Our Partners

Superintendent Cameron Sholly presents an appreciation award to outgoing Natchez Trace Compact President Linda Johnson

Photo by Thomas Wells, NESM Journal

Park partners help the Natchez Trace Parkway complete projects, educate the public, and preserve the Parkway for future generations.

The Natchez Trace Compact, is an organization comprised of communities along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Their mission is to promote travel along the Parkway and exploration of the adjacent communities.

 

The Parkway Visitor Center Eastern National, America's National Parks store.

NPS Photo/ Jane Farmer

Eastern National is a private, non-profit organization that provides quality educational products and services to park visitors. A portion of the proceeds are donated back to the Natchez Trace Parkway to support interpretive and educational programs. We have used these funds for special events and interpretive programs and supplies.

With the help of State Parks, the Army Corps of Engineers, and US Forest Service we are able to provide additional recreational opportunities to our visitors.

 

The Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area (MHNHA) represents a distinctive cultural landscape shaped largely by the dynamic intersection of Appalachian and Delta cultures, an intersection which produced a powerful concentration of nationally-significant cultural icons. Lasting contributions to our country's musical and literary legacies were forged by Hills natives Elvis Presley, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Howlin' Wolf, and Tammy Wynette.

MHNHA seeks to interpret and share the stories of these individuals, as well as the legacies of Civil Rights pioneers James Meredith and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. MHNHA also focuses on lesser-known figures of historical and cultural interest, as well as events of significance to our nation's history that took place within our borders.

MHNHA is filled with vibrant communities that share a common geography and history, and we invite you to learn about our rich and diverse culture, as well as our people, places, and defining moments. MHNHA is your window on this compelling portion of America's past, and this website highlights the historic, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational treasures of the Mississippi Hills.

 

The only National Heritage Area in Alabama, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (MSNHA) preserves and promotes cultural heritage in six counties of the Tennessee River basin. Muscle Shoals NHA aims to promote cultural tourism through education, preservation and conservation with a focus on American Indian themes, music and the Tennessee River.

MSNHA began as a grassroots effort in the early 2000s as local communities wanted to strengthen the relationship between the area’s cultural aspects and quality of life. A study of the region’s cultural heritage targeted opportunities for coalition building, established an inventory of assets, and identified nationally significant stories. In 2001, Alabama Rep. Robert "Bud" Cramer introduced legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the heritage area. President George W. Bush signed the legislation into law in 2002, and Congress approved the designation in 2009. From its beginning, the MSNHA has been connected with the University of North Alabama (UNA), in Florence. The university houses MSNHA administrative offices and serves as its fiduciary. In addition, MSNHA staff works closely with UNA’s history department, partnering with public history students on projects and research.