Editor’s note: The Dart is a weekly feature in which a reporter and a photographer throw a dart at a map and find a story where it lands.

NATCHEZ — When it comes to offering opinions on landmarks around the United States, tourist Mary Ann Henninger can speak from experience.

After all, Henninger is originally from a place full of memorable stones, soldier museums and battlefield sites — Gettysburg, Penn.

Henninger, a retired nurse, is fascinated with colorful and aesthetically pleasing visuals. That’s why she came to visit Natchez for four days. The Dart found her Thursday afternoon at the Natchez City Cemetery.

“Natchez is one of the best examples of Earth’s texture architecture,” Henninger said. “Take it from someone who grew up in Gettysburg.”

Henninger was fascinated with the Turning Angel and memorial graves for Civil War veterans at the Natchez City Cemetery.

She was so impressed, Henninger, who admitted she’s visited the Gettysburg National Cemetery at least 30 times, said Natchez’s cemetery compares to some of the best cemeteries she’s seen.

“It rivals Charleston and Savannah’s as far as original structure,” Henninger said.

Cemeteries have always been a place of solitude for Henninger.

When she was a child, she would sneak into the cemeteries to get away from her parents.

Now that she’s retired and trying to reach as many destinations as she can in the United States, Henninger will visit cemeteries to get away from other tourists.

Mississippi became Henninger’s 49th state to visit in the United States, with Hawaii being the only state unchecked on her list.

After touring Vicksburg, Henninger made her way to Natchez and stayed from April 6 to Thursday before traveling to New Iberia, La.

She’s thankful she has time to tour the United States, but she admits a weekly paycheck would make traveling much easier.

“That’s the problem with retirement,” Henninger said. “When you work, you have money and no time, and when you retire, you have time and no money.”

Still, that hasn’t stopped Henninger from touring the world. Along with the 49 states Henninger has visited, she’s explored England, Ireland, Greece and Turkey.

Traveling and seeing beautiful landmarks is Henninger’s passion, and she’s thankful to have seen another beautiful city like Natchez on her voyage.