The Natchez Trace Parkway Association works closely with the National Park Service to encourage people to explore, complete, support and protect the  parkway.  The Association is a non-profit organization chartered in the state of Mississippi and registered in the states of Alabama and Tennessee.  Our board is composed of directors from all three states, and we have invited the Chickasaw Nation and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians each to appoint a board member to represent their nations. The IRS has given the association a tax-exempt determination as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.  The Association is registered with the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee to solicit charitable contributions to create a fund to support the work of the Association in its support of the Natchez Trace Parkway.  More information about specific goals and projects is located on the “Goals” tab under “Support Association Projects” on the left.

The Association was founded in 1934 to mobilize the effort to create the Natchez Trace Parkway.  The completion of the parkway road in 2005  achieved a major goal.  Today the Association is focused on completion of the visitor amenities, interpretation and programming to complete the park portion of the parkway.

We have formed five chapters along the Natchez Trace Parkway:  Southern Mississippi, Mid-Mississippi, Northern Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.  Each chapter is taking on projects in their area.  The mission of the chapters is to connect communities to the parkway, and help people understand how the Natchez Trace Parkway provides resources to enrich their lives.

We are working with the National Park Service and OnCell Systems to develop a cell phone and smart phone tour of the parkway.  New technology is making it possible to provide information in innovative ways.  The tour will give the visitor the experience of having a park ranger riding along with them to interpret the sites.

We are developing a living history program to use the important history of the Natchez Trace to teach younger generations.  The bicentennial of the War of 1812 is providing an excellent opportunity to partner with similar organizations to bring the trace history to life.

We are supporting efforts to restore historic resources along the parkway, as well as encourage new interpretive centers to engage the visitor.   The park will not be completed until the sites are restored, opened and interpreted.

We are planning events for cyclists to take advantage of the parkway as part of the national bike trails system and for hikers to take advantage of the 66 miles of National Scenic Trails along the parkway.  We support protection of the view from the parkway to make certain that future generations will continue to enjoy the parkway experience.

After almost 80 years, the association that worked to create the Natchez Trace Parkway is still working to complete the park, and to make it a world-class experience for all who visit it. We encourage you to join us.

More information about the Association is available on this site.  To join, please click the  “Become A Member” tab.  To donate to the work of the Association, click on the “Donate” button on the tab on the left.