The future of Natchez’s tourism picture may soon become a bit brighter thanks to a move of the U.S. Congress this week.

The passage of the fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill will greatly benefit Natchez.

Included in the bill was language to help expand the Natchez National Historical Park, specifically to include the Forks of the Road site.

Prior to the American Civil War, the Forks site was once home to the second-largest slave market in the South.

The National Park Service concluded a study that looked at adding the Forks of the Road to the Natchez park site in 2010, but the move has been stalled awaiting Congressional action.

That was finalized Thursday and now only awaits the signature of President Trump to be finalized.

The Forks is a critical element in Natchez’s history.

Thousands and thousands of our community’s early inhabitants came through the Forks of the Road. That site and the countless human horror stories that began there was nearly lost to history.

Fortunately several citizens including Friends of the Forks of the Road coordinator Ser Seshsh ab Heter-CM Boxley and former Natchez Mayor Phillip West, and many others, worked hard to keep the history of the Forks alive.

We are fortunate to see their work finally paying off. The real prize, however, will be when the National Park Service takes over the stewardship of the site and protects it for future generations to learn such an important part of Natchez’s history.