November 4 - Drove 210 miles today - 39.1mpg
Back to the Natchez Trace Parkway to continue where we left off yesterday. On the road at 9:20am after a relaxing tongue-wagging breakfast of political news, baseball, eggs, bacon, OJ, and lots more non-Weight Watcher's goodies.
Busby was instrumental in creating the Parkway out of the old Trace. This memorialization is his reward.
Information about the environment of the area around the Parkway at the Busby overlook.
The view from Busby overlook is one he would have appreciated. This is one of Mississippi's highest points - at 603 ft, not quite like the Sierras.
Another sign crooks it's virtual finger and says, "stop on by and see what I've got to tell you".
If you ever cleaned out your attic, this was the type of knick-knack stuff that was offered for sale in the visitor center cum trading post of yore. There was barely room to move around in.
Some olde time artifacts around the visitor's center.
Cricket thought Pam was standing next to Norm - booooring.
Don't leave me, bro' - I can't drive!!
We're listening to Indian flute music while driving through the beautiful Parkway. Fortunately (for Norm), Pam left her own flute at home.
Some of the land adjacent to the road is farmed, mostly for hay and by now all cut and baled.
Further description of how the Choctaw tribe got screwed out of their lands one " treaty" at a time. They were unclear on the white man's concept of things which was, "we'd really you just disappeared and saved us a lot of time".
Did someone say "SQUIRREL"?
Rounding a bend and coming upon water gave us a start. It had been awhile.
The reservoir looked as broad as an ocean.
We stopped in Jackson and visited both the old and new capitols. The old one, completed in 1839, is Jackson's oldest building and built in the Greek Revival style. When a new Capitol building was built in 1903, the old one was abandoned until 1916 when it was renovated for state offices. By 1960, all state agencies has moved out and it was again renovated to become the State Historical Museum.
The original Old Capitol had an exterior just like this - it is stucco over brick, with the stucco finished and scored to mimic limestone. A fantastic job. However the back of the building was purposely left as red brick by restorers to show what's' underneath. Cathedrals in old Europe used to use faux finishes and various artifices when money was short and builders had catalogs to show town worthies how they could go "good", "better", "best" in their selections.
This craftsman was so talented - the next photo of the fireplace is actually made of wood painted to look like marble. It was beautiful.
Originally there were 30 fireplaces with surrounds having a faux marble finish in the building. This one, on what was the governor's office, is the only one kept.
Very nice exhibits throughout.
The building was restored once, neglected again and restored yet again to its current state. In the end, this did become a very expensive Capitol after all.
Too bad the colors aren't showing up well in the photo. Lots of gold tone.
The architect of the staircase was a freed slave. Anyone who was freed had to leave Mississippi within a year. However, he was so popular that the legislature granted him to be able to remain in Mississippi.
The new Capitol was built in the Beaux Arts style. By this time there was more money to spend and real marble replaced faux finishes.
The rotunda has lights all around it - reminded Pam of a circus. But in all fairness, in 1903 electric lights were still front line technology and showed your Capitol building was up to the minute.
Fine detailing all around and immaculate condition.
Cathedrals could hardly look finer, or more ornate. And those paintings of governors sprinkled here and there? Well, Saints be praised.
The blindfolded lady represents "blind justice".
Which, of course, is classic for its double meaning.
Really pretty stained glass at the landing of the stairwells. Church and state separation.
Artist Robert Dafford was commissioned to complete a series of 12' x 20' panels along the flood wall facing Levee Street. The first was unveiled in 2002 and to-date, 32 panels have been completed. When we visited Portsmouth, Ohio we saw a 1/2 mile stretch of murals on their floodwall and they were painted by this same artist.
This mural, by Vicksburg artist Martha Ferris, was the first to be painted along the flood wall.
More high water marks as posted on the flood gates themselves. As the Mighty Mississippi lumbers by, waiting.
This is the historic Old Railway Depot.
This building and the railroad tracks on the historic waterfront - all in the shadow of the flood gates. Protect us, Mother Mary!
Arrived at the hotel in Vicksburg at 6:35pm in warm 75 degrees
Tomorrow, the siege of Vicksburg and the smashing success of General U.S. Grant.
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