Driving the Natchez Trace parkway

The Natchez Trace goes from Natchez to Nashville through Jackson and Tupelo. This 444 miles trail used to cross the homelands of the Natchez, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations. For thousands of years it was a path for explorers, residents, immigrants and workers until it became obsolete by the road system. The scenic drive follows the trace and allows us to stop at different points of interest:
– The Confederate graves : 13 graves of Confederate soldiers without names or reason of death.
– Dogwood valley: small valley or dogwood trees in the forest.
– Pharr mounds: Indian mounds are the only remnants of the native era in the area. They were used as ceremonial and burial sites as early as 2000 years ago.
– Rock Spring: a stream fed by a hot spring where beavers build dams.
– Meriwether Lewis’s burial site: the explorer opened the path to the West from st Louis to Portland under president Jefferson’s order. He committed suicide here in 1809, he was sick and owed money to the government.
– A 1900′ tobacco farm: the barn to dry the tobacco leaves has been preserved.
– Gordon house: Mr Gordon built this house in 1817. He was operating a ferry on the trace to cross Duck river.
– Birdsong Hollow: this double arch bridge won the 1995 presidential award for design excellence.

Note that the trace goes across three states: Mississipi, Tennessee and the corner of Alabama.