Virginia's heritage: the right thing

Richmond Times-Dispatch
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Letters to the Editor
Correspondent of the Day
It's Time to Rename Seminole Trail

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Why in 2005 is U.S. 29 from Danville to Warrenton officially designated by Virginia as the "Seminole Trail"? The Seminole Tribe is not native to this area of the United States. For whatever reason, in 1928 the Virginia General Assembly chose to name U.S. 29 the Seminole Trail. Perhaps at least in part it was a commercial ploy to direct tourists down to Florida. However, all states south of Virginia have long since dropped the archaic designation.

If Virginia in 2007 is truly to celebrate the diversity of its heritage, then it is time to correct the inaccurate naming of U.S. 29. The name should be changed to the "Monacan Trail" in recognition of a tribe that is native to this region through the heart of Virginia. The first step was taken when the bridge on the Route 29 bypass over the James River between Lynchburg and Madison Heights was named the Monacan Bridge by an act of the 2004 General Assembly, in recognition of the Monacan tribe.

Prior to the 2007 statewide celebration, the Commonwealth should take the next step forward and rename U.S. 29. It is simply the right thing to recognize the state's native people.

Phil Theisen
Forest

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