Natchez National Historical Park remembers Martin Luther King, Jr.
Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez National Historical Park in Natchez, Mississippi remembers Martin Luther King, Jr. with Free Melrose House Tours, January 14-16, 2012.

In honor of the Civil Rights contributions made by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Natchez National Historical Park invites everyone to delve into American history at their local National Park by visiting Melrose and the William Johnson House. These two sites provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about how the rich history of Natchez contributed to the tide of American history. 

The weekend commemorations will include free Melrose house tours from Saturday January 14th through Monday January 16th.  The William Johnson House is always open to the public free of charge.

Melrose

Melrose represents one of the most completely preserved antebellum estates in Natchez with many original furnishings and outbuildings.  Visitors learn about the wealthy planter class and the hundreds of enslaved people of African descent whose forced labor on plantations created the wealth that built Melrose.  Their important contributions at Melrose are recognized through slave cabin exhibits showing a furnished living space and interpreting slavery in this area. An understanding of the institution of slavery is crucial to understanding the Civil War and the subsequent struggle for equal rights in this country.

William Johnson House

The William Johnson House tells a unique story of the free people of color in Natchez.  Although William Johnson was born a slave, he was freed at age eleven and later became a successful businessman, slaveholder, and diarist in Natchez. Visitors will be able to see the family home furnished with many of the original furnishings, listen to Johnson’s diary entries, view a variety of interactive exhibits in the visitor center, and shop in the park’s bookstore.

Melrose, located at 1 Melrose-Montebello Parkway offers house tours at the top of the hour with the first tour beginning at 10am and the last tour beginning at 4pm.  The William Johnson House, located at 210 State Street, is a free site open from 9am to 5pm daily.

For other activities and events at Natchez National Historical Park, including Melrose and the William Johnson House, please call 601-446-5790 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/natc.