Lest you become one of the unfortunate Gashlycrumb Tinies.

H is for Hubert, who spelunked in a cavern
I is for Ingrid, 'neath the floor of a tavern

Children Of The Corn.

I am taken by the two youngsters sitting in obedient fashion on the rocks. Times are different, but the rock formations remain the same. Notice the notch above the young boy's head in the rock, it remains unchanged some 100+ years later! It reminds me that we a but a breath, here a while then gone.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vastateparksstaff/39468863760/in/photostre...

I wouldn't want to speculate on what caused the non-expressions on those children's faces, or draw a connection between that and the product derived from those caves. But in high school, in college, and in the Army, I regularly heard that saltpeter was being put in our food for the purpose of "lessening carnal desire." You still find the claim on the internet (of course), though if you read to the end of this paragraph, you'll find "no scientific proof."

Natural Bridge was considered a wonder in the 18th and 19th centuries. It became a symbol of American Nature and a major tourist attraction. It is mentioned in 'Moby-Dick', was painted by Frederic Edwin Church in 1852, and popular in photography.

Not so much today, to a great extent because of how it has been managed. Once owned by Thomas Jefferson, the land remained in private hands until 2013, when it was sold to a non-profit which had to borrow the money; troubles repaying the loan have created legal issues and ambiguities ever since.

US 11 (Lee Highway) runs over the top of the bridge, with various obstructions so that there's no view. In fact, you can't see the Bridge from anywhere except a trail that charges a fee.

I guess "Saltpeter" cave sounds better than "Bat Dung" or "Guano" cave. "Bat Cave" does have a certain ring to it though.