>>Indigenous Americans first arrived in this region over 9,000 years ago.

However, in the mid-1700s, European settlers displaced them and began moving to Shenandoah, establishing farms, and developing mining industries.

As the early 20th century unfolded, rapid industrialization overtook the whole country.

But along with urban expansion, many leaders recognized the importance of preserving America's natural beauty for future generations.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established the National Park system for this very purpose.

Over 10 parks and monuments across the country soon became part of the fledgling government agency.

However, almost no national parks existed on the east coast.

So in 1924, the NPS began the search for an area of stunning beauty that would bring the national park experience to the more populated east.

Local businessmen and politicians jumped at the opportunity to boost tourism in Virginia, and lobbied Congress to choose the majestic Blue Ridge.

And in 1926, Congress authorized Shenandoah National Park.

However, establishing a new national park in the Blue Ridge Mountains came with significant sacrifice.

At the time the land was mostly privately owned, and provided homes to families and their businesses, schools and churches.

The Commonwealth of Virginia condemned the land.

Using eminent domain law, it acquired about 160,000 acres, and donated the land to the federal government for Shenandoah's formation.

Throughout the early 1930s, this land seizure displaced nearly 500 families, including the mother and grandparents of Jim Lillard, of the Madison County Historical Society.

>>My mother was 14 years old when they left the park.

My grandfather had 154 acre farm, and he had 13 kids.

My mother could remember it well, of course.

I got all my stories from her.

Everyone has a story about what happened when their family come outta the park.

You could see where it was very big change in people's lives.

They had to move and start all over.

A lot of very strong people, and all they knew was work, daylight to dark, to make a living.

President Hoover did not allow alcohol because of the Prohibition, it was illegal.

But he said there was moonshine in every stump hole in the mountain.

So you could buy, you could get all you wanted.

They made moonshine out of apples.

Apple brandy was the best.

And you make it outta any fruit.

>>Did you ever make any moonshine?

>>I won't answer that.

It was tough on some people, really was.

The thing is, you had to go, whether you wanted to or not.

And you gotta remember the Depression was going on.

And most of these people didn't own nothing in the stock market.

The only stock they had was pigs and chickens.

(gentle music) My grandfather, he got enough to buy him another farm, bigger than what he had, down out of the park.

So it was good stories and bad stories.

Most of the house were burned because they didn't want 'em coming back to live in the houses.

(gentle music) It was eight counties that lost land to the park.

And since then, all eight counties have a memorial, which I'm very proud of.

And most of 'em are made on the order of a chimney because the only thing left was the chimneys, since something to recognize their sacrifices to leave all this land for the wonderful park we had.

So I love walking in the park, and I like going with other people, finding their home sites of their ancestors.

You can see the old chimneys where the house were and the graveyards.

And remember that people here that got displaced.

(gentle music) >>In July of 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated Shenandoah National Park.

And the public loved it.