MERIWETHER LEWIS SITE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY

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1 MERIWETHER LEWIS SITE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY In the life of every organization, company or family there are highs and lows. One of those highs in the history of Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation was the memorial service for Meriwether Lewis on 7 October During that sun drenched day the 1500 or more people, including the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF) members, experienced the kind hospitality of the local community and the staff of the Natchez Trace Parkway at a hallowed site. Each of us left the Lewis Site that evening dreaming of improvements and a future center that would interpret the life of Meriwether Lewis and his contributions to our Nation. To that end the LCTHF Board adopted a resolution of support for an Educational Center at the Lewis Site in November As a furtherance of that resolution, we addressed the needed center during the February 2010 Hike to the Hill advocacy with Congress in Washington, DC. Even with the shortage of funds, New Entrance Signs there was an understanding in the House and Senate that the dreamed of center would be a positive situation for the region and the Natchez Trace Parkway. While that center is still in the dream phase for the Lewis Site, due to reduced Federal appropriations, there are significant improvements at the Lewis Site. The various

2 pictures in this document were taken in April Thanks to NPS Superintendent Cameron Sholly and his dedicated staff, you are seeing the many improvements approved before financial constraints were implemented: New interpretive trail leading visitors from the parking lot to the Old Trace where you can walk in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis. Trail has locally quarried stone bridges.

3 One mile of split rail fencing delineating important sections of the site Re-habitation of the 1930 s era information cabin half of the cabin will be used for new exhibits about Lewis while the other half will be used as Visitor Contact Station for book sales and other material.

4 500 new trees were planted to replace those that had fallen during the past 70 years

5 Three new rest rooms near the site entrance, campground, and picnic area New paved Visitor Parking Lot with RV accommodations

6 Old Trace marked by new split rail fence Brown pea gravel on paved walkways

7 Note there are no overhead power lines and only an occasional above ground box for utility service New directional sign

8 THE NATCHEZ TRACE EARLY AMERICAN TRAIL THE NATCHEZ TRACE, A VERY OLD TRAIL, WAS TRAVELED BY MANY EARLY AMERICANS. CAPTAIN MERIWETHER LEWIS, LEADER OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION AND GOVERNOR OF THE UPPER LOUISIANA TERRITORY DIED NEAR THIS POINT IN 1809 WHILE TRAVELING THE NATCHEZ TRACE TO WASHINGTON DC WITH HIS EXPEDITION JOURNALS AND ACCOUNTS. IN 1843 THE STATE OF TENNESSEE CREATED LEWIS COUNTY IN HIS HONOR, AND IN 1848 ERECTED A MONUMENT OVER HIS GRAVE THE NATCHEZ TRACE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ITS SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY. GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON S TROOPS TRAVELED THE NATCHEZ TRACE TO ENGAGE THE BRITISH DURING THE WAR OF 1812 Inscription on DAR Monument MARKER PLACED BY THE TENNESSEE SOCIETY OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NOVEMBER 10, 2006 Meriwether Lewis s grave and monument continue to attract visitors from every place and all walks of life

9 Not pictured are new picnic tables & grills for the Campground & Picnic Area plus new roofs and upgrades on older service buildings. Features still in process of development include outdoor exhibits and a new solar grid to provide electricity for the entire area. This site is truly being transformed into a signature site, a destination instead of a place to slow down as you travel along the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway. We still need a Visitor Contact Center with a very strong educational emphasis for the local community and the nation at large. In the near future, there will be a joint effort of partners including the National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway Association, Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation & others working to find a major funding source along with financial assistance from the NTP and our Foundation. Please join with other members of the Foundation in making a taxdeductable contribution to this future Lewis Center. Make your checks payable to the LCTHF - NTP Lewis Center appropriate accounts are already established in our accounting system for this activity and mail them to the LCTHF P. O. Box Great Falls, MT CONCEPT FOR EDUCATION CENTER AT MERIWETHER LEWIS SITE ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE Enjoy the pictures and remembering that beautiful October day in 2009, as it truly was one of the high points in our Foundation history.