The Natchez Trace ( trace in this sense is a path created by repeated use ) connecting Nashville , Tennessee with Natchez , Mississippi , is a passageway established thousands of years ago by migrating herds of buffalo and other grazing animals . The trace was later utilized by Native Americans , explorers and settlers .
It is perhaps best-known today as the return trail for boatmen called “ Kaintucks ” who , from the early 1800s to mid-1820s , floated down the Mississippi River on wooden flatboats filled with goods to sell after which the boats were sold there for lumber . The
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boatmen then walked or rode horses back north . Rather than follow the Mississippi River , the trace headed northeast and generally required a little over a month to reach Nashville .
Despite the path ’ s generally poor condition , Congress established the trace as a post ( as in mail ) road in 1800 . As passage usage increased and the road underwent improvements , entrepreneurs established inns , called “ stands ,” that offered food and lodging along the way . While most foot traffic headed north , large numbers of slaves were marched south along the trace to be sold at auction to plantation owners , Natchez Trace National
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Scenic Trail was established in 1983 and is one of 11 national scenic trails managed by the National Park Service . The trail totals 60 miles and is comprised of five segments ranging in length from 3 to 26 miles . For those interested in driving rather than hiking , the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway parallels the old trace . The parkway was established as a unit of the National Park Service in 1938 , but not officially completed until 2005 . A leisurely drive along the two-lane road with marked pullouts , exhibits , information boards , walking trails and visitor centers offers a lesson in American history . Maximum speed on |
the parkway is 50 mph , so it ’ s a slow go , but this is appropriate with so much to experience along the scenic road .
The two of us have enjoyed over five decades of travel including driving the full length of the Blue Ridge Parkway at least a dozen times , but it wasn ’ t until fall 2023 that we took time to explore the Natchez Trace Parkway . We scheduled the trip in October in hopes of enjoying colorful foliage and kept checking the 10-day weather forecast to avoid rainy days .
A person could conceivably complete the parkway in a long day of driving , but what ’ s the point other
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8 Community Life |