Lower Mississippi River Museum

The Lower Mississippi River Museum is a free museum operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It includes exhibits about the river and the Corps of Engineers' work to manage it.

People have been moving goods on the Mississippi River for centuries

Nature and flood control efforts have dramatically changed the shape of the great river

Over 2,200 miles of levees are the backbone of the Mississippi River flood control system

The Old Depot Museum

The Old Depot Museum in Vicksburg, Mississippi, contains an eclectic collection of things related to the Mississippi River and Vicksburg.  It was recommended to us by a local as a place we should visit prior to visiting the Vicksburg National Military Park -- specifically to see the overview of the territory offered by the museum's diorama of the battlefield.

The old Vicksburg train depot houses The Old Depot Museum

The museum contains an impessively huge collection of model riverboats

A 250 square foot diorama depicts the battle for Vicksburg

Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum

Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894 by Joseph Biedenharn in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Putting the soda fountain treat in bottles so that it could be delivered to customers outside the city expanded his business and reshaped the future of the soft drink industry. Biedenham's candy shop at which he first bottled Coca-Cola is now a museum filled with Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Biedenham's bottling system

They Do It All, Y'all

Natchez Donut Shop

Donuts for dinner.

Melrose

Natchez National Historical Park

Diary of William Johnson: Free Black Businessman (excerpts)

We only got a bit of time to explore the Melrose plantation before they closed for the day.  Rather than take a guided tour of the big house, we explored the exhibits in the slave quarters and barn.

As I read a placard about runaway slaves, a nearby security alarm panel started alerting to a "SLAVE N MOTION". I think this might be a case of a runaway homonym.

Our visit to the Melrose property was the 4th visit within three days to a place that showed the ugly history of slavery in the south. Although this is history that must not be forgotten, and history that still plays a part in society today, slavery exhibits (as well as that contrasting life of the white folks in the "big house") were becoming more depressing than educational. Melrose removed all desire to visit any more plantations on our current roadtrip up the Mississippi River.

Perhaps, our limited after-work tourist time would have been better spent visiting the William Johnson House in downtown Natchez -- also part of the park.  William Johnson was a black businessman -- a free man -- in Natchez, Mississippi, decades before the Civil War. Excerpts from his diary can be read here: http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/identity/text4/williamjohnsondiary.pdf .

Natchez-Vidalia Bridge

The Butt Hut

A brisket sandwich and a burger made a tasty late lunch at a place with a funny name. 

Natchez Bluffs

Natchez, Mississippi, sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The high ground of the Natchez Bluffs offers protection from flooding and great views of the river.

Judge George W Armstrong Library

The Natchez, Mississippi, public library provides a nice out-of-office workplace for a day.

Malt Shop

Upon arriving in Natchez, Mississippi, we circled the town in search of a local restaurant at which we might eat dinner. In our search we passed the Malt Shop twice. It didn't look like much but had lots of people coming and going -- a sign there might be something good here.  As it was getting late we were hungry, I abandoned our search and headed back to the Malt Shop. I am glad we did.

We found the best in local drive-ins at the Malt Shop. They had an extensive menu, friendly service, and tasty food. This is the kind of restaurant that makes roadtripping fun. When in Natchez, stop by the Malt Shop for a tasty treat.

The Natchez Malt Shop

Catfish Dinner

Tenderloin Dinner

Tagged Table