Amid expression, passion, and strength, the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles, linking Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.

“These mountains are made for a road, and everybody ought to have a chance to get the views from here,” said advocate Herbert Hoover. “I think they're the greatest in the world.”

Over 25 million people annually experience this scenic drive. America’s most popular mountain road glides at 45 MPH through the Appalachians, with over 250 overlooks and pull-over spots.

“Dear God, I thank thee for this thy gift, the land of the sky,” wrote Christian Reid in 1876 as she passed Mount Mitchell at dawn.

Construction of the Parkway began in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps. Roosevelt envisioned the road as a place where “men and women of moderate means” could find opportunity, rejuvenation, and scenes of great natural beauty.”

It’s a living celebration of roaming wildlife, majestic rock formations, blooming flowers, and towering trees—Dogwoods, oaks, evergreens, and more.

“The Parkway’s timeless quality,” wrote Rob Hirtz, “rolls past log cabins and split-rail fences free of commercial interruptions.”