The National Park Service has selected Robert Stewart as the new superintendent of Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site and Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Stewart began his new role on Sept. 20.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument is opening a temporary visitor center at the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. The Temporary Visitor center will be open until renovations of the A.G. Gaston Motel are completed.
The National Park Service will reopen a 15-mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway on August 3 and begin the next phase of a major road rehabilitation project, requiring a detour around a 24-mile section between state Highway 16 (milepost 135) and state Highway 19 (milepost 159.5).
DAVISTON, Ala. — Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is pleased to announce the academic symposium, “Memory and Meaning and the Creek War,” at Auburn University on Aug. 22. Offered in collaboration with Auburn University and the Friends of Horseshoe Bend, the program brings together leading scholars to discuss the Creek War and how generations have since commemorated it.
As a part of the Speeding Catches Up With You campaign, Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers and Mississippi Highway Patrol Troopers will be present along the Natchez Trace to protect the public from aggressive speeding violations.
On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site will host an event on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate American independence and the anniversary of the founding of Tuskegee University.
Beginning June 22, the Natchez Trace Parkway will detour motorists around a 15-mile section of parkway between state Route 12 (milepost 165) and state Route 413 (milepost 180) in Attala and Choctaw counties as construction begins on a major road rehabilitation project.
DAVISTON, Ala. — Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is excited to offer the opportunity for anyone with a strong interest in history to join the Horseshoe Bend Living History Program. This fun and engaging program provides hands-on training and certifies volunteers to conduct historic weapons demonstrations using reproduction black powder flintlock muskets and cannon. The park is looking for up to 10 volunteers, ages 18 and older, who are interested in gaining experience with public speaking, interpretive programming and participating in special events.
On April 15, Natchez Trace Parkway will close Double Arch Bridge near Nashville and begin construction to install a permanent pedestrian safety barrier. The bridge will be closed to motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists until spring 2027.
On April 3, the National Park Service will release a report and administrative record file about the former Ridgeland Firing Range on Natchez Trace Parkway for public review and comment.
On April 3, the National Park Service will release a report and administrative record file about the former Port Gibson Firing Range on Natchez Trace Parkway for public review and comment.
TUSKEGEE, Ala. — On April 23, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site will host a STEM Day in recognition of the generous gift from Gary Webb of Piqua, Ohio. Webb is donating a remote-controlled P-51 Mustang model aircraft to the site.
DAVISTON, Ala. — On Saturday, March 28, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park invites the public to commemorate the 212th Anniversary of the Battle of the Horseshoe. This free, family-friendly event highlights the significance of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in U.S. history. Leaders from the Muscogee Creek Nation will share stories from their ancestral lands to highlight cultural effects of the battle. The event will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the park visitor center.
The National Park Service will close Natchez Trace Parkway between TN Highway 46 (milepost 429) and the northern terminus (milepost 442) south of Nashville, Tennessee at approximately 8 PM Central Standard Time today, Jan. 23. Additional closures along the parkway may occur during the storm.
The National Park Service finalized the master plan and environmental assessment selecting the preferred alternative for the Bus Burning Site at Freedom Riders National Monument. The environmental assessment presented a finding of no significant impact.
Construction-related closure of the Natchez Trace Parkway between Mississippi Highway 413 (milepost 181) and U.S. Highway 82 (milepost 204) in Choctaw and Webster counties will remain in effect longer than originally anticipated.
DAVISTON, Ala. – The National Park Service is excited to announce that Horseshoe Bend National Military Park will be reopening the tour road and portions of the eastern trail system on Dec. 15. Staff will have trail maps available at the park’s Visitor Center. Signage will be posted indicating trail heads and directions for visitor use.
The National Park Service will conduct prescribed burns along the Natchez Trace Parkway beginning November 17. Fire season along the parkway will run until May 2026.
Freedom Riders National Monument releases and launches public commenting on the Master Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Bus Burning Site, six miles west of Anniston, Alabama along Old Birmingham Highway.
On Monday, June 9 at 2 p.m., the National Park Service will close Natchez Trace Parkway from Mississippi Highway 413 (MP 181) to U.S. Highway 82 (MP 204) in Choctaw and Webster counties in Mississippi. The last night to camp at Jeff Busby campground is Sunday, June 8.
As warmer temperatures return and motorcycle riders take to the scenic byways of the South, the Natchez Trace Parkway is joining the National Park Service’s “Different Road, Different Ride” campaign this May to highlight motorcycle safety during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
The National Park Service is pleased to announce the grand reopening of the George Washington Carver Museum, located on the historic campus of Tuskegee University, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Our annual Living History Event will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025. We will be commemorating the 211th Anniversary of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. A luminary event will also be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and will focus on the Muscogee Creek experience during the battle and its aftermath.
On March 4, 2025, the National Park Service will begin mill and overlay asphalt repair work on the ramps from Natchez Trace Parkway to Interstate Highway 55 resulting in nightly closures. Closures will occur from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. as work progresses, starting with the north bound on-ramp the evening of Tuesday, March 4.
On February 10, 2025, the National Park Service will begin rehabilitation work on the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Four separate sections of the trail will close as work progresses.
The National Park Service will conduct prescribed fires along Natchez Trace Parkway beginning January 22. Weather permitting, fire operations will occur throughout the months of February and March.
The National Park Service will close Natchez Trace Parkway between Highway 46 (milepost 429) to the northern terminus (milepost 442) south of Nashville, Tennessee at approximately 10 PM CST today January 9, 2025. Parkway Visitor Center (milepost 266) in Tupelo, Mississippi will have a delayed opening tomorrow, January 10, 2025.
The National Park Service seeks public comment on an environmental assessment (EA) for the replacement of the John Coffee Memorial Bridge (Tennessee River Bridge) along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Patrick Malone as program manager of Region 6, 7 and 8 National Trails Office. In this role, Malone will administer the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, California National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Old Spanish National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.
The Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a National Historic Site with a two-day event on October 24-26, 2024, honoring the institute's significant contributions to African American history and culture. The celebration will feature Youth Day and Community Day activities, including tours, interactive stations, and a peanut demonstration.
The National Park Service will close Rocky Springs Campground in Claiborne County and the grounds of Mount Locust Inn in Jefferson County by sunset today, September 10, 2024. Additional locations along the parkway may close during incoming Tropical Storm Francine.
The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the selection of Dr. Rolando Herts as superintendent of Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama, effective Sep. 9.
This month marks the beginning of riding season for many motorcyclists in America. It is also Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds all motorists that Motorcyclist’s Safety Is Everyone’s Safety. Motorcycle safety is an ongoing responsibility for all road users on Natchez Trace Parkway.
The National Park Service announces the limited capacity reopening of The Oaks, the historic home of Booker T. Washington, starting May 6. Tours will be available exclusively by reservation on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, allowing visitors to explore this significant landmark with limited group sizes of 15 adult visitors and 10 youth visitors, for a maximum of 25 visitors per tour.
The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the selection of Steve Theus as the new superintendent for Little River Canyon National Preserve and Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama, effective May 5.
The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the selection of Steve Theus as the new superintendent for Little River Canyon National Preserve and Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama, effective May 5.
The National Park Service (NPS) seeks public comment on a wetlands statement of finding (WSOF) for a revetment project for bank stabilization of Lindsey Creek at a pipeline crossing Natchez Trace Parkway near Clinton, Mississippi.
The National Park Service will conduct prescribed fires along Natchez Trace Parkway beginning today. Weather permitting, burn operations will occur throughout the month of March.
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park will host the 210th Anniversary of the Battle of the Horseshoe on Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, 2024. This free annual event recreates traditional Muscogee Creek life, frontier life in the year 1814, and emphasizes the importance of the battle in United States history.
National Park Service law enforcement rangers are asking for the public’s help in locating and identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision on Natchez Trace Parkway.
The National Park Service (NPS) seeks public comment on an environmental assessment (EA) to construct an extension of the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail near Jackson, Mississippi. The EA analyzes the impacts of the construction and use of the proposed 2.5-mile trail extension.
Starting on January 29, 2024, the National Park Service (NPS) will open the visitor centers at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail six days a week, Monday - Saturday.
Starting on January 29, the National Park Service (NPS) will open the visitor centers at the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site six days a week, Monday - Saturday.
The National Park Service will close Natchez Trace Parkway south of Nashville, Tennessee between milepost 429 and 442 at approximately 7 PM Sunday. Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo, Mississippi will close at noon today. Additional sections of the parkway may close during the storms.
The National Park Service released the 2022 Socioeconomic Research of Natchez Trace Parkway report. The report focuses on park visitors. It develops a deeper understanding of who visits the Parkway and what they do during their visit.
Three national scenic trails have become the country’s newest national parks, raising the total number of existing parks from 425 to 428. The Ice Age, New England, and North Country national scenic trails, all previously established by Congress and administered by the National Park Service as part of the National Trails System, are now also recognized as units of the National Park System.
Nine defendants pled guilty on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 to impaired driving offenses on the Natchez Trace Parkway in the Northern District of Mississippi. These convictions stemmed from the defendants operating motor vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Today, the National Park Service released a series of videos encouraging travelers to “Drive safe, the park way.” The three-part series will prepare travelers to experience the parkway safely throughout the year.
TUPELO, Miss. — The National Park Service is implementing a ban on campfires and charcoal use at Natchez Trace Parkway due to the current drought and high fire danger. Effective immediately, all campfires and charcoal use are banned on parkway property, including the developed campgrounds at Rocky Springs, Jeff Busby, and Meriwether Lewis; the designated bicycle campgrounds, and all picnic areas along the parkway.
Today, Natchez Trace Parkway, in partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, hosted a naturalization ceremony in honor of Citizenship Day and Constitution Week (September 17-23, 2023). Nineteen candidates from countries of origin around the world became new American citizens on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
Officials from the National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) this week celebrated the completion of a 40-mile roadway rehabilitation and safety improvements project along Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) in Alabama and Mississippi. The Parkway is one of the nation’s most visited national parks with 6 million annual visitors who enjoy the scenic drive, historic sites and recreational activities in communities along the parkway.
Tupelo, MS – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 6.5 million visitors to the Natchez Trace Parkway in 2022 spent $474 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 5,660 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $640 million.
Beginning August 16, a section of the Natchez Trace Parkway will be closed for paving and embankment repairs from Milepost 239 - 251. A Signed detour from Highway 32 (MP 239.2) to Highway 6 (MP 256.9) will be in place.
KOSCIUSKO, Miss. – The Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers are asking for the public’s help in locating and identifying a driver involved in a Hit-and-Run collision.
The National Park Service (NPS) is partnering with the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) to rehabilitate the Tupelo and Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield sites located in Lee County, Mississippi.
The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public feedback on a proposed framework for addressing future road and bridge paving and rehabilitation projects on the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway).
The National Park Service will conduct prescribed fires along Natchez Trace Parkway beginning in March. Weather permitting, burn operations will occur between March 11 and April 15.
National Park Service park rangers made 8,557 traffic stops on Natchez Trace Parkway last year. The traffic stops resulted in 6,428 citations and 266 arrests.
The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail announces the acquisition of six properties near the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma for the construction of a $10 million interpretive education center commemorating the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches of 1965.
Sections of the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail in Ridgeland, Mississippi will be closed to the public as National Park Service crews remove, trim and mow vegetation along the trail. The work will be completed in sections and the temporary closures will move as work progresses.
The National Park Service (NPS) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Double Arch Bridge Safety Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA) to install a permanent safety barrier to deter suicide at the bridge on Natchez Trace Parkway in Williamson County, Tennessee.
The National Park Service has reopened the section of Natchez Trace Parkway from Milepost 326 to Milepost 336, including John Coffee Memorial Bridge. Final audible stripe placement and shoulder grading is still underway in this section of parkway. Travelers should be aware of mobile construction zones and potential single lane closures.
The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public feedback on the John Coffee Memorial Bridge Replacement or Rehabilitation project along the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway), six miles north of Cherokee, Alabama. A 30-day civic engagement period will be open from Oct. 25 to Nov. 28, 2022.
The National Park Service will close a section of Natchez Trace Parkway including the John Coffee Memorial Bridge at 8 PM, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. The bridge is located 6 miles north of Cherokee, Alabama and spans the Tennessee River.
The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking input from the public for an ethnographic study of the John Coffee Memorial Bridge on Natchez Trace Parkway. The purpose of the study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the John Coffee Memorial Bridge and surrounding area as the Parkway initiates a project to repair or replace the bridge.
In an effort to make Labor Day weekend safer for national park visitors, Natchez Trace Parkway rangers and other local law enforcement agencies conducted a series of traffic safety checkpoints over the weekend. The checkpoints resulted in ten arrests for impaired driving.
National Park Service (NPS) rangers cited a man caught in the act of spray painting the TN 96 bridge on Natchez Trace Parkway. The 20-year-old man from Nashville, Tennessee was spotted by a NPS employee, who reported it to law enforcement officers.
Through funding from the Great American Outdoors Act’s (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund and Federal Highway Administration’s National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Program, the National Park Service (NPS) will receive approximately $130.6 million to rehabilitate 83 miles of Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi.
On June 6, 2022, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin construction of a temporary safety barrier on Double Arch Bridge (Milepost 438) near Nashville, Tennessee. Motorists and bicyclists should expect one-lane closures, 10-to-15-minute traffic delays, and Birdsong Hollow pullout to be closed. The bridge will be closed to pedestrians and hikers for the project duration.
The National Park Service (NPS) seeks the public’s input on an environmental assessment (EA) to install a permanent safety barrier to deter suicide at the Double Arch bridge on Natchez Trace Parkway in Williamson County, Tennessee. The comment period will be open from May 16 to June 17, 2022.
Beginning at 3 p.m. CST Natchez Trace Parkway will close from Collinwood, TN (Milepost 355) all the way to the northern terminus in Nashville (Milepost 444).
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Natchez Trace Parkway from Tupelo, MS to Nashville, TN beginning Thursday. Mid-morning on Thursday, the Parkway will close from Collinwood, TN (Milepost 355) to Highway 64, (Milepost 370) and from Highway 46 /Pinewood Rd. (Milepost 429) to the northern terminus in Nashville.
Natchez Trace Parkway is closed from HWY 46 in Tennessee (near Milepost 429) to the Northern Terminus in Nashville due to winter weather conditions. The road will remain closed until snow and ice have cleared from the motor road.
Tuesday morning Natchez Trace park rangers and Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers conducted a traffic safety checkpoint on Natchez Trace Parkway, just south of the City of Tupelo. Over 1000 vehicles were screened in a five-hour period.
On Monday, December 6, 2021, Colbert Ferry, Milepost 327.3, on Natchez Trace Parkway will close for paving. The Colbert Ferry boat ramp area and access roads will be closed for one week while construction crews pave the area. The comfort station nearest to the Parkway will remain open.
Natchez Trace Parkway will begin pavement preservation work on a section of Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail near Ridgeland, MS, on December 1, 2021. The trail will be closed from the Southern Terminus (Milepost 95.9) to the Choctaw Agency pullout (Milepost 100.7).
The National Park Service will commemorate Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 11, with special events and free admission to national parks for everyone. In support of the Joining Forces initiative, the NPS also recently launched a new interactive map on NPS.gov highlighting national parks near Department of Defense and Veterans Administration facilities nationwide.
To honor the “Greatest Generation”, the famed accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, and our nation’s veterans, the National Park Service will proudly host the United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors for an outdoor concert at Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site on November 11, 2021. The concert will begin at 2:00 pm CST
Two new detours along Natchez Trace Parkway will take effect in Mississippi and Alabama later this month. Phase Two, of the ongoing paving project near Tupelo, MS, Milepost (MP) 262 to 266, is scheduled to begin the week of October 11, 2021. A new multiphase project near the Mississippi/Alabama border, Milepost 293 to 337, will begin in late October.
The Natchez Trace Parkway and nearby Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail will close to all traffic including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians beginning July 19, 2021. A detour will be implemented from Milepost 257 to 262.
National Park Service (NPS) acting Regional Director Pedro Ramos announced the selection of Douglas “Doug” Neighbor as the new superintendent of Natchez Trace Parkway, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site and Tupelo National Battlefield, effective Aug. 15.
Today, the National Park Service (NPS) began seeking public input to support development of a General Management Plan (GMP) for the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
Freedom Riders National Monument (FRRI), in partnership with the City of Anniston and Main Street Anniston, will host a series of free movie nights in Zinn Park throughout the summer of 2021.
Due to growing interest from visitors, Freedom Riders National Monument (FRRI) will begin to open the Anniston Greyhound Bus Depot (1031 Gurnee Avenue) to the public on Friday afternoons from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Freedom Riders National Monument (FRRI) and Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (BICR) have partnered to produce a new podcast, titled “We Will Rise: National Parks and Civil Rights.” The podcast premieres on May 26.
The Lowndes and Montgomery Interpretive Centers will reopen on 5/28/2021. Guidelines of the CDC will be followed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and recreate responsibly.
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (TUAI) is offering a socially-distanced group bike ride at 3 p.m. (CDT) on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021, at Moton Field to honor fallen Tuskegee Airmen.
Natchez Trace Parkway has partnered with the Southeast Conservation Corps to improve Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail sections and increase stewardship awareness. Last week, with a generous donation from the City of Tupelo through the Healthy Hometown Award, the crew rehabilitated the raised boardwalk near Chickasaw Village.
Freedom Riders National Monument invites you to explore a new exhibition that tells the powerful, harrowing, and inspirational civil rights story of six months in 1961 that changed America forever.
HOHENWALD, TN – The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability for public review of the draft Engineering Evaluation/ Cost Analysis (EE/CA) report for the Meriwether Lewis Firing Range Site. The former firing range is located on the north side of the Natchez Trace Parkway near Milepost 378.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is open to through traffic from Milepost 115 to 135. Riverbend, Cypress Swamp, and a section of the Yockanookany trail remain closed at this time.
With generous help from Friends of Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Inc. the flight simulator inside Hangar 1 has been completely restored to a “like new” condition and appearance.
Tuskegee Airmen NHS, Tuskegee Institute NHS, and Selma to Montgomery NHT are currently accepting applications for the Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program. The program is open to ages 18-30
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park will commemorate the 207th Anniversary of the Battle of the Horseshoe virtual on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
Fort Payne, Ala. –2020 was a record high year for visitation at Little River Canyon National Preserve. Little River Canyon recorded 802,375 visitors for the year. By comparison, 2019 brought 649,986 visitors to the park.
Natchez Trace Parkway is asking motorists to watch out for work crews and hazards in the roadway as winter storm clean-up continues. Workers have cleared over 200 downed trees.
A family of six travelling on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Milepost 145 was stranded overnight. A fallen tree caused their trailer to become stuck. The driver unhooked the trailer and continued driving. The vehicle slid off the roadway forcing the family to spend the night on the Parkway. With the assistance Leake County volunteer fire department, the family was rescued around noon today.
A travel advisory is in effect for the entire Natchez Trace Parkway. Ice and snow are accumulating rapidly. Rangers are reporting hazardous conditions on the entire 444 miles of motor road and are advising travelers to stay off the Parkway.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is closed from Mileposts 0 to 152, 355 to 370, and 429 to 442 due to severe weather and icy conditions. Additional closures are anticipated as the severe weather moves along the Parkway. National Park Service rangers are advising individuals to avoid traveling, especially on any section of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Natchez Trace Parkway has issued a travel advisory from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN due to adverse winter weather. The Natchez Trace Parkway is closed from Milepost 429 – 442. We anticipate further closures as conditions deteriorate.
In observance of Black History Month 2021, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site will feature special posts and recorded ranger programs on its Facebook page throughout the month of February.
In observance of Black History Month 2021, the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail will feature special posts and recorded ranger programs on its Facebook page throughout the month of February.
Natchez Trace Parkway will conduct several prescribed fires in Mississippi over the next two months. As soon as Friday, January 29, fire crews will start burning areas that they have prepared over the winter months. During prescribed fire operations, smoke warning signs will be placed along the Parkway as a precaution. Motorists should reduce speed significantly when smoke is visible in the area. Reduce speed to a maximum of 30 mph, turn on headlights, and stay alert. There may be short term closures of trails and picnic sites during the burns. Please be aware of park rangers, firefighting personnel, and equipment along the roadway and mow line. If visibility falls below 500 feet (150 m), the Parkway may be temporarily closed until smoke has cleared. Some smoke may be visible for several days after initial prescribed fire operations.
On January 25, 2021, Natchez Trace Parkway law enforcement responded to a motor vehicle crash near Milepost 151. Upon arrival, park rangers discovered that two vehicles struck a large tree that had fallen in the roadway. The driver of one vehicle, 36-year-old, Robert Andrew Terry of Thomastown, MS, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The two occupants of the second vehicle, sustained injuries from the crash. One of the occupants was transported to a local hospital.
TUPELO, MS – On January 22, 2021, Natchez Trace Parkway law enforcement arrested a commercial vehicle operator for driving while under the influence of drugs near Milepost 265.
On Monday, January 25, 2021, the Natchez Trace Parkway will implement a detour from Milepost 115 to 135. The 25-mile detour will bypass the Parkway using Highway 43 to Highway 16. The motor road will be closed to all traffic between Mileposts 115 – 123.7 and closed to through traffic from Mileposts 123.7 – 135.
The reverse (tails) design of the coin depicts a Tuskegee Airmen pilot suiting up to join the fight during World War II with the Moton Field control tower in the background.
On December 10 and December 11, 2020, at approximately 8:30 pm and 12:50 am, Natchez Trace Parkway rangers responded to two separate crashes in the Tupelo area. The first crash, involving three vehicles, resulted in the death of the only occupant.
Natchez Trace Parkway will conduct several small prescribed fires (controlled burns) in the Tupelo area during the month of December 2020. All fires will be small scale and limited to mid-day burning to help mitigate any potential smoke impacts.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is excited to announce that free Ranger-led hikes and programs will be offered on Fridays and Saturdays this December. Park rangers will present programs at 10am and 2pm CST on scheduled days that talk about the natural and cultural resources of Little River Canyon National Preserve.
On November 18, 2020, early in the morning, law enforcement Park Ranger Tim McElwain was conducting traffic enforcement patrol when he stopped four semi-trucks on the Parkway near milepost 250 and cited all four drivers. Later in the afternoon, Ranger McElwain stopped two additional semi-trucks, and again both drivers were cited.
On November 11, 2020, at approximately 9 am, National Park Service rangers received a report about a vehicle collision between two motor vehicles that resulted in a fatality near Milepost 91 in Clinton, MS. The vehicle, a 2004 white Honda Accord, was driven by Ikela Myeisha Kari Gaddis, 24 of Jackson, MS. Preliminary information indicates that the Honda Accord was traveling southbound on the Parkway near Milepost 91 when it entered the northbound lane and caused a head-on collision with a 2000 GM Yukon. Gaddis was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the Yukon operator was taken to UMMC by an ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is excited to announce that free Ranger-led hikes and programs will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays this November.
The Natchez Trace Parkway will begin storm damage cleanup in the vicinity of Milepost 114 - Milepost 124 this week. Construction crews will be removing storm damaged timber from the perimeter of the motor road, Cypress Swamp, Riverbend, and sections of the National Scenic Trail. Motorists should use caution and watch out for work crews when traveling along this section of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Natchez Trace Parkway will close sections of the Chisha Foka Multi-Use Trail near Ridgeland, MS starting November 1, 2020. The work will take place along three sections of trail beginning near the Highland Colony Parkway trail crossing and ending south of the Ross Barnett Reservoir Overlook (Milepost 100.8- Milepost 105.3).
Travelers are advised to avoid using the Natchez Trace Parkway as Hurricane Laura travels up the Mississippi River and into the Tennessee River Valley. Forecasted conditions for the next 24 to 48 hours include the possibility of heavy rains and strong winds, which may result in falling trees and other obstructions on the Parkway.
On July 23, 2020, the City of Natchez will formally transferred ownership of the Natchez Visitors Center to the National Park Service. With the parallel NPS acquisition of land at the Forks of the Road slave market site, Natchez National Historical Park is poised to provide a new level of leadership to the tourism community and drive economic development.
The Independence Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year at Little River Canyon National Preserve, and the National Park Service would like to give you the following tips to help you make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Después de estar cerrado por más de 12 semanas, Canyon Mouth Park va a abrir de nuevo. Canyon Mouth Park es un lugar popular para ir de picnic, nadar y practicar kayak en el extremo sur del parque, donde el Little River sale de Litte River Canyon y pasa de rápidos de aguas blancas a un río tranquilo y sereno antes de salir del parque.
After being closed for over 12 weeks, Canyon Mouth Park is set to re-open. Canyon Mouth Park is a popular picnicking, swimming, and kayaking location at the southern end of the park, where the Little River exits Little River Canyon and goes from whitewater rapids to a calm, serene river before exiting the park.
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 650,000 visitors to Little River Canyon National Preserve in 2019 spent $38.7 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 598 jobs in the local area.
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 11, 2020, around 5:20 PM, an 18-year-old male from Jefferson County was floating on the river above Little River Falls with friends. The individual’s friends got off the river approximately 80 feet before the waterfall, but the individual was caught up in the current and last seen going over the waterfall and he never resurfaced from the pool below. First responders were immediately dispatched and on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.
On the afternoon of Monday, May 25, 2020, Kenzie Wetzel, a 21-year-old female from Douglasville, GA, was walking along the area above Little River Falls where she slipped on a rock, became caught up in the current, and was washed over the edge to the pool of water 35’ below. Wetzel was able to make her way to the rocks in the middle of the pool and await help. First responders were immediately dispatched and on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 24, 2020, around 2:15 PM, a 23-year-old male from out-of-state was swimming in the river at Little Falls near a group of friends. The individual was seen going below the water and he never resurfaced. First responders were immediately dispatched and on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 19, 2020, around 2:15 PM, a 21-year-old female and a 19-year-old male, both from Cobb County, Georgia, were swimming in the swift waters in the pool beneath Little River Falls. Both individuals became caught up in the current; the female was able to escape, but the male did not resurface. First responders were immediately dispatched and on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.
Beginning May 24, 2020, Natchez Trace Parkway will provide visitor information at the Parkway Visitor Center. Visitors will be able to speak to a park ranger and receive brochures and information about the Parkway, and passport stamps. The restrooms at the visitor center will be open with group size restrictions. All other outdoor spaces, including all roadways, trails, pullouts, and roadside exhibits along the Parkway remain accessible to the public. With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time: -All other comfort stations and contact stations -Meriwether Lewis Campground
Memorial Day weekend is the busiest weekend of the year at Little River Canyon National Preserve, and the National Park Service would like to give you the following tips to help you make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Fort Payne, Ala. – Memorial Day weekend is the busiest weekend of the year at Little River Canyon National Preserve, and the National Park Service would like to give you the following tips to help you make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Beginning May 8, 2020, Natchez Trace Parkway will reopen access to: •Parking on the road shoulder, from mile marker 104 through 115. •The Ross Barnett Reservoir Overlook and Parking lot.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is banning campfires in Mississippi, effective immediately, due to the statewide burn ban implemented by Governor Tate Reeves. This ban includes the developed campgrounds at Rocky Springs, Jeff Busby and at designated bicycle campgrounds in Mississippi. This ban will be rescinded after the statewide ban is lifted.
Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) staff recently rehabilitated and opened 4.3 miles of Old Natchez Trace in Tennessee, the segments are located between mileposts 393 and 401.
The Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway), in response to guidance from the Mississippi Governors Executive Order 1466, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway), in response to guidance from the Tennessee Governors Executive Orders 22 and 23, and the Tennessee State Parks, is announcing additional modifications to operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, in response to guidance from the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the Office of the Governor of Alabama, will be temporarily closing to the public beginning at 5:00 p.m. April 4, 2020 to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of 12:00 p.m., April 3, 2020, the Parkway will offer no services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. At the Parkway, the following services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with the Governors Executive Order: All comfort stations are closed until further notice.
On the afternoon of Friday, April 3, 2020, a call was placed to 9-1-1 reporting a 33 year old male from Chilton County had gone underwater and not come back up while swimming on the Little River at Little River Canyon National Preserve. First responders were immediately dispatched an on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.
Little River Canyon National Preserve, in response to guidance from the Alabama Department of Public Health, has modified operations to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
These National Park Sites are announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 20, 2020 all visitor contact stations and park Head Quarters, will be closed to the public until further notice.
Natchez Trace Parkway is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing.
Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities in consultation with NPS Public Health Service Officers, Russell Cave National Monument visitor center is temporarily closed as of March 18, 2020. The park grounds, including the walk to the cave, and the 1.2-mile hiking trail will remain open to provide healthy options for the public.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is excited to announce that free Ranger-led hikes and programs will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays this March.
The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Administrative Record File for public review on the Meriwether Lewis Firing Range Site. The firing range is located on the north side of the Natchez Trace Parkway near Milepost 378, approximately 8 miles south of the Meriwether Lewis Monument and Campground, and has not been used since 2016. The site will be evaluated for potential presence of contaminants.
Little River Canyon National Preserve is a public land with many different uses. Some events, including group recreation and celebrating family milestones, require a Special Use Permit.
Natchez Trace Parkway officials closed a 7-mile stretch of road from milepost 93.1 to milepost 100.7 on October 31, 2019 to replace a culvert that reached is operational life span. Continuous rain throughout the southern district since October has delayed repairs.
Natchez Trace Parkway officials will implement a temporary closure of the motor road between mileposts 230.5 and 239.2 (near Houston, MS) starting Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 7:30 am. The closure will allow for pavement repair on a nearby bridge at milepost 236 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. During the approximate two-day closure, there will be no access to Witch Dance at milepost 233.
A portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway motor road is temporarily closed effective October 31, 2019 until further notice due to recent storms that caused hazardous road conditions. The closure is from US 49 (mile marker 93.1) to I-55 (mile marker 100.7) near Ridgeland, Mississippi.
On the morning of Saturday, October 26, 2019, a call was placed to 9-1-1 reporting a 41 year old male from DeKalb County was pinned under a rock while kayaking on the Little River at Little River Canyon National Preserve.
The Yockanookany section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is closed to equestrian use effective immediately, due to safety concerns with trail bridges and boardwalks. The trail will remain open to pedestrians. We regret the impact that this closure will have on the many equestrian users of the trail, and ask for your patience as we improve the safety for equestrian users of this unique resource. Work will begin this spring, with an anticipated re-opening to equestrian use in stages as work is completed. The total anticipated time for repair is no more than two years.
The Natchez Trace Parkway will close the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site Information Center for the season on November 10, 2019. The burial monument, restrooms, campground, and hiking trails are open seven days a week and are not affected by this closure.
Today, The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announce tremendous land protection successes within the Little River Canyon National Preserve to mark the 27th anniversary of the Preserve’s creation.
The Natchez Trace Parkway has lifted the campfire ban on Parkway property in Alabama and Tennessee due to recent rainfall and reduced fire danger. The existing campfire ban in Mississippi on Parkway property is still enforced. Campfires are banned at the developed campgrounds at Rocky Springs and Jeff Busby, and at the designated bicycle campgrounds at Kosciusko, Witchdance, and the Parkway Visitor Center.
National Park Service (NPS) Atlanta-based Regional Director Bob Vogel announced the selection of Kristofer “Kris” Butcher as superintendent of Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama, effective October 27.
Today, National Park Service (NPS) Atlanta-based Regional Director Bob Vogel announced the selection of Kristofer “Kris” Butcher as superintendent of Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama, effective October 27.
The Natchez Trace Parkway will hold the biannual “Car Free Parkway Experience” days for bicyclists and pedestrians between mile markers 429 and 440. Upcoming event dates are September 29, 2019 and May 17, 2020 with future events to be held annually on the last Sunday in September and the third Sunday in May. Closure times will be from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on each day.
On July 29, 2019, at approximately 9:21 pm, a juvenile was driving south on the Natchez Trace Parkway near the new Highway 6 overpass in Tupelo, MS, when a brick was thrown through his windshield. The juvenile suffered a large laceration on the top of his head, but escaped serious injury. The suspect vehicle is a late 1990’s or early 2000’s sedan, either tan or gray in color. Anyone with information on this incident should contact the Natchez Trace Parkway emergency line at 1-800-300-PARK.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced yesterday that three national parks will receive $123,572,000 in grants as part of the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program.
Update on 2/24/19: This closure is no longer in in place. Natchez Trace Parkway officials implemented a temporary closure between mileposts 276 and 282 on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 1:15 pm. Recent heavy rains have caused localized flooding, causing water to overtop the 20 Mile Creek Bridge and flood a section of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
The National Park Service (NPS) has extended the comment period for civic engagement about proposed options to screen a planned housing development. The Stephens Valley development will be built on the east, and eventually the west side, of the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) near milepost 440 in Davidson and Williamson Counties, TN. The development will be visible from the Parkway and will occupy an area historically managed as an open agricultural vista. The Parkway does not have authority to deny the construction of the development. Developers, however, are interested in working with Parkway staff to screen the road and development from the visitors’ view.
The National Park Service (NPS) requests civic engagement about proposed options to screen a planned housing development. The Stephens Valley development will be built on the east, and eventually the west, side of the Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) near milepost 440 in Davidson and Williamson Counties, TN. The development will be visible from the Parkway and will occupy an area historically managed as an open agricultural vista.
With the help of volunteer researchers, Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) staff members have identified the gravesite of Paris Martin, who was an enslaved person at the Mount Locust Plantation before the Civil War. Paris Martin’s final resting spot was unknown to Parkway staff until this summer when local genealogy researchers joined the search for his burial location.
A portion of the Blackland Prairie section of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail from Lakeshire Drive to Highway 78/I-22 will be closed due to hazardous trees. The closure will be from Tuesday, November 13, 2018 until further notice.
The Natchez Trace Parkway will close the Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center for the season on October 21, 2018. This season, the Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center welcomed over 6,500 visitors to the site. The burial monument, restrooms, campground, and hiking trails are open seven days a week and are not affected by this closure.
To commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Natchez Trace Parkway will host a living history encampment representing the expedition of Hernando de Soto on Saturday, September 22, 2018. The encampment will be set up outside of the Parkway Visitor Center from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Through stories, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, visitors can learn about Hernando de Soto’s interactions with the Chickasaw along the historic Natchez Trace during the winter of 1540-41. From September 15 through October 15, 2018, the visitor center will feature an exhibit and film commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month. Visitors can view a photo exhibit or learn more about the De Soto expedition through the short film, “Hernando de Soto in America.”
Beginning September 1, 2018, Mount Locust Inn and Plantation on the Natchez Trace Parkway will be open Thursday through Sunday, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
The Natchez Trace Parkway will hold biannual “Car Free Parkway Experience” days for bicyclists and pedestrians between mile markers 429 and 440 following a trial event which occurred on June 17, 2018. Upcoming event dates are September 30, 2018 and May 19, 2019 with future events to be held annually on the last Sunday in September and the third Sunday in May. Closure times will be from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM on each day.
The Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center on the Natchez Trace Parkway will operate on fall hours starting Sunday, September 9, 2018. Fall hours of operation will be Fridays through Sundays from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The visitor information center will be closed Mondays through Thursdays. The burial monument, restrooms, campground, and hiking trails are open seven days a week. The Meriwether Lewis Visitor Information Center is located at milepost 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Hohenwald, Tennessee. For additional information, please call (800) 305-7417.
