Thomas Jefferson called the Natural Bridge “the most sublime of nature’s works” in his Notes on the State of Virginia. So impressed by it, he purchased the arch in 1774 along with the surrounding 157 acres of land for 20 shillings, or $200 in today’s money, and visited it on several trips throughout his lifetime. He hoped the Natural Bridge would remain in the public trust as a park for all to enjoy, but his debts prevented that dream from becoming reality. After Jefferson’s death, his heirs sold the Bridge in 1833. It later became a popular tourist attraction in the late 19th century, with a hotel for visitors. The most recent hotel was built in 1964 and remains in business next to the park’s visitor center. When the last owner wanted to sell, a conservation group helped Virginia State Parks acquire the Bridge in 2016, finally realizing Jefferson’s vision of a public park more than 200 years later.