Bethel Mission

"Today's stop along the Natchez Trace Parkway is at an exhibit called Bethel Mission, and it is located on the parkway 4 ½ miles south of French Camp, Mississippi.

"The old Natchez Trace was used by Indians long before Europeans came to the new world. Pioneers began to settle in the Ohio River Valley during the late 1700s and float their produce down the Mississippi River to sell it in Natchez . As thousands of pioneers traveled home over the old Natchez Trace and became familiar with this rich and fertile land there was an increased desire for settlement here. In 1820 the Choctaw reluctantly signed the Treaty of Doak's Stand selling one third of their land to the United States.

"When pioneer families moved into this region they brought their religion as well and in 1822, just 2 years after the treaty, Bethel Mission opened. This was one of 13 Choctaw Indian Missions in the wilderness where missionaries came to teach the gospel to Choctaw and half-breed children. They also taught farming, carpentry, reading, writing and arithmetic.

"This very same year a school opened north of here in French Camp. Join us next time when we'll travel on up to French Camp and take a closer look. For Natchez Trace, a road through the wilderness, I'm Frank Thomas."

For more about Natchez Trace: A Road Through the Wilderness, visit eddieandfrank.com