From season to season and year to year, change is always a constant at Shenandoah National Park. In 2016, to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park asked photographers to investigate the forces of change in the Park and reshoot a series of historical photographs. The result is a stunning glimpse into how the Park has changed and how it has remained the same since its establishment.
On your next visit, take a good look around. The trees that dominate the forest, the paths on which streams travel, and the slopes of the mountains are rarely static. Trails, buildings, roads, and even rock walls change in response to nature and to the evolving needs and expectations of our visitors.
Thank you to all the photographers who volunteered to participate in this project! Collected below are just a selection of the photographs submitted. View the full gallery of photographs here.
Big Meadows Lodge


Left image
Photo taken August 7, 1939
Credit: by Harvey Benson
Right image
Photo taken October 15, 2016
Credit: by Andrew Sentipal
Corbin Cabin


Left image
Taken 1973
Credit: by Richard Sellers
Right image
Taken September 17, 2016
Credit: by John Denson
Corbin Cabin


Left image
Taken 1973
Credit: by Richard Sellers
Right image
Taken 2016
Credit: by Brian Nielsen
Dark Hollow Falls


Left image
Taken fall 1961
Credit: by E. Ray Schaffner
Right image
Taken December 4, 2016
Credit: by Theresa Sullivan
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center


Left image
Taken 1941
Credit: by Harvey Benson
Right image
Taken June 8, 2016
Credit: by Marcia Cunningham
Elkwallow Picnic Ground


Left image
Taken July 16, 1937
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken December 23, 2016
Credit: by Gabriel Mapel
Hazel Mountain Overlook


Left image
Photo taken July 4, 1950
Credit: by A. Fawcett
Right image
Photo taken September 12, 2016
Credit: by Jen Johnson
Hazel Mountain Overlook


Left image
Taken between 1934-1947
Credit: by Robert Batey Moore
Right image
Taken June, 18, 2016
Credit: by Monte Hackney
Hogback Overlook


Left image
Taken between 1937-1943
Credit: by W. Drew Chick
Right image
Taken November 29, 2016
Credit: by David Rensch
Loft Mountain Campground


Left image
Taken May 30, 1964
Credit: by E. Ray Schaffner
Right image
Taken July 21, 2016
Credit: by Caroline Murray
Marys Rock Tunnel


Left image
Taken October 1937
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken 2016
Credit: by Wanda Mounts
Marys Rock Trail


Left image
Taken August 15, 1934
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken October 4, 2016
Credit: by Cynthia Fenton
Massanutten Lodge


Left image
Taken September 12, 1951
Credit: by Paul G. Favour
Right image
Taken July 5, 2016
Credit: by Cindy Schifano
Millers Head


Left image
Taken October 1941
Credit: by Robert Batey Moore
Right image
taken November 27, 2016
Credit: by Jason Cave
Old Rag Mountain


Left image
Taken May 22, 1934
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken September 12, 2016
Credit: by Paul Dracos
Pinnacles Picnic Shelter


Left image
Taken circa 1941
Credit: by Robert Batey Moore
Right image
Taken November 29, 2016
Credit: by Andrew Politano
President's Cabin


Left image
Taken Spring 1974
Credit: by Dale Smith
Right image
Taken October 15, 2016
Credit: by Cecelia Carr
Range View Overlook


Left image
Taken July 1947
Credit: by Robert Batey Moore
Right image
Taken 2016
Credit: by Stacy Smith Evans
Simmons Gap


Left image
Taken April 29, 1935
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken 2016
Credit: by Alec Lottinville
South River Picnic Ground


Left image
Taken June 1935
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken June 7, 2016
Credit: by Marcia Cunningham
Tunnel Parking Overlook


Left image
Taken October 1935
Credit: by George C. Knox
Right image
Taken 2016
Credit: by Jimmy Jin
View the complete set of photographs and dive deeper into Shenandoah's past...
Last updated: October 24, 2018