Exploring along and off the Natchez Trace Parkway!

Hello everyone!! I am sharing some more of my outing from yesterday (Friday) and if you missed my post from Friday consider reading that (link below) way things will make more sense as you reading today's post. :) 

Check that post out here to connect it with today's post. 

While driving the Natchez Trace Parkway I stopped at this historic site back off the road. I didn't really know what to expect. I saw the sign and decided to take a little look.

I didn't expect to pull up on the second largest mound site in North America. 

Emerald Mound is a massive Mississippian culture platform mound built between A.D. 1250 and A.D. 1600. It rises about 35 feet high and covers nearly 8 acres. 

I was by myself and it was a little eerie feeling. I can't explain it but one of my rules while hiking, kayaking or any trip exploring when I am solo is if I get the eerie feeling, I listen to it. 

I didn't climb it or walk the path to see all of it grandeur. I was not able to get the full scope due to the incline. My health would not allow it, nor did I feel comfortable in the middle of nowhere with no cell service and that "eerie" feeling. I did take some pictures, read the signs and just was amazed by it all.

At its base, it measures roughly 770 feet by 435 feet. Two secondary mounds sit atop the main mound — the larger one at the west end is about 190 feet by 160 feet by 30 feet high. Archaeological evidence suggests there were at least four, and possibly six, smaller mounds along its sides, though most have been lost to erosion and plowing. Emerald Mound is surpassed only by Monk’s Mound at Cahokia, Illinois, in size, and is one of the most impressive examples of Mississippian ceremonial architecture in the United States. (Information from signs and from online)

Emerald Mound is believed to have been the ceremonial and political center of a community, possibly serving as a temple base and housing for leaders for the Mississippian Culture which was a complex Native American civilization.

A little history behind the mound I read and found online. My pictures of the signs were not clear really to share. 

Along the trace it was filled with these beautiful Mimosa Trees! I love these trees and the pops of pink that greet me as I drive down this beautiful parkway. Along with the Black Eye Susans and these beautiful Mimosa trees it makes the summer drive so worth it. There are a lot of people that do not like these trees. I will spare you the lesson on them. But no matter I love them and find the beautiful. A pop of color among the never-ending pine trees we see.

The second stop I did was another mound site. This one was less eerie feeling which I do not know why. It was also WAY off the road in the woods and an actual burial site. The other one was not a burial site it was a ceremonial site and temple site. This Mound just didn't have a vibe like the other one did. It was for sure a whole lot smaller as well.

I love these fences. It is the style of most all the fences along the Parkway. 

This mound was called Mangum Mound. Feel free to expand to read all the neat history about this mound. 

On my way out of this pull off I was greeted by these sweet goats. They were just a making noise for me. I was talking to them, and they started running towards me. :) 

I captured some more wildflowers along the drive home!! I just love them so!!! I started to head back home and once I got home I realized the workers were not finished. I will be honest I was getting tired, hot and ready to be at home relaxing. But that wasn't going to happen. I went and grabbed a chicken wrap and headed to a local park down the road. I ate my wrap, took a little stroll and then fell asleep in my car for a minute. Read a little and TWO HOURS later I was able to return home just before dinner time. 

I ended my night with a frozen pizza because that was what I wanted and hubby ate some leftovers. We both were super tired from long days. We watched a little of Anne of Green Gables and hit the hay!

With Love, 

Chrissy T