A Rather Biggish Establishment - Rapidan Camp - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

This marker is located at Rapidan Camp, the former presidential camp that was occupied during the presidency of Herbert Hoover in 1929-32 that was later occupied by Shenandoah National Park in 1935. A majority of the camp's buildings were razed in 1959 and the last president to camp here was President Carter in the late 1970's.

Camp Rapidan requires a near two mile hike via a fire road from the Big Meadows developed area in the central district of Shenandoah National Park. Today, upon park scheduling, there are displays and interpretations within The Brown House as well as The Prime Minister’s Cabin. The Creel is currently utilized by volunteers working the exhibits.

Marker Text Reads:
We discussed the proposed camp as we explored . . . . Conditions necessitate
A Rather
biggish establishment
- Lou Henry Hoover, describing the future Rapidan Camp, 1929

I have discovered that even the work of the government can be improved by leisurely discussions of its problems out under the trees where no bells or callers jar one’s thoughts . . . .
- President Hoover, “Madison County Day” speech, August 1929

From 1929 to 1932, Rapidan Camp, nestled here in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the headwaters of the Rapidan River, served as a weekend retreat for President Herbert and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Just to your right, the Laurel Prong stream winds its way to the river, meeting the Mill Prong stream to form the headwaters of one of the most renowned trout streams in Virginia. It was here that the President and First Lady found respite from the heat and formality of Washington, D.C. Just ahead and to the left is the Brown House, the Hoovers’ rustic weekend counterpart to their city home, the White House.

The Brown House, this guest house named The Prime Minister, and The Creel, are the only three structures left of the once-extensive establishment that hosted an array of public officials and influential powerbrokers.



Here, among the hemlocks and babbling brooks, the Hoovers endlessly entertained and politicked in an atmosphere of natural quiet and picturesque seclusion.

Group that erected the marker: National Park Service URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Rapidan Road Syria, VA United States of America 22743

Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, preferably including yourself or your GPSr in the photo. A very detailed description of your visit may be substituted for a photo. In any case please provide a description of your visit. A description of only "Visited" or "Saw it while on vacation" by anyone other than the person creating the waymark may be deleted by the waymark owner or the category officers.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.