NATCHEZ — Last month a work crew was installing a series of interpretive panels at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center; now they’re working on the soundtrack.

Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Jenkins said in looking at the new exhibit, which includes a timeline of the people of Natchez and their culture, it became apparent the music of Natchez and the surrounding area was missing.

“We have so much information (on display) about the people and the architecture and writers. But nothing about the music,” Jenkins said.

Utilizing previously unused audio equipment, Jenkins made plans for a display that lets visitors hear the music of regional legends like Jerry Lee Lewis and the Natchez Indians.

And while converting the unused audio equipment for use at the visitor’s center was easy, the rest of the project has been an uphill battle.

Jenkins said getting the necessary licensing and rights to use the music of regional area artists has been extremely difficult.

“There’s so much to be done,” she said. “You have to contact the producer, the writer and the artist for licensing. We did not know it was going to be this much work. But it’s been fun.”

And in some cases when the artist is no longer living, like Natchez jazz singer Marion Montgomery, the estate manager must be found before any licensing can be done.

And the audio exhibit has the potential to get expensive.

While an overhaul of the visitor’s center cost approximately $250,000, purchasing the rights to use music in the center could cost $10,000, Jenkins said.

“It’s hard to say now,” she said. “Some of it we’ll have to pay for, some of it will be donated.”

But no matter the sound inside the visitor’s center, visitors love the new exhibit, gift shop employee, Shelby Carlisle said.

“(Visitors) can come in here and see what Natchez is all about, what the people are like and who we are,” he said. “It’s been very popular.”

And while Jenkins said licensing for the audio portion of the exhibit should be completed within a month, she’s already making tentative plans to renovate more of the center.

Jenkins said plans currently in development call for the front portion of the visitor’s center to be renovated to look like the parlor of an antebellum home.

“We want people to be able to come in and relax and feel at home,” she said.