17. Natural Bridge 

Just one mile east of Route 76, US Highway 11 crosses over Natural Bridge, a rock formation recognized in the early nineteenth century as one of the wonders of the new American republic. The bridge is a natural formation, probably the result of an underground river that carved through original rock to leave only the bridge intact. The fact that Highway 11 was constructed on top of this remarkable environmental feature provides interesting perspectives on the history of this land before European conquest as well as the implications of making this feature accessible to tourists while retaining and protecting its scenic and spiritual value. This episode is connected to Natural Bridge, located just under 300 miles from Yorktown, the starting point for the westbound route, and about 250 miles from the Kentucky border, where eastbound riders enter Virginia.