View source for Keyes Gap

{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Keyes Gap
| other_name = 
| photo = 
| photo_caption = 
| photo_alt = 
| map = Virginia
| map_caption = Location of '''Keyes Gap''' in Virginia, on the border with West Virginia
| map_size = 300
| label = 
| label_position = 
| elevation_ft = 906
| elevation_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://ned.usgs.gov/|title=The National Map: Elevation|work=usgs.gov|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref>
| location = [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]], [[Virginia]] / [[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson County]], [[West Virginia]], [[United States]]
| range = [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]<br>[[Appalachian Mountains]]
| topo = 
| coordinates = {{coord|39.26|N|77.76|W|type:pass|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref>[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=139:3:377610517500378::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1560594%2CKeys%20Gap GNIS]</ref>
| traversed = {{jct|state=VA|VA|9}}/{{jct|state=WV|WV|9}}
}}

'''Keyes Gap''' or '''Keyes' Gap''' is a [[Wind gap (geographical feature)|wind gap]] in the [[Blue Ridge Mountain]] on the border of [[Loudoun County, Virginia]] and [[Jefferson County, West Virginia]].  The gap is traversed by [[Virginia State Route 9]]/[[West Virginia Route 9]].  The [[Appalachian Trail]] also crosses  the gap.

==History==
Originally known as '''Vestal's Gap''', the {{convert|906|ft|m}} gap is one of the lowest crossings of the Blue Ridge in Virginia.  During the [[Colonial America|colonial period]] the main road between [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] and [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]] ran through the gap. As such, part of General [[Edward Braddock]]'s army under [[George Washington]] crossed through the gap on their way to [[Fort Duquesne]] during the [[French and Indian War]].

By 1820, the main route west became the newly completed [[Snickers Gap Turnpike]] which crossed the Blue Ridge to the south at [[Snickers Gap]], and Keyes Gap lost its prominence.  Despite this, Keyes Gap was still of strategic importance during the [[American Civil War]], as it provided an alternate "back route" from Virginia to the key point of [[Harpers Ferry]].

== See also ==
* [[Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commonscat|Keys Gap}}
{{Gaps of the Appalachian Mountains}}

[[Category:Landforms of Loudoun County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Landforms of Jefferson County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Wind gaps of Virginia]]
[[Category:Valleys of West Virginia]]
[[Category:Blue Ridge Mountains]]
[[Category:Wind gaps of the United States]]