Southern hospitality, the imposing beauty of antebellum mansions and the elegance of the Old South is brought to life during spring and fall Pilgrimage in Natchez. But the attractions in Natchez don’t stop there.

Historic Jefferson College

A visitor might try Historic Jefferson College on U.S. 61 North, for example.

Chartered in 1802, Historic Jefferson College named for then-President Thomas Jefferson, began classes in 1811.

The school functioned as a college, changing to a primary and secondary level education emphasis later. It closed in 1964 after working itself deeply into debt.

Each October, Historic Jefferson College is the site of Pioneer Day.

The activities include local craftsmen who will explain and demonstrate skills of a bygone era.

Craftsmen show the art of basket making, quilting, needlework, baking bread, churning butter and buckskinning.

The college is open to visitors Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. There is no admittance fee, but donations are appreciated.

http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/hprop/hjc.html

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians

Another interesting Natchez site is Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. Located east of Natchez on Jefferson Davis Boulevard off U.S. 61 South, this historic park encompasses some of the land occupied by the Natchez Indians between 1682 and 1729.

The village has been fully restored and offers visitors 78.5 acres of pre-historic mounds, a ceremonial plaza and dwellings.

The visitors center has restrooms, a refreshment center and an audio-visual room.

Grand Village is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is open Sundays from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Admission is free. The Web site is

http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/hprop/gvni.html

Natchez Under-the-Hill

Natchez has been well known for hundreds for years as a wild frontier river town. This rustic pioneer flavor can be recaptured at Natchez Under-the-Hill.

Reached by descending Silver Street, Under-the-Hill was once the most notorious waterfront in America. It was prominent during flatboat days to days of luxury steamboats &045; which still dock there today.

And up on the hill in downtown Natchez, dozens of antiques shops carry unusual items.

Local dealers travel across the U.S. in search of furnishings, bric-a-brac, jewelry and novelties.

The Natchez Trace

And on the way out of town to the north, there’s the Natchez Trace.

The Trace is lined with historic sites, picnic areas, exhibits and nature trails. It is open 24 hours a day with rangers on duty to aid travelers, patrol all areas and enforce the 50-mile speed limit.

Interesting points to see along the Trace are Emerald Mound, Mount Locust, Cole’s Creek, Turpin Creek and Loess Bluff. Emerald Mound, one of the largest Indian mounds in the United States, is located just off the Trace and is accessible to visitors who don’t mind the hike to its top for a spectacular view.

Emerald Mound is a perfect observation point for the visitor to see the countryside for miles. Cole’s Creek stopover is a shaded picnic area along the creek. Turpin Creek has a nature trail where much vegetation grows.

Mount Locust is a restored Trace inn, originally constructed in the late 1700s.

http://www.nps.gov/natt/