Virginia State Parks

Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 had lasting conservation impacts across the nation. Virginia joined this effort when Will Carson of the Virginia Conservation Commission convinced Roosevelt to use the Civilian Conservation Corps to build a state park system. Virginia is distinguished as the only state in the nation to open a system of state parks on one day. On June 15, 1936, the first six state parks—Douthat, Seashore (present day First La...