CCC Statue

The highlight of the September 2006 Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni Reunion in Shenandoah was the dedication of a bronze CCC Worker statue at Byrd Visitor Center plaza, Big Meadows (milepost 51). The National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni (NACCCA) kicked off a campaign in the early 1990s to commission a bronze statue of a CCC worker from Elliot Ganz Foundry, New York. The goal of NACCCA was to have a copy of the statue erected in every state to commemorate the work of the Corps throughout the United States from 1933—1942. The original statue was installed in North Higgins State Park, Roscommon, MI in 1995. Shenandoah National Park's bronze will be the 32nd state commemoration.

The life-size bronze statue is loosely based on the depression-era drawing of "Iron Mike", a representative, although highly idealized young man. Shirtless, dressed in denim field pants and floppy hat, the enrollee proudly stands with axe at rest. 

The statue has been made possible by a gift from the Barlow family of Stanley, Virginia and is in memory of Russell Thompson Barlow and Louise Painter Barlow. Mr. Barlow was a CCC enrollee at camp NP-2 (Big Meadows) from 1934—1936. Mrs. Barlow was one of three Stanley sisters that married CCC enrollees from the Big Meadows camp. A bronze plaque adjacent to the statue reads:

Between 1933 and 1942 more than 10,000 young men served

in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Shenandoah National Park.

These "boys" created the form and fabric of the new park so

that future generations could find recreation and re-creation here.

Additionally funding for site work and logistics was provided by the Shenandoah National Park Association and for the dedication by ARAMARK, Inc. and volunteers from National Public Lands Day.