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Natchez Trace Parkway
ExploreSouthernHistory.com
Natchez Trace: The South's First Super Highway
In many ways it is a road as old as the South itself. The Natchez
Trace Parkway is a 444-mile long national park area stretching from
the historic bluffs of Natchez, Mississippi, to the New South lights of
Nashville, Tennessee. Along the way, the parkway passes some of
the most significant landmarks and historic sites in the South.
The historic Natchez Trace was a roadway connecting the
settlements of Tennessee, Kentucky and the Ohio Valley region with
the lower Mississippi. From roughly 1800 to 1825, the time of
heaviest use of the Trace, it was used by thousands of farmers,
traders and boatmen who carried their farm products, furs and other
supplies down the Mississippi River to Natchez and New Orleans
and then walked or rode back home via the trace.
Portions of the Trace, of course, predate these years. Native
Americans had used some sections as trails for thousands of
years. Early settlers staked claims along the road as early as the
time of the American Revolution. The road continued to see heavy
use until steamboats arrived on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers,
bringing an end to the need for the long overland trek.
The modern Natchez Trace Parkway doesn't follow the exact route of
the original Trace. Instead it could well be described as a highway
into history. Two lanes of asphalt lead through Mississippi, Alabama
and Tennessee, giving visitors a chance to explore the real South at
a leisurely pace. Sections of the original Trace can be seen along
the modern parkway, along with scores of historic sites, natural
wonders, scenic vistas and more. It is a special place and worthy of
a visit any time of the year.
To begin your exploration of the Natchez Trace Parkway, please
follow the links below. We will be adding additional pages on the
Natchez Trace throughout the month, so check back often for new
additions!
Trace Parkway is a 444-mile long national park area stretching from
the historic bluffs of Natchez, Mississippi, to the New South lights of
Nashville, Tennessee. Along the way, the parkway passes some of
the most significant landmarks and historic sites in the South.
The historic Natchez Trace was a roadway connecting the
settlements of Tennessee, Kentucky and the Ohio Valley region with
the lower Mississippi. From roughly 1800 to 1825, the time of
heaviest use of the Trace, it was used by thousands of farmers,
traders and boatmen who carried their farm products, furs and other
supplies down the Mississippi River to Natchez and New Orleans
and then walked or rode back home via the trace.
Portions of the Trace, of course, predate these years. Native
Americans had used some sections as trails for thousands of
years. Early settlers staked claims along the road as early as the
time of the American Revolution. The road continued to see heavy
use until steamboats arrived on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers,
bringing an end to the need for the long overland trek.
The modern Natchez Trace Parkway doesn't follow the exact route of
the original Trace. Instead it could well be described as a highway
into history. Two lanes of asphalt lead through Mississippi, Alabama
and Tennessee, giving visitors a chance to explore the real South at
a leisurely pace. Sections of the original Trace can be seen along
the modern parkway, along with scores of historic sites, natural
wonders, scenic vistas and more. It is a special place and worthy of
a visit any time of the year.
To begin your exploration of the Natchez Trace Parkway, please
follow the links below. We will be adding additional pages on the
Natchez Trace throughout the month, so check back often for new
additions!
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| Natchez Trace Parkway - Mississippi The Natchez Trace winds for 444 miles through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. |
| Mount Locust - Natchez Trace Parkway Historic Mount Locus in Mississippi was once a "stand" or stopping place for travelers on the trace. |
| Ruins of the Old South The Natchez Trace threads its way through the heart of the Old South, passing numerous historic sites. |
| The Original Natchez Trace Sections of the original Natchez Trace can still be seen, leading off into the woods along the parkway. |