June 15th, 1936, was an important day in Virginia's history. Six beautiful state parks opened for the first time, offering families and visitors newly-constructed recreational facilities to enjoy. Moreover, irreplaceable natural resources would now be protected and maintained by the system. Today, Virginia offers 41 parks, each with its own unique amenities and natural wonders to explore. As the 84th anniversary of Virginia State Parks draws near, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate all that these state parks have provided us. The following photos show the development and enjoyment of some of our most stunning state parks over the years. Let's take a step back in time to pay a visit to some beautiful state parks in Virginia, shall we?

1. Douthat State Park

Located in Bath County, Virginia, Douthat State Park was one of the original six state parks to open in 1936. The first 1,920 acres of land was donated by the Douthat Land Company.

2. Douthat State Park

Two young beach-combers enjoying the weather on the lakeside beach. The water has always been the centerpiece of this beloved Virginia state park.

3. Seashore State Park (currently known as First Landing)

Legend has it that "seashore" was never meant to be the official title of this park, which is now commonly known as First Landing State Park. Apparently, during the 1920s and 1930s, folks discussing the soon-to-open park discussed how the CCC was building a park "by the seashore."

4. Seashore State Park

The nickname stuck and the park opened as Seashore State Park in 1936. The name was officially changed in 1997 to First Landing State Park.

5. Fairy Stone State Park, 1930s

A caravan of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers arrives at Fairy Stone State Park. The CCC was established in March of 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in an effort to employ 500,000 men throughout the U.S. in the wake of the Great Depression. Aptly named, you can hunt for fairy stones at this state park!

6. Hungry Mother State Park, 1930s

Hungry Mother State Park was another of Virginia's original state parks. This aerial view of Hungry Mother State Park was taken in 1936.

7. Hungry Mother State Park

The photograph above shows the CCC cabins. This group of dedicated men built trees, dams, monuments, and helped restore historic landmarks. The work was both tiring and rewarding.

8. Unknown cabin

The woman in the photo above settles into one of the many rental cabins in Virginia's state parks. Where do you think this photo was taken?

9. Unknown cabin

A portrait of another rental cabin occupied by a couple and their horse. It's incredible to see how many things -- such as a camping trip or a cabin getaway -- haven't changed a bit over the years.

10. High Bridge, 1857

Shown above is one of Ed Beyer's watercolor illustrations from 1857 as seen in "Album of Virginia." Of course, this was long before High Bridge Trail was established as a state park in 2008.

11. High Bridge, 1914

The watchman on duty at High Bridge, before it was a state park, in 1914. The man photographed is John Redd, who worked for the N. & W. Railway.

12. Prince Edward State Park (known today as Twin Lakes State Park)

Two young women stand by the jukebox inside the dining hall at Prince Edward State Park, one of the most hidden gem state parks to visit in Virginia!

13. Prince Edward State Park

The land for the park was bought from struggling farmers during the Great Depression. Two parks were established, Goodwin Lake and Prince Edward Lake, and were segregated until the early 1960s. In 1986, the two parks were joined into one, renamed as Twin Lakes.

14. Bear Creek Lake, 1938

A portrait of the work crew at Bear Creek Lake. Interestingly, the men responsible for building the park were not part of the CCC but rather the Virginia Department of Agriculture.

15. False Cape State Park, 1950s

A photo of the Wash Woods Church at False Cape State Park. The former community of Wash Woods was established by shipwrecked sailors in the 16th or 17th century. The church featured above was built from cypress wood that had washed ashore after the wreck. False Cape State Park was established in 1966, after this photo was taken.

The video below, courtesy of DCRVirginia, offers a fascinating overview of the importance of the CCC in Virginia:

What are your thoughts on these vintage photos of Virginia's state parks? What's your favorite state park to visit in Virginia? Did you see any historic photos of it above? We'd love to hear from you!

Learn more about the fascinating history of Virginia's State Park system by clicking here. As always, feel free to join in on the conversation by leaving a comment below.