Thurmond began as a surveyor’s dream in 1873 and quickly became a vital coal and rail hub. The arrival of the C&O Railroad and the Southside Junction bridge in the late 1880s fueled its growth. At its peak, the town was home to a steam engine repair shop, hotels, and businesses. However, with the rise of automobiles and devastating fires in the 1920s and 1930s, Thurmond’s decline began. By 1949, the shift to diesel engines sealed its fate as a ghost town. Today, the National Park Service owns much of Thurmond, preserving its legacy as a historical landmark.