The Natchez Trace Parkway is a beautiful 444-mile highway roughly following the ancient trail from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. It is managed by the National Park Service. The Trace, as it is known by the locals, passes through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Native Americans used it for hundreds of years before the arrival of European settlers. The Trace became part of the National Parks system in 1938. Presently it is used for recreation: pleasure driving, hiking, biking, and camping.
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| Old Natchez Trace |
On the night of October 11, 1809, at the Inn at Grinder's Stand, Meriwether Lewis died. The official story is that he killed himself. He did have a history of depression. On top of this emotional problem, Lewis had massive financial problems. He was traveling to Washington from St Louis to try to get repayment of expenses incurred on his and William Clark's famous journey of exploration of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, a trip that took them to the Pacific Ocean. He had, in fact, tried to kill himself earlier in the journey but was restrained. President Jefferson and Lewis' partner William Clark accepted suicide report. However, his death still remains a mystery for many. How can a person shoot himself multiple times? His money was also missing.
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| Meriwether Lewis Monument |
