Natchez Trace

Natchez Trace starts in Nashville Tennessee and runs all the way down to Natchez Mississippi. Originally, it was a series of trails from different Native American tribes.  In the late 1700’s, boats were coming down to Natchez and New Orleans with crops.  The boatmen would sell their products along with the lumber of the boat then walk back up the Trace (6 weeks of walking!).  By 1810, it was the most heavily traveled route of the Southwest.

The original road is still there in places, but they’ve also built a modern 2-lane road along it.  It’s a scenic drive with over 100 places to stop at different sites.  When we were in Tennessee we stayed at a campground along the beginning of the trace.  Here we visited several places along the end of the trace.  One was an old inn for travelers.  However, it started as just a house and plantation.  People walking the road would stop and ask for a place to stay and maybe something to eat.  The owners would allow them to sleep on the porch or on the grounds.  As more people traveled the trace, it grew into an inn. 

Emerald Mound is along the trace, along with 3 other mound sites further north.  Several small cemeteries are situated along the trace too.