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The National Park Service will be coming to the area for the first few days of March to explore the  possibility of adding Botetourt, Rockbridge and Augusta Counties to the proposed Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail. William Clark married Julia( Judith) Hancock of Fincastle after the exploration of the west.

Here is some more information from Fincastle’s  Peggy Crosson who is following the event from her position  as an interested party and board member of Southern Shenandoah Valley Branch (SSVB) of Preservation Virginia.

Saturday, March 3, 9am – 12 noon: A free Public Workshop at the Natural Bridge Conference Center will focus on possible Lewis and Clark trail routes with citizens engaged in reviewing NPS research and discussing proposed routes. They will also explore such topics as natural, ecological and historical resources available along the routes that will compliment and add to the consumer’s overall L & C trail experience.

Sunday, March 4, 2pm – 4 pm: NPS to be guest speakers at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Shenandoah Valley Branch (SSVB) of Preservation Virginia, also held at the Natural Bridge Conference Center. They will provide a national overview of the Eastern Legacy Trail project to date, and if such is approved by Congress, what the potential benefits to and responsibilities of localities participating on the trail might be, using examples from the westward Lewis & Clark expedition trail.

Site visits to Botetourt, Rockbridge, and Augusta Counties will occur during NPS March visit. A tentative schedule includes a visit to Fincastle/Botetourt March 3, Saturday afternoon/evening following the public workshop, and March 4, Sunday morning. Site visits to Augusta and Rockbridge are tentatively scheduled during the week of March 5th