The Richest History On the Mississippi River
Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River.
Natchez National Historical Park tells the story of Natchez in the American South. The park protects the sites and structures associated with the peoples of Natchez and its surrounding area from earliest inhabitants to the modern era. The name Natchez is derived from the "Natchez" American Indians who inhabited the area at the time of European exploration. The historic sites maintained by the park, and the surrounding preservation district, give visitors an opportunity to understand the region's social political, and economic development, particularly in the pre-and-post Civil War era's. They also provide insights into the region's commercial and agricultural history, especially in relation to the Mississippi River, slavery, and cotton.
The park is composed of five NPS owned properties: Forks of the Road, Fort Rosalie, Melrose, the William Johnson House, the Natchez Visitor Center, and a larger area known as the preservation district.
Dec 7 - 8 2019Got to revisit this site today. First taking in the antebellum estate of Melrose, built in 1840. We got to tour the mansion with the Park Ranger and as we were the only ones on the tour, we got the full attention of the Ranger who did an outstanding job with the tour and answering all of our questions. After the tour we got to explore the ground at our pace. We then headed to the William Johnson House. No tour is offered of the house but there is a very well-done display telling the story of what life was like for a man whose mother was a slave and father was believed to be the plantation owner. This is a great Park to take in the learn about life in the old South.
Jan 18, 2011
