Once you get back on the Trace, there’s a sprawling picnic area by the creek at milepost 378 worth a stop to stretch your legs and have a bite to eat if you packed your own lunch. If you live in Tennessee and have never done this drive along the Natchez Trace Parkways, it’s the perfect excuse to get out of the city on a weekend or fall break and appreciate the space in our expansive state. Since the full map of the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway is nearly four feet long, we have broken it up into four sections to make it easier to print. Among the historical landmarks along its Mississippi route are Emerald Mound (c. 1400), the country’s second largest ceremonial mound, built by ancestors of the Natchez; the restored Mount Locust Inn (c. 1780); the Bynum Mounds (c. 100 bc–ad 200); and Chickasaw Village (formerly Ackia Battleground), with exhibits on Chickasaw history and daily life. So much of the state is green space, yet travelers often only see the cities, so I encourage you to extend your trip in Nashville or Memphis and get a taste of what our Southern oasis is truly like. Printing Note: Use the "shrink to fit page" command, or the equivalent for your printer … Thanks to your posts, I found Paris Woodhull’s mural in South Knoxville and loved it! Natchez National Historical Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, and Shiloh National Military Park are within 40 miles (65 km) of the parkway. Black Friday Sale! Updates? In 1961 Ackia Battleground and Meriwether Lewis national monuments were added to the parkway’s area, which also includes Tupelo National Battlefield and the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. It is your Texas friend. Such a beautiful parkway. Note: Due to COVID-19, many facilities are currently closed. Loved this post as we are still in lockdown in Melbourne (Australia) and I’m virtually roadtripping everywhere I can! Napier Mine and Metal Ford in Tennessee hark back to frontier iron mining and smelting. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Was it suicide? Since the discovery center sits right in the middle of the town, it’s worth a quick stroll around Hohenwald’s Main Street when you’re done to see the other sites and grab a bite to eat at Rock House Coffee Company. Introduction to the Natchez Trace Parkway Natchez, MS, the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway Every American should be familiar with the Natchez Trace Parkway. Rusha Sams. It’s 444 miles of rich history, from Natchez, MS in the south to just shy of Nashville, TN in the north. Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge (milepost 438) Less than five miles down the road, you’ll hit one of the most iconic photo stops along the parkway: the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. It begins in Natchez, Mississippi, and, generally following a Native American trail in a northeasterly direction, ends near Nashville, Tennessee. If you’re not from here, it’s a great glimpse at everything Tennessee has to offer beyond our four major metro areas. My wife and I drove the lower section of the Natchez trace Jackson, MS a few years ago. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In the late 18th century, boatmen who floated down the Mississippi River with flatboats of goods would sell both the goods and the boats and use the trace as an overland route back to the Ohio River valley. Aww, thank you, Rusha! If you want to explore the area between Leiper’s Fork and Franklin via your own two legs, I highly recommending renting a pedal-assist Pedego bike or booking one of the company’s several tours. On the other side of the bridge, you can hang a left and wind down to Highway 96 below and look up at this mighty site towering over you. Your photos are gorgeous, and I would love to drive this some day. Premium Membership is now 50% off! From 1800 to 1820 it was the most important highway in the Old Southwest—militarily, economically, and politically. Yes, the speed limit on the Trace is definitely to be taken seriously, ha. All sorts of people traveled down the Trace: itinerant preachers, highwaymen, traders, and peddlers among them. Less than five miles down the road, you’ll hit one of the most iconic photo stops along the parkway: the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. Hello again. Nope, bikers ride on the shoulder of the parkway, but the speed limit is VERY strictly enforced since it’s national park. Just 10 minutes west of the Meriwether Lewis Monument is the quaint town of Hohenwald. Am in love with the Loveless Cafe and Leiper’s Fork, but most of the other sites were new to me. In more recent times, it’s widely known as the home to the Elephant Sanctuary, a 2,600-acre refuge for both injured and retired circus elephants that is nestled in the rolling hills of Lewis County. I’m such a fan and can’t wait to have a Paris original hanging in my house! Starting from the northern terminus, here are the Natchez Trace Parkway stops in Tennessee you shouldn’t miss. Take a look at my website and my book. With just shy of 4,000 residents, Hohenwald has an interesting backstory: It was established by a German immigrant couple in 1878 and named for the German word for “high forest” thanks to its verdant topography. The grave of explorer Meriwether Lewis is a short distance north of the trace in south-central Tennessee, near Hohenwald. Fascinating about the elephant sanctuary! With the advent of the river steamer and of newer, more direct roads after the War of 1812, it began a gradual decline. Corrections? Access to the parkway is limited, with more than fifty access points in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. If you’re looking to kill a morning before you start your drive, I highly suggest filling it with a trip to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and a plate of biscuits at Loveless before you enter the Trace at milepost 442. After crossing the bridge, you’ll spot the pull off for Timberland Park at milepost 437.2. Leiper’s Fork is akin to if you took some of the nation’s top minds, deposited them in a protected land trust in the middle of a Mayberry-esque setting in rural Tennessee and told them to go wild, but create something awesome. There’s a lookout point on your right before you drive the bridge where you can pull over and take your epic photos. Pro tip: This section of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee is largely devoid of cell reception and data coverage, so bring your own tunes. I’ll definitely check out your book, thank you! Though the Natchez Trace was used as a major United States route only for a brief span, it served an essential function for years. I have plenty of Franklin travel resources if you choose to extend your trip along the Natchez Trace: One of the most popular waterfalls on the Trace is located in Hickman County just outside of Centerville.