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Situated in Virginia's southwestern corner in the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountain Highlands, Marion and neighboring Hungry Mother State Park are steeped in natural beauty. Marion, the name chosen to honor American Revolutionary War hero Gen. Francis Marion, was officially incorporated by the General Assembly on March 15, 1849. The railroad arrived in 1856 and fueled the economy by promoting industrial growth throughout the region. In 1933, John D. and Mildred Lincoln donated 1,881 acres to the state for the establishment of a state park on Hungry Mother Creek. On June 13, 1936, the park was officially dedicated with public opening ceremonies at Hungry Mother State Park, and more than 5,000 turned out to see the park as Gov. George Peery and State Park Director Robert Burson officiated.

The Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains combine to make one of the most breathtaking and inspiring locations on the East Coast. With a sense of ecological preservation, conservation, and visionary policy, the federal government created the Shenandoah National Park in order to ensure that the pristine beauty of this remarkable region would remain unspoiled for generations to come. A place for enrichment and recreation, the park attracts countless visitors each year in order to enjoy its variety of natural wonders: waterfalls, trails, rivers, creeks, and mountains.

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 Landing), Hungry Mother, Fairy Stone, Westmoreland, and Staunton River State Parks--were opened. From these humble beginnings, the commonwealth has developed over 35 diverse, award-winning state parks. From seashore to mountains, take a journey across Virginia through a vast array of landscapes and unrivaled natural and cultural resources.