Newt Sisk of Rappahannock and their six children, ages

Newt Sisk of Rappahannock and their six children, ages three to 12. “The language these people spoke was a revelation to me,” Mr. Lambert said. “ ‘I commenced to do this,’ they’d say. One day one of the children brought me some flowers and said, That thars vermafuge. Take some to get shed of worms.’ ”

Accoi ding to Mr. Lambert, people like the Sisks were not given a deadline for when they had to move out of the newly created park but were instead forced out in other ways such as restrictions on hunting or cultivating new land. And while many resented having to leave, others looked forward to new opportunities offered in the flat lands. Mr. Lambert said Mrs. Sisk once confided that it would be nice to get the children near a school.

The mountains proved valuable for more than furs and farming. For example, magnesium mined during World War I was used for the manufacture of weapons. And George Freeman Pollock was hoping for a profitable copper mine near Stoneyman Overlook when he realized that the striking beauty of the Blue Ridge could be a scenic goldmine for the East, just like the great national parks of the western states, and so started the effort which culminated in the establishment of Shenandoah National Park.

Geologist Sheldon Wimpfren of Luray led the students on a twohour hike up and around Stoneyman, where they examined green-tinged copper deposits at the site of Mr. Pollock’s original claim. They learned that while few have heard about the Blue Ridge’s copper mines, two to three million people venture into the park annually to enjoy its greatest riches — the stunning natural beauty of the mountains.

Robert Johnson, Sperryville native and a former park ranger and assistant superintendent explained the hierarchy of jobs within the Park Service and the management of Shenandoah National Park. He said the park was established for three reasons: preservation, interpretation of nature and the eryoyment of