Natchez Trace Parkway
The
Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444 mile (715 km) long
parkway, in the form of a limited-access two-lane road, in the southeastern
United States. The southern end of the route is northeast of
Washington,
Mississippi, at an intersection with
US 61; the northern end is northeast of
Fairview,
Tennessee, in the
suburban community of
Pasquo, Tennessee at an intersection with
Tennessee 100. The road links the cities of
Natchez,
Mississippi and
Nashville,
Tennessee, and also crosses northwestern
Alabama.
Construction was begun by the federal government in the
1930s. The final segment, between
Interstate 55 and
Interstate 20 (in
Ridgeland and
Clinton, respectively), opened to the public on
May 21,
2005. The road is maintained by the
National Park Service, and has been designated an
All-American Road. The purpose of the road is to commemorate the original route of the
Natchez Trace.
|
Rocky Springs Methodist Church |
The road was one of the many projects of the
Civilian Conservation Corps during the
Great Depression. The road was the proposal of U.S. Congressman
Thomas Jefferson Busby of Mississippi, who proposed it as a way to give tribute to the original Natchez Trace. Inspired by the proposal, the
Daughters of the American Revolution began planting markers and monuments along the Trace. In
1934, the
Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration ordered a survey. Construction on the Parkway began in
1939, to be overseen by the National Park Service. Its length includes more than 45,000 acres (182 km²) and the towering
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge in
Williamson County,
Tennessee, completed in
1994 and one of only two post-tensioned, segmental concrete arch bridges in the world. (See the
Federal Highway Administration's
photo.)
There are numerous historical sites on the Parkway, including the
Meriwether Lewis Museum, the refurbished
Mount Locust stand, and the
Ridgeland Crafts Center in
Ridgeland,
Mississippi, which focuses on promoting Mississippi's native art. Nestled between the Parkway and Old Port Gibson Road is the ghost town of Rocky Springs that thrived in the late 1800's. Today the old Rocky Springs Methodist Church, the cemetery and several building sites still exist and are accessible from the Parkway. Scenic Cypress Swamp is located at Mile Post 122. There are also several cascading waterfalls to view, some require a little hike from the parkway to view. In addition, parts of the
original trail are still accessible. The history of the Parkway and that of the entire Trace is summarized at the Natchez Trace Visitor Center in
Tupelo,
Mississippi.
Commercial traffic is prohibited along the entire route, and the speed limit is 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).
Emergency Appropriations Act of
June 19,
1934, allocated initial construction funds; established as parkway under National Park Service by act of
May 18,
1938.
Ackia Battleground National Monument (established
August 27,
1935, and now called Chickasaw Village) and
Meriwether Lewis Park (proclaimed as
Meriwether Lewis National Monument February 6,
1925 and transferred from the
War Department August 10,
1933) were added to the parkway by act of
August 10,
1961.
*Total area: 51,746.50 acres (209.41 km²)
* Federal area: 51,680.64 acres (209.14 km²)
* Nonfederal area: 65.86 acres (0.27 km²)
The parkway headquarters is in Tupelo. The parkway also manages two battlefields:
Tupelo National Battlefield and
Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site.
*
Blue Ridge Parkway*
The National Parks: Index 2001-2003. Washington:
U.S. Department of the Interior.
*
National Park Service: Natchez Trace Parkway
