The National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe: Honoring America’s First Westward Explorers

The National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe is a hereditary and historical organization dedicated to preserving the memory of Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood’s 1716 expedition across the Blue Ridge Mountains—an event that marked one of the earliest explorations westward by English settlers in North America. The order pays tribute to this bold venture, often regarded as the symbolic beginning of America’s westward expansion.

The Historical Origins: Spotswood’s Expedition of 1716

In the early 18th century, Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood sought to promote colonial expansion beyond the settled Tidewater region into the Shenandoah Valley. On August 29, 1716, Spotswood led a group of about 50 gentlemen, soldiers, rangers, and servants westward from Germanna, Virginia, across the Blue Ridge Mountains—a feat that few Europeans had accomplished at the time.

The group camped near the present-day town of Elkton, Virginia, before returning eastward. Upon their return, it is said that Spotswood presented each member of the party with a small golden horseshoe, symbolizing the crossing of the mountains. The recipients proudly called themselves the “Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.”

The governor inscribed each horseshoe with the Latin phrase “Sic juvat transcendere montes” (“Thus, it is a pleasure to cross the mountains”). The event was celebrated in colonial Virginia as both an adventurous feat and a symbolic claim to the western lands.

Formation of the Modern Society

According to the Heriditary Society Community, the Society was instituted August, 1716; reorganized April 15, 1916 and again on September 9, 2014.

The Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe was originally conceived and founded by those individuals who engaged in the first expedition west of the Appalachian Mountains by Virginia Lieutenant (Acting) Governor Alexander Spotswood. The venture has historically been considered one of the key exploratory threshold events in the New World, and a precursor of the Westward Movement. Edward Ingle wrote in the Magazine American History in 1887: “As the middle figure in the field of Western discovery between Christopher Columbus kissing the ground of San Salvador in 1492 and the explorers Lewis and Clarke making their way in 1803-1806 to the Pacific Coast, stands Alexander Spotswood, drinking on the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains a health to his English sovereign.”

Originally designated the “Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe” by Spotswood and his companions, the entity was revived and reconstituted in 1916 and formally renamed the “National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.”

The privilege of membership is extended to lineal or collateral descendants of the original Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, and to others of ineffably worthy Colonial Lineage. Membership is strictly by invitation only.

Mission and Purpose

The mission of the National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe is to:

Commemorate the 1716 expedition of Alexander Spotswood and his companions;
Preserve genealogical and historical records of the expedition’s participants and their descendants;
Promote education and awareness of early Virginia exploration and colonial life;
Support historical preservation of sites and artifacts related to Spotswood’s journey and early westward expansion;
Foster fellowship among members who share an interest in the pioneering spirit of colonial America.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The 1716 Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition is remembered as a landmark event in colonial America—the first organized effort by English settlers to explore beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spotswood’s expedition symbolized not only Virginia’s ambition for territorial expansion but also the spirit of discovery that would later define the American frontier. Today, the National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe keeps that spirit alive by connecting descendants and historians to one of the earliest chapters in the story of exploration and settlement.

Conclusion

The National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe stands as a tribute to America’s earliest explorers—the men who crossed the Blue Ridge in 1716 and opened the way to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.

By preserving genealogical records, supporting historical research, and celebrating the enduring spirit of adventure, the Order ensures that the bravery of Governor Spotswood and his companions continues to inspire new generations of Americans who value exploration, discovery, and perseverance.

The National Order of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe: Honoring America’s First Westward Explorers