SWIFT RUN GAP - Virginia

SWIFT RUN GAP & The Knights of the Golden Horseshoe
"Thus it is a pleasure to cross the Mountains"
Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood

Snow frosted trees along US HWY 33 near Swift Run Gap, Virginia - JDJ Photo

One day after finishing up work in Charlottesville, Virginia, I decided to take a drive up to the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It had been raining down below but as I climbed the mountain on US Highway 33 towards Swift Run Gap (which is what they call Mountain Passes in those parts) the trees and road were whitened with snow. At the top of the Gap to my dismay, the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed due to weather. I walked along the road for a stretch and then returned to the gap and discovered an interesting historical marker that stated some interesting information.  Alexander Spotswood was Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1716. The real Governor, the Earl of Orkney, was given the title of Governor of Virginia but like many before him, he never came to America to govern the colony, but instead, had surrogates do it for him. According to the book “This Country of Ours – The Story of the United States” by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall, Spotswood loved Virginia and did all he could to make the colony prosperous. Marshall goes on to state that up until 1716, Virginia had consisted of the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spotswood, being a curious and adventurous sort wanted to know what lay on the other side of the Blue Ridge so he put together an exploring expedition of about 50 personnel including Indian guides and they set out from Williamsburg to go and climb the mountains to see what lay beyond. The expedition hunted for food, fished, camped under the stars and had quite a good time along the journey across Virginia to the foot of the mountains. It was pretty cool to stand in the pass near the pyramid shaped monument and think about the adventurous men who passed this way so many years ago when the Appalachain Mountains were a true Wilderness. Mrs. Marshall’s book was published in 1917 but I often find that these older books tell the stories the best so I include below the following quote on Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood’s cresting of the Blue Ridge:
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“The explorers reached the Blue Ridge, and, climbing to the top of a pass, looked down upon the beautiful wild valley beyond, through which wound a shining river. Spotswood called the river the Euphrates. But fortunately, the name did not stick, and it is still called by its beautiful Indian name of Shenandoah. Spotswood named the highest peak he saw Mount George in honour of the King, and his companions gave the next highest peak the name of Mount Alexander in honour of the Governor whose Christian name was Alexander. Then they went down into the valley below, and on the banks of the river they buried a bottle, inside which they had put a paper declaring that the whole valley belonged to George I, King by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, Ireland and Virginia. For this expedition, all the horses were shod with iron, a thing very unusual in Virginia where there were no hard or stony roads. So as a remembrance of their pleasant time together Spotswood gave each of his companions a gold horseshoe set with precious stones for nails. Graven upon them were the Latin words, Sic juvat transcendere montes which mean, "Thus it is a pleasure to cross the mountains." Later all those who took part in the expedition were called Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.”

Historical Marker at Swift Run Gap - Virginia - JDJ Photo

Historical Marker at Swift Run Gap - Virginia - JDJ Photo
How incredible it must have been to look down on the mighty Shenandoah River for the first time and then descend the mountains to its bank. Makes me wonder if the term “West Virginia” was coined by this group on this trip. These are the types of American Tales I like to research and read about and then go follow the trails. On this occasion, it happened backwards but no matter, my visit to Swift Run Gap will forever be etched on my mind. 

You can enter Shenandoah National Park here but unfortunately it is closed during inclement weather. Given the elevation of 2,365 feet coming up from basically sea level, it is not surprising.
JDJ Photo


 




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