Shared by Monica Hoel, as Guest Blogger.

Typically, memories worth preserving in photographs are made in places that you’d love to go back to see. Or perhaps during a time in the past you’d like to magically revisit.

You can make a memory in most any location. But let’s face it…we don’t typically frame photos of a day at the DMV (except for that day you got your driver’s license). And we don’t often fill scrapbooks with pictures of friends standing in the check-out line at the grocery store (except for that day you had so many coupons your groceries were free).

Hungry Mother State Park memories

I recently had a photo album given to me. It was an album of college photos made at Emory & Henry College and the surrounding area during the 1940s. I had the pleasure of going to work for that same college around 50 years after these “kids” in the album graduated – so I had only known them as “old alumni.” It was a real kick to see these octogenarians as giggling, flirting, playful college kids.

I especially enjoy this photo of them hanging out with friends at Hungry Mother State Park. I love knowing that the cool dude in the white sunglasses went on to hold the highest office (Bishop) in the United Methodist Church – and he spent nearly 60 years married that cute gal smiling next to him. I love that the picture was taken in the mid-1940s, and the women are unabashedly posing in bathing suits.

And I love the realization that the Hungry Mother State Park was still a fairly new destination at the time of this picture. The entire Virginia State Park system had been open fewer than 10 years. Hungry Mother State Park was among the first 6 parks launched in June, 1936. Virginia Governor George C. Peery (small world story: he graduated from the same college as these kids in the photo) presided over a huge event to launch the park system on June 13. The event was held at Hungry Mother and featured concerts and a water pageant. Two days later, all six of the new parks opened to the public.

I now have a lot of photos on my phone of Hungry Mother – pictures of wildflowers in bloom, dragonflies resting on my kayak, friends on paddle boats, rangers leading educational programs at a picnic shelter, meetings at the Discovery Center. Hungry Mother State Park is a location where I and thousands of others enjoy making memories all throughout the year. I look at this black and white photo and see old friends making their own memories 60 years ago in this same place I now love, and it feels like I’m part of a long and wonderful tradition.

Are you ready to make some memories?

Editor's Note: If this article piques your interest and you would like to learn more about the history of Virginia State Parks, click here. We love reading your stories, so if you have a Flashback Friday photo or tidbit, feel free to email it to us here.