Martin's Station
on the
Wilderness Road
Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, Virginia is a historic site that centers around a fort built by General Joseph Martin. The fort was that last fortified outpost before settlers reached new lands being opened up in Kentucky and was used by more than 200,000 settlers as they passed through the Cumberland Gap on their way west during the 1760's though the 1780's.
Reenactors fire a cannon as one of the station's structures burns in the background
In addition to being a Virginia State Park linked to the National Park at Cumberland Gap, Wilderness Road is an educational facility that teaches the kinds of survival skills that would have been used by our pioneer ancestors as they traversed the Gap west.
The park emphasizes history through living history figures including reenactments, demonstration of frontier living and survival skills, and children's programs focusing on history and culture.
VASSAR Color Guard honoring the Pioneer Spirit
May 9th, 2009
On May 9th, 2009 the VASSAR Color Guard supported the annual Raid on Martin's Station. The VASSAR Color Guard was joined by the Kentucky Color Guard and the Martin's Station Militia. It was a great display of color on a rainy, foggy day that lead the crowd gathered to the monument erected in 2003 to Gen. Joseph Martin.
The combined Colorguard leads the crowd to the monument
Gen. Joseph Martin (far right) and the Colorguard continue leading the crowd down the path to the monument
The monument inscribed… Dedicated to the memory of General Joseph Martin, Martin's Station and the more than 200,000 settlers whose courage and fortitude helped to carve our great nation out of a vast wilderness and gave birth to the American frontier Spirit
Compatriot Larry McKinley positions the Fairfax Resolves wreath at the monument of General Joseph Martin
Virginia Color Guard with State of Virginia wreath-white ,blue and gold.
Left to right: Dr. Trice Taylor, Charlottesville, John Skillman, Roanoke (his first guard appearance); Allen Brahim, Northern Virginia (NOVA); Dennis Fritts, Roanoke; Dan Rolph, NOVA; Larry McKinley, NOVA; Joseph Dooley, NOVA also representing National as Genealogist General; and Pat Kelly, Chapter president Charlottesville.
Joint VASSAR and Kentucky Color Guard poised outside the Fort