Last updated: March 18, 2021
Thing to Do
Walk in the Last Footsteps of Meriwether Lewis
Follow the last footsteps of explorer Meriwether Lewis on a section of the Old Natchez Trace and visit his burial site. This self-guide tour will take you a little over half a mile in an easy loop along a trail with interpretive exhibits, to the historic Old Trace where we believe Meriwether Lewis took his last ride, to his burial place and monument, then back past the Information Cabin at the Grinders Stand site where Meriwether Lewis died.
In September 1809, Meriwether Lewis was living in St. Louis as the appointed Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory. He left St. Louis for Washington, DC, on September 4, 1809, to protest the War Department’s denial of payment vouchers that he had submitted for reimbursement. Lewis traveled with his personal servant, a free African American man named John Pernia (sometimes also spelled Pernier.)
Lewis traveled to Fort Pickering (modern-day Memphis, Tennessee) by boat and intended to proceed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then travel by ship to Washington, DC. Rumors of war with Britain and the thought of his journals from the Corps of Discovery falling into their hands changed his mind. He decided to travel overland to the nation’s capital.
Lewis left Fort Pickering on September 29th with John Pernia, Major James Neelly- the US Indian agent to the Chickasaw- and Neelly’s enslaved servant.
Lewis arrived at Grinder’s Stand on the evening of October 10, 1809. He was accompanied by Pernia and Neelly’s enslaved servant. James Neelly remained farther south, looking for horses that had escaped the previous night. Lewis stayed in the cabin while Pernia and Neelly’s enslaved servant stayed in the stables. Mrs. Grinder and her children stayed in the kitchen separate from the house. In the middle of the night Mrs. Grinder heard two gun shots and found Lewis bleeding from his wounds. By sunrise on October 11,1809, Lewis was dead. Historical accounts support the probability of suicide. When Neelly arrived later in the day, he arranged to have Lewis buried a few hundred yards from Grinder’s Stand.
Meriwether Lewis National Monument
On February 6, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge used the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish Meriwether Lewis National Monument. The War Department managed the monument and the superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park was put in charge of the monument site.
From 1926-1933 the War Department made several improvements to the site, including replacing the deteriorating cemetery headstones and straightening and Pernia the Lewis Monument’s stone. The War Department also marked the sections of old Natchez Trace that traveled through the site.
The National Park Service era
The national monument was transferred to the National Park Service in 1933, when Franklin D. Roosevelt reorganized the duties of the executive branch shortly after his inauguration. By the summer of 1933 a Civilian Conservation Corps (Neelly&#’;s) camp was established nearby to undertake erosion control, general cleanup, and nature trail development.
The Natchez Trace Parkway assumed responsibility of the Meriwether Lewis National Monument in July 1939. With the construction of the Natchez Trace Parkway paralleling the monument, the site became an integral part of the Parkway. On August 10, 1961 the Meriwether Lewis National Monument was officially transferred to the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Instructions
Start at the parking lot near the Information Cabin at the Grinder's Stand Site. Walk into the woods on the paved trail and go 400' to a T in the sidewalk. (At the T, if you want to see the directional rosette, turn left and walk 100 feet then back.) At the T turn right (west) to travel past the interpretive exhibits to a historic section of the Old Trace. At the Old Trace, turn right and continue 1000 feet to the Pioneer Cemetery and the Meriwether Lewis monument. From the monument, return 1000' to the parking lot along the road.Historic Information
In September 1809, Meriwether Lewis was living in St. Louis as the appointed Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory. He left St. Louis for Washington, DC, on September 4, 1809, to protest the War Department’s denial of payment vouchers that he had submitted for reimbursement. Lewis traveled with his personal servant, a free African American man named John Pernia (sometimes also spelled Pernier.)
Lewis traveled to Fort Pickering (modern-day Memphis, Tennessee) by boat and intended to proceed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then travel by ship to Washington, DC. Rumors of war with Britain and the thought of his journals from the Corps of Discovery falling into their hands changed his mind. He decided to travel overland to the nation’s capital.
Lewis left Fort Pickering on September 29th with John Pernia, Major James Neelly- the US Indian agent to the Chickasaw- and Neelly’s enslaved servant.
Lewis arrived at Grinder’s Stand on the evening of October 10, 1809. He was accompanied by Pernia and Neelly’s enslaved servant. James Neelly remained farther south, looking for horses that had escaped the previous night. Lewis stayed in the cabin while Pernia and Neelly’s enslaved servant stayed in the stables. Mrs. Grinder and her children stayed in the kitchen separate from the house. In the middle of the night Mrs. Grinder heard two gun shots and found Lewis bleeding from his wounds. By sunrise on October 11,1809, Lewis was dead. Historical accounts support the probability of suicide. When Neelly arrived later in the day, he arranged to have Lewis buried a few hundred yards from Grinder’s Stand.
Meriwether Lewis National Monument
On February 6, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge used the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish Meriwether Lewis National Monument. The War Department managed the monument and the superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park was put in charge of the monument site.
From 1926-1933 the War Department made several improvements to the site, including replacing the deteriorating cemetery headstones and straightening and Pernia the Lewis Monument’s stone. The War Department also marked the sections of old Natchez Trace that traveled through the site.
The National Park Service era
The national monument was transferred to the National Park Service in 1933, when Franklin D. Roosevelt reorganized the duties of the executive branch shortly after his inauguration. By the summer of 1933 a Civilian Conservation Corps (Neelly&#’;s) camp was established nearby to undertake erosion control, general cleanup, and nature trail development.
The Natchez Trace Parkway assumed responsibility of the Meriwether Lewis National Monument in July 1939. With the construction of the Natchez Trace Parkway paralleling the monument, the site became an integral part of the Parkway. On August 10, 1961 the Meriwether Lewis National Monument was officially transferred to the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Details
Duration
30-60 Minutes
The amount of time a person spends on the trail is determined by wether or not the walker takes time to listen to the birds, read the interpretive information, and use one's imagination.
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Follow last footsteps of explorer Meriwether Lewis on a section of the Old Natchez Trace and visit his burial site. This self-guide tour will take you a little over half a mile in an easy loop along a trail with interpretive exhibits, to the historic Old Trace, to his burial place and monument, then back past the Information Cabin at the Grinders Stand site where Meriwether Lewis died.
Start at the parking lot near the Information Cabin at the Grinder's Stand Site. Walk into the woods on the paved trail and go 400' to a T in the sidewalk. (At the T, if you want to see the directional rosette, turn left and walk 100 feet then back.) At the T turn right (west) to travel past the interpretive exhibits to a historic section of the Old Trace. At the Old Trace, turn right and continue 1000 feet to the Pioneer Cemetery and the Meriwether Lewis monument. From the monument, return 1000' to the parking lot along the road.
Start at the parking lot near the Information Cabin at the Grinder's Stand Site. Walk into the woods on the paved trail and go 400' to a T in the sidewalk. (At the T, if you want to see the directional rosette, turn left and walk 100 feet then back.) At the T turn right (west) to travel past the interpretive exhibits to a historic section of the Old Trace. At the Old Trace, turn right and continue 1000 feet to the Pioneer Cemetery and the Meriwether Lewis monument. From the monument, return 1000' to the parking lot along the road.
Age(s)
5-99
This is an easy walk but individuals should be able to walk at least 3500 feet.
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pets are allowed on the trail if they are on a leash 6' or shorter. They can earn a BARK Ranger badge by walking this trail. Owners must clean up after their dogs.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site
Parking near the Meriwether Lewis Information Cabin. Parking for longer vehicles is available at the restrooms as you enter the monument area.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Occasionally in the winter the area may be closed due to the weather.
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
You should be off the trail by the end of dusk.
Accessibility Information
The part of this trail up to the Old Trace is paved, but slightly rough. The section of the Old trace is a packed natural historic trail. The monument is along a road. The interpretive exhibits are tactile, but there is no audio description of the text.