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| Melrose Estate |
Paddlewheels, cotton, and large antebellum estates put
Natchez, Mississippi on the map and brought affluence to some but despair for
others. While visiting this southern gem I found much more to Natchez’s history
other than the pageantry of the tableaux and historic house tours. For example,
the opulent houses created by the cotton kingdom were made possible by the lash
and enslavement of African slaves. Natchez National Historical Park is a window into this legacy.
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| Slave Cabins at Melrose |
Owned by the National Park Service, Melrose Estate is one of
many great houses found in Natchez. The original furnishings and decorative
arts within the house provide insights into the lives and opulence of the
planter class during the antebellum South. But, unlike other great houses in
Natchez many of the outbuildings at Melrose are still standing and open to
visitors. The slave quarters behind the house give a voice to the enslaved,
ensuring that their history and lives are not forgotten.
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| William Johnson House |
Another notable site at Natchez National Historical Park is
the William Johnson House. At this site one can learn about the life and time
of William Johnson, the barber of Natchez. William Johnson was a freeman of
color and successful businessman, who kept a detailed diary of his life and
business in Mississippi. This historic site gives us a unique perspective into life in
Natchez and the South during a time when slavery was an accepted way of life.
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| Forks of the Road |
Although not part of the National Park, the Forks of theRoad site should be part of any visit to Natchez. This site was once the second
largest slave market in the United States. Not much on this site remains other
than interpretive signs, but the Forks of the Road was recognized by the ICOMOS
committee on cultural routes as part of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Route.
Natchez National Historical Park is more than another series
of house museums. The Park is a glimpse into the legacy of the antebellum cotton
economy and the many lives it impacted.
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| Shackles at the Memorial for the Forks of the Road |
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