Itasca Travels 2017: Up on the Bluff and Under the Hill

Sunday, March 12…

Nat'l Cemetery: row after row...

Daylight savings already?!

I slipped out for church this morning while Greg was doing some repair work. Very small ward in Natchez, but super friendly. The bishop is a history teacher, the high council speaker is a science teacher. I believe both are also coaches. (Food for thought: Softball is a nervous breakdown played out in 7 innings.)

By late morning Greg and I were headed into town. First stop was the National Cemetery in Natchez –like a miniature Arlington Nat’l Cemetery w/o the changing of the guard. Beautifully laid out (and beautiful in general with trees in spring bud under a brilliant blue sky. So many “unknown” markers from the Civil War era (only Union soldiers were buried here – maybe b/c the Confederates were considered traitors?). Then we went “next door” to the city cemetery – not nearly so orderly, and certainly more diverse. It’s quite large (100+ acres), with an area of obviously more recent (as in 20^th century, not 19^th) graves, but there are some newer markers in the old portion as well, presumably later generations of old families. Within the cemetery there are 18 designated sections, including Catholic Cemetery, Old Catholic Cemetery, Old Jewish Cemetery, Bluff Plot and Hospital Addition. Tours are available, but we just wandered.

Entrance to City Cemetery

Confederates are buried here.

Lots of ironwork...

up close and personal.

James Hughes, native of Ireland.
Died 1880, in his 73rd year.

Afterwards I kept FitBit happy by walking the high bluff, then we drove to down to Natchez-Under-the- Hill. Before the bridge, this was where the ferries and steamboats landed and a lot of fistfights broke out. Now there’s just a handful of shops, and the Mark Twain Guesthouse/Under-the-Hill Saloon is definitely the most popular. Dating back to 1832 (when steamboat captains could apparently find female companionship upstairs), this building has quite a history. By the 1940s it was known as the Blue Cat Club (named for the blue catfish in the Mississippi) and introduced rock ‘n roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis at age 13. Today it still offers live music that’s popular with locals and tourist alike. (We stopped in briefly to check out all the historical photos – I wish we’d come back for the evening music.)