NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY

old road and one of the most scenic highways in the United States, about 450 mi (725 km) long, following an Indian trail, or trace, northeastward from Natchez, Miss., across northwestern Alabama to Nashville, Tenn. Originally an Indian trail, from 1800 to 1820 it was the most important highway in the Old Southwestmilitarily, economically, and politically. With the advent of the river steamer and of newer and more direct roads after the War of 1812, it began a gradual decline. Among the historical landmarks along its route, which was under redevelopment in the late 1970s, are the Emerald and Bynum Indian ceremonial mounds and Chickasaw Village in Mississippi, and Napier Mine and Metal Ford in Tennessee, the last two harking back to frontier iron mining and smelting. In 1938 the parkway became part of the National Park system with headquarters at Tupelo, Miss., and in 1961 Ackia Battleground and Meriwether Lewis National Monuments were added to its area.