LEXINGTON, Va., May 12, 2025—A short drive from VMI is Natural Bridge State Park, featuring the 215-foot-tall wonder, Natural Bridge. While so close, many cadets have never visited the site. Maj. Peter Neofotis, lecturer in the Department of Biology and native of Rockbridge County, saw an opportunity to weave in some of his biology lessons with the local attraction during the spring semester. He took three sections of his Introductory Biology class to Natural Bridge in late April, as trees and flowers were blooming and animals were coming out of winter hiding. From a park ranger, the cadets learned about the formation of the bridge and the environment’s animal inhabitants, including several types of snakes. Neofotis then talked to the cadets about how the limestone that makes up the bridge and much of Rockbridge County traces its origin to the natural impacts and activity of ancient algae. Neofotis also discussed how the ancient arborvitaes in the vicinity of the park are holdovers from a community of conifer trees from the last ice age, 12,500 years ago.

Neofotis acknowledges the value of the park, landmark, and history of Natural Bridge, but emphasizes the trip exceeded his expectations. “I think part of me felt the cadets would benefit from seeing the iconic landmark and further welcome them into the landscape of Rockbridge County. The trip was so relevant to the course content and the perfect topical cap to the year. By the end of the semester, having made it through so much animal physiology, when we got to plants and the planetary carbon cycle—which is my area of expertise—it was a real gift to take the students to Natural Bridge and share with them, not only the tales and legends of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s connection to it, but also discuss how all the limestone of the structure—as well as the county that is named after it—was created by the activity of humble algae half-a-billion years ago, well before even the dinosaurs came to be, when the whole area was covered by a shallow ocean. And it was a joy to see the cadets interested in evolutions of yesteryear, as well as enjoy just interacting with the natural environs we were currently in.”

The cadets agreed with the value of the trip as they wrapped up their semester in the course. “At first, I thought this was just going to be some regular field trip I went on in middle school, but I was completely wrong,” shared Stone Gardner ’28. “Seeing Natural Bridge itself was one of the coolest pieces of nature I have ever seen. I highly recommend going to it. The whole tour was awesome, the park staff were great, and it had a nice walk so we could sightsee and just enjoy nature."

Isabelle Haer ’28 enjoyed seeing the material studied in class right in front of her. “It was a hands-on experience where we took the content we were learning in class and saw how it has been practically applied to our environment around us.”

On his final trip to the park with a class, one comment in particular by Malik McNeely ’28 caught Neofotis’ attention. “As we approached the structure, Malik called out ‘Thar she blows!’ while he pointed to it with a stick, like he was holding a harpoon. I found shivers of amazement going up my spine,” explained Neofotis. “Malik had never read ‘Moby Dick,’ but he was reciting words most often ascribed to Herman Melville, who, 175 years ago, penned the great epic where a man cries the very same phrase when he sees a leviathan emerging out of the sea with a high arch, like Virginia’s Natural Bridge.”

Neofotis expressed sincere gratitude for all who supported the trip, including the Department of Biology; Julie Lozier, who supports much of the biology faculty’s research; and the knowledgeable rangers at Natural Bridge State Park.

Lt. Col. Michelle Ellwood
VMI Photos by Kelly Nye
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE