Fayetteville, West Virginia





Soaring 876 feet above the ancient New River, the engineering marvel known as the New River Gorge Bridge was, for many years, the world’s highest and longest single-span steel arch bridge.  It has become such an iconic image of the Mountain State that a representation of it was chosen for West Virginia’s quarter as released by the U.S. Mint in 2005.  Once a year, on the third Saturday in October, the bridge is closed to traffic and becomes the stage for Bridge Day, an event that permits B.A.S.E. jumpers and pedestrians access to the bridge for an all-day party to celebrate the bridge’s opening.  This particular rendition of the bridge came about from a visit by Mr. Ronnie Bantha and his family from York, Pennsylvania, who were in awe when this view of the “Big Bridge” first came into sight from the Visitor’s Center walkway.