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Records an interview with Bernice Shiflett, (née Shifflett), who lived near Swift Run Gap, in Greene County, Virginia, within the future boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, raising livestock, holidays, funerals, chestnut harvests, bark peeling, and other local economic activities. Recalls some of the more definitive events occurring in the region, such as the devastating chestnut blight of the 1920s, the construction of Skyline Drive and a famous, local double murder. Mrs. Shifflett also describes the resettlement experiences of her family and her neighbors after the park took possession of their mountain properties.

Records an interview with Cecil Graves, who taught in the Page County school system in the mid-1930s prior to becoming School Superintendent in 1944. Describes his impressions of the mountain people who had been relocated to Page County to make way for Shenandoah National Park. Discusses the difficulties many encountered in adjusting to their new lives in the Valley.

Records an interview with Ray Schaffner, who came to Shenandoah National Park as Assistant Chief Naturalist in 1956. Discusses the history of the park since the 1950s, the challenges of running a national park and changes in the public's environmental consciousness.

Records an interview with Magdalene Mooney, (née Simonpietri), who lived and worked at Skyland resort from 1933 to 1935. Describes life at Skyland, the guests and the resort's flamboyant owner, George Freeman Pollock. Includes several anecdotes regarding Pollock's wife, Addie Nairn Pollock, as well as the grand opening of North district of Skyline Drive.

Records an interview with Owen Lucas, who went to work at Shenandoah National Park as a truck driver in 1946, and would eventually rise to the position of district supervisor for the park. Describes the kinds of work performed by park maintenance crews through the post-war years into the 1980s. Improved equipment and an extensive network of professional staff has allowed the park to consistently improve its facilities to meet the needs of the ever-increasing numbers of visitors. Much of Lucas' work in the early years centered around the maintenance and improvement of Skyline Drive.

Records an interview with Zenith Sampson, (née Shifflett), who lived on Lewis Mountain, in Greene County, Virginia, within the future boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. Describes daily life in the mountains, touching on the work of growing and preserving food, the apple and chestnut harvests, bark peeling, and other local economic activities. Recalls popular community events, such as apple butter boilings, quilting and bean stringing parties, church gatherings and barn dances. Mrs. Sampson also recollects the earliest days of Skyline Drive and the impact it had on various mountain communities. At the time of the interview, Chris Brasted was an editor for the Greene County Record newspaper. His interview with Zenith Sampson was the basis for his Life in the Mountains article published in the newspaper on April 1, 1993. A photocopy facsimile of the article is included with the transcript.