Natchez Trace Parkway: Day 3 - Fall Hollow to Tupelo

Tho still chilly, and snow here and there on the ground, it's a beautiful day for a road trip along the Natchez Trace Parkway.  This post completes our 3rd day of travel.  

beautiful, clear water at Fall Hollow

walked up the trail to an overlook for a view of the falls

they were flowing nicely -- there is a rough trail that goes below them, but we weren't equipped for it

Lewis' grave -- an unfinished column symbolizes a life cut short

Next stop was at the Meriweather Lewis site. This is a wonderful campground and historic site that includes his grave.  There is differing theories about how he died here. The NPS seems to lean towards it being suicide.  He was in his 30's.  Pretty amazing what all he accomplished in his short life.

some pioneer graves surround Lewis' grave

info center

location of Grinder's stand where Lewis died

going across the TN River

Colbert Ferry site

Tennessee River

Colbert's ferry operated here across the Tennessee River

leaving TN and entering 'Bama

heading up the trail to the highest point in AL on the Trace -- Freedom Hill, 800 ft

steeper than it looks, and not much of a view due to the trees

another non-view

Bear Creek Mound

Cave Spring

was an important spring and shelter for Native Americans, but water is no longer safe

Tenn-Tom Waterway

takes barge traffic from the TN River to the Gulf of Mexico

Pharr Mounds - the most significant archeological site in Mississippi

one of 8 dome-shaped mounds at Pharr Mounds

Confederate Gravesites just north of Tupelo

Confederate Gravesites -- there are 13 unknown Confederate soldiers buried here

and part of the Old Trace is here as well

and a wild dog