Editing Natural Bridge, New York (section)

==History==
{{one source|section|date=December 2017}}
In 1812, a hunter, Aleaser Carr, crossed the Indian River on what he assumed to be a log while hunting. Much to his amazement while hunting a short time later, he again came to the river on the same side as before he crossed. After an examination by himself and a party of hunters, it appeared that he had unknowingly recrossed the river on what turned out to be a marble arch. Consequently, this is how Natural Bridge received its name.

Settlement began in the area in 1818. The former king of Spain, [[Joseph Bonaparte]], known in America as the Count de Survilliers, owned land consisting of a one-mile square. After coming to look at his land in 1828, he was impressed by the limestone arch and with being so close to his lake, "Lake Bonaparte" ({{convert|8|mi|0}} to the northeast), he decided to build a second summer residence in Natural Bridge in 1829. He resided here with his "Madame" until 1835. The house was destroyed in September 1905 in a fire that also consumed two hotels and their barns, the country store, and another dwelling house.

[[File:BoatNaturalBridgeJeffersonCountyNY.jpg|thumb|left|Tourists at Natural Bridge Caverns]]

An old story which still proves to be a mystery today is of the Joseph Bonaparte residence. The cellar of the residence was supposedly connected by secret passage to the caverns so that if he ever needed to escape, he had this passage.<ref>Priest, Irvin M., ''Souvenir Lake Bonaparte, NY: A Short History of Lake Bonaparte and Natural Bridge NY.'' (1938): 13-15. Print.</ref><ref>To view historic images of Natural Bridge, see [http://www.historic-naturalbridge.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=slideshow.Slideshow&g2_itemId=95 '''this website'''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000951/http://www.historic-naturalbridge.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=slideshow.Slideshow&g2_itemId=95 |date=2016-03-04 }}.</ref>

Natural Bridge Caverns, the hamlet's namesake, was formerly operated as a [[show cave]], with tourists being ferried by boat on the underground portion of the [[Indian River (Black Lake)|Indian River]].<ref name="showcaves">{{cite web |last1=Duckeck |first1=Jochen |title=Natural Bridge Caverns |url=https://www.showcaves.com/english/usa/showcaves/NaturalBridgeNY.html |website=Show Caves of the World |access-date=24 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="archsociety">{{cite web |title=NABSQNO 18T-460479-4879850 |url=https://www.naturalarches.org/db/nabs/cavern1.htm |website=www.naturalarches.org |publisher=The Natural Arch & Bridge Society |access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref>