Old Natchez Trace segments listed on the National Register of Historic Places facts for kids

The Natchez Trace is a very old and important path that stretches across parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. It was used for hundreds of years by Native Americans, European settlers, and traders. Today, special parts of this historic path are protected because they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This means they are important historical sites.

Besides these path segments, other old buildings and places along the Natchez Trace are also protected. These places helped travelers long ago and still exist today.

Historic Natchez Trace Segments

Many parts of the original Natchez Trace are still around. Seven of these segments are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One long section is in Tennessee. Several other sections are in Mississippi and Alabama. Each of these listed sections has a special name.

Old Natchez Trace in Tennessee

The Old Natchez Trace in Tennessee is a very long part of the historic path. It goes through many counties in Tennessee. This protected area follows one main route of the old Natchez Trace. However, it does not include all the smaller paths or "branches" that also existed. For example, near Old Town in Franklin, Tennessee, another branch of the Trace crossed a creek called Brown's Creek.

This long section of the Trace covers parts of these counties: Lawrence, Hickman, Wayne, Williamson, Lewis, Davidson, and Maury County, Tennessee.

Old Natchez Trace (132-3T)

Old Natchez Trace (132-3T)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nearest city	Port Gibson, Mississippi
Area	0.89 acres (0.36 ha)
Built	1801
NRHP reference No.	76000161
Added to NRHP	November 7, 1976

This part of the Old Natchez Trace (132-3T) is located northeast of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi. It's about 0.7 miles north of the Mangum Mound Site. This spot is also known as the Grindstone Ford. It is an original piece of the Natchez Trace from long ago.

The Natchez Road played a role in the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. Union soldiers, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, were trying to move through the area. Confederate forces tried to stop them. The Natchez Road was important because if the Union soldiers found it, they could have marched directly into Port Gibson. The Confederate General was worried about this. Even though the battle was tough, the Union forces eventually took Port Gibson the next day. The Natchez Road was not used for a surprise attack during this battle.

Old Natchez Trace (170-30)

The Old Natchez Trace (170-30) is a small area that was listed in 1976. It protects two separate pieces of the old Trace. These are located near milepost 104.5. This area also includes the site of Brashears' Stand. This was an inn, like a hotel, run by Turner Brashears starting in 1806. It is just outside the eastern edge of Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Old Natchez Trace (212-3K 213-3K)

This section, Old Natchez Trace (212-3K 213-3K), is located northeast of Kosciusko in Attala County, Mississippi. You can find it near milepost 174.

Old Natchez Trace (230-3H)

The Old Natchez Trace (230-3H) is found southwest of Mathiston in Choctaw County, Mississippi. It is near milepost 199. This part of the Natchez Trace is at a special stop along the modern Natchez Trace Parkway where visitors can learn more about its history.

Old Natchez Trace (310-2A)

A paved section of site 310-2A, on the left

This section, Old Natchez Trace (310-2A), was listed in 1976. It is about 15 miles northwest of Florence, Alabama. You can find it off Alabama State Route 20 near milepost 336. This area protects a 400-foot part of the old Natchez Trace that was not paved in the 1970s. It also includes an 850-foot section that has been paved. The paved part is now a county road. This location is close to the Little Zion Church and the Cloverdale School.

Old Natchez Trace and Choctaw Agency Site

The Old Natchez Trace and Choctaw Agency Site is in Ridgeland, Mississippi, at milepost 100.7. It is located between Interstate 55 and Livingston Road, west of Ridgeland. This site includes a 3.3-mile part of the Natchez Trace. It also has an important archaeological site. From 1811 to 1823, this location was home to a government agency that worked with the Choctaw people.

Other Important Places Along the Trace

Many other historic places along the Natchez Trace are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These sites help us understand the history of the Trace and the people who lived and traveled along it.

• Old Town in Franklin, Tennessee was once a large Native American village with mounds. It was right next to the Trace and the Harpeth River. Later, an 1801 bridge was built here for the Natchez Trace to cross Brown's Creek. A house, the Thomas Brown House, was built in the 1840s or 1850s. All three of these properties are protected.
• The Col. James Drane House is an old house built before the Civil War. It is located at mile marker 180.7 on the modern Natchez Trace Parkway, near French Camp. This house, built in 1846, has a history connected to the Trace itself. It is now a place visitors can see along the Parkway.
• The Boyd Mounds Site (22MD512) is a group of six ancient mounds near Ridgeland. It is at Mile 106.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. This site is listed as an archaeological site, meaning it's important for studying past human life. Visitors can easily access it from a parking area off the Parkway.
• Janet's Mound is another important archaeological site. Its exact location is kept secret to protect it, but it is near French Camp.

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