By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Jul 24, 2024 | 4:02 PM
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| Copies of the newly revised edition of the "Natchez African American History Trail: A Self-Guided Tour" were recently delivered to Natchez City Hall. Mayor Dan Gibson reviewed the publication and said he was excited abut its content and its availability to the public. He is joined here by the authors and editors of the publication. From left are Carter Burns, executive director of Historic Natchez Foundation; Bobby Dennis, executive director of NAPAC Museum; Mayor Dan Gibson; and Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez. (Click on image to enlarge.) |
NATCHEZ, Miss. —A newly revised edition ofthe “Natchez African American History Trail: A Self-Guided Tour,” has beenpublished and is now available as a pocket-sized resource on Natchez history.
The free 20-page booklet is a full-color product thatfeatures 29 African American sites. In addition to presenting briefdescriptions of each site, the booklet includes photos, QR codes, and a map.The QR codes take readers to additional information posted on the websitehosted by the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture.
“This is our second release of this publication, and I amthrilled with the success of the first publication that generated the need fora reprint,” said Bobby Dennis, the museum’s executive director. “Giving ourvisitors a look at the sites of those who built Natchez allows them to see ourcity more completely.”
The publication was sponsored by the museum, VisitNatchez, the City of Natchez, and the Historic Natchez Foundation. Its list ofhistorical sites includes two new additions: the Jessie H. Winston House andthe George F. Bowles House.
“We’re excited about this new African American tour guideand what it will mean to the Natchez community,” said Lynsey Gilbert, interimdirector for Visit Natchez. “A significant amount of work went into thecreation of this publication, and we’re sure that it will be very useful to ourlocal residents and our visitors. Its aim is to help tell the complete historyof Natchez by highlighting the history of some of our African American sites.”
The idea for this project originated in early 2023 whenMayor Dan Gibson and Dennis announced plans to recognize 27 African Americansites in Natchez with historical markers.
During a Black History Month ceremony on Feb. 1, 2023,the City of Natchez unveiled the 27 markers as a joint effort between the cityand the museum. Gibson said at the time that the project was part of hisongoing work to tell the complete history of the city.
In April 2023, Gibson announced the publication of aneight-page booklet that provided the history of the 27 African American sites.According to Dennis, the booklet became a hit with local residents andtourists.
Gibson recently commented on the new publication. “We areso grateful to finally have a full color visitors guide to go with ourself-guided African American History tour,” he said. “For the first time ever,tourists can use this resource, full of photos, descriptions, and a map to helpthem explore this amazing history. I am so grateful to our partners, NAPAC,Visit Natchez, the Natchez Democrat, the Historic Natchez Foundation, andNatchez Monument for making this happen.”
Gibson offered “special thanks” to Dennis; Carter Burns,executive director of Historic Natchez Foundation; and Dr. Roscoe BarnesIII, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, whom he said, “workedtirelessly to deliver a professional product.”
The sites highlighted in the revised publication include:Dr. John Banks House, Brumfield School, Forks of the Road, Proud to take aStand Monument, Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, William Johnson House, Rhythm NightClub, Angelety House, Richard Wright’s Grandmother’s House, Robert Smith House,Black Business District, Henry J. and Ida Page Dumas House, Holy FamilyCatholic Church, Watkins Street Cemetery, Sidney and Sarah Russell House, Siteof the Claiborne Barland House, Concord Quarters, Mazique-West House, LeonDonnan’s Barbershop, Mackel Funeral Home, Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church,the Bud Scott House, Professor Samuel Owen House, St. John United MethodistChurch, Site of the Louis Winston Home, Natchez College, Beulah MissionaryBaptist Church, the Jessie H. Winston House, and the George F. Bowles House.
Copies of the booklet are available at the followinglocations: NAPAC Museum, 301 Main St.; Visit Natchez, 500 Main St., Suite 1;Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St.; Natchez City Hall, 124 S.Pearl St.; Visit Natchez at The Depot Visitor Center, 200 N. Broadway St.; andNatchez City Sightseeing Tours (in the lobby of The Natchez Grand Hotel), 111N. Broadway St.
The booklet may be downloaded at:https://visitnatchez.org/cultural-legacy/african-american-history-trail/
