Ridgeland Crafts Center

"On the parkway just north of Jackson, Mississippi at Ridgeland, is the Mississippi Crafts Center. This is a relatively new development for the Old Natchez Trace. The structure was located on the Natchez Trace Parkway in 1975 by the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, a non-profit organization of craftsmen and others who want to preserve and promote the folk and traditional, as well as contemporary crafts of Mississippi.

"When you arrive at the crafts center, the first thing you'll notice is that it's housed in a dogtrot cabin, a style common in this area during pioneer days. Inside you'll see art works that are available for purchase. There are traditional basket designs, pottery, weaving, quilting and jewelry created by members of the Choctaw Tribe. There are also works done in more contemporary styles.

"Compared to the long history of the Natchez Trace, the Ridgeland Crafts Center may appear to be only a recent development, but in reality it is like a beautiful wildflower that springs from this rich land, land that has borne the footsteps of so many traditions, so many people, people with common ties to the land. You can see many stories told in the works displayed and for sale at the Crafts Center.

"Join us next time when we'll travel a couple of miles up the road to Brashear's Stand. 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