodations were segregated, reflecting the broader societal norms of the 1930s South.

Unknown Speaker [46:07]: "There were black visitors to the park and black motorists on Skyline Drive right from the beginning... but the national park service eventually established segregated accommodations."

By 1939, specific facilities for Black visitors were established, and desegregation efforts began in the late 1940s, completing by 1950.

Unknown Speaker [46:26]: "The national park service eventually established segregated accommodations... Shenandoah Homesteads Project had been established in 1934 and then was taken over by the Resettlement Administration."

Tracy highlights ongoing criticisms regarding the racial demographics of park visitors and staff.

Tracy V. Wilson [46:26]: "There are still criticisms today about park visitors and staff and the National Park Service, more broadly, being disproportionately white."

Legacy and Current Status of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive

Today, Skyline Drive spans 105.5 miles and is the sole public road within Shenandoah National Park, which now encompasses nearly 200,000 acres with over 80,000 acres designated as wilderness.

Unknown Speaker [47:57]: "Today, Skyline Drive runs for 105.5 miles, and it's the only public road in Shenandoah National Park."

The park boasts more than 500 miles of hiking trails, including a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail, and continues to be a popular destination for millions of visitors annually.

Tracy V. Wilson [48:44]: "There is an entry fee of $15 per person entering on foot or $30 for private vehicles entering on Skyline Drive."

Conclusion

The episode provides a comprehensive look at the establishment of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, highlighting the complex interplay of conservation efforts, federal policies, economic challenges, and social issues. While celebrating the park's natural beauty and historical significance, the hosts also shed light on the often overlooked narratives of displacement and segregation that underpin its history.

Notable Quotes:

• Tracy V. Wilson [06:13]: "This act was ostensibly about conserving and preserving Yellowstone and its natural wonders, but it really didn't make any provisions or exceptions for the indigenous peoples."

• Unknown Speaker [19:13]: "Few scenic drives in the world could surpass it."

• Tracy V. Wilson [46:26]: "There are still criticisms today about park visitors and staff and the National Park Service, more broadly, being disproportionately white."

This detailed exploration not only celebrates the natural splendors of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive but also invites listeners to reflect on the nuanced and often painful histories that have shaped America's national landscapes.