Page County

The Page County Monument is in Stanley, Virgihia

The Page County Chimney Monument stands as a lasting tribute to the families and communities whose lives were forever changed by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains of Page County, generations of mountain families built homes, cleared fields, attended local schools and churches, and established close-knit communities in the hollows and along the ridges. Though many of these settlements disappeared from the landscape, their history remains an important part of the county's heritage.

Constructed in the form of a traditional mountain chimney, the monument symbolizes the homes that once stood throughout communities such as Overall, Jollett, Piney Ridge, and the many farms and homesteads that dotted the valleys and mountainsides. A commemorative plaque honors the families whose land was acquired for the park, preserving their names and their connection to the mountains they called home.

The chimney serves not only as a memorial but also as a place of learning and remembrance. Through educational exhibits, storytelling, traditional music, crafts, demonstrations, and community events, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation for the culture, values, and daily lives of the mountain people who lived in Page County before the establishment of Shenandoah National Park.

The roads, schools, churches, orchards, farms, and family traditions of these communities helped shape the character of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their legacy lives on through the stories passed down by descendants and through the efforts of organizations dedicated to preserving this history.

As one of eight memorial chimney sites located throughout the region, the Page County Chimney Monument helps tell the broader story of the mountain communities affected by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. Together, these monuments honor the resilience, contributions, and enduring heritage of the families who helped shape life in the Blue Ridge Mountains for generations.

photo by Carrie Eheart

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