Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a road stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. People come from all over to drive their cars or ride their bikes along it, to enjoy the scenery it offers, and to reflect on its 10,000 year history. That’s right, the Natchez Trace Parkway, a modern leisure road and National Parkway, got its start 10,000 years ago as a simple game trail for bison. Between then and now lies a corridor with a fascinating story.
I took a Natchez Trace cycling trip to bring you that story. Over 200 miles, we’ll cover everything from those prehistoric origins to indigenous history to the industrious journeys of the Mississippi River travelers known as the “Kaintucks.” Thanks for joining me and enjoy the journey!
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Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
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Sources and Resources:
Library of Congress Historical Photos:
loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Photograph:%20ms0318&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true
Smithsonian Magazine Article:
smithsonianmag.com/travel/end-of-the-road-38356859
Tennessee Historical Magazine Article:
books.google.com/books?id=1rVYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA27#v=onepage&q&f=false
Chickasaw TV Natchez Trace Playlist:
chickasaw.tv/places/natchez-trace-profile
Chickasaw Treaty:
recordsofrights.org/records/222/treaty-with-the-chickasaw
Encyclopedia of Alabama Article:
encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2037
Scenic Trace Article:
scenictrace.com/about-the-trace
Natchez Trace Foundation Documentation:
npshistory.com/publications/foundation-documents/natr-fd-2014.pdf
National Park Service Natchez Trace Homepage:
nps.gov/natr/index.htm
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Images and Music:
National Park Service
Storyblocks
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a road stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee. People come from all over to drive their cars or ride their bikes along it, to enjoy the scenery it offers, and to reflect on its 10,000 year history. That’s right, the Natchez Trace Parkway, a modern leisure road and National Parkway, got its start 10,000 years ago as a simple game trail for bison. Between then and now lies a corridor with a fascinating story.
I took a Natchez Trace cycling trip to bring you that story. Over 200 miles, we’ll cover everything from those prehistoric origins to indigenous history to the industrious journeys of the Mississippi River travelers known as the “Kaintucks.” Thanks for joining me and enjoy the journey!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources and Resources:
Library of Congress Historical Photos:
loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Photograph:%20ms0318&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true
Smithsonian Magazine Article:
smithsonianmag.com/travel/end-of-the-road-38356859
Tennessee Historical Magazine Article:
books.google.com/books?id=1rVYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA27#v=onepage&q&f=false
Chickasaw TV Natchez Trace Playlist:
chickasaw.tv/places/natchez-trace-profile
Chickasaw Treaty:
recordsofrights.org/records/222/treaty-with-the-chickasaw
Encyclopedia of Alabama Article:
encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2037
Scenic Trace Article:
scenictrace.com/about-the-trace
Natchez Trace Foundation Documentation:
npshistory.com/publications/foundation-documents/natr-fd-2014.pdf
National Park Service Natchez Trace Homepage:
nps.gov/natr/index.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Images and Music:
National Park Service
Storyblocks
