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=== Historical Background === | === Historical Background === | ||
It was first used by animals like bison to reach salt licks in the Nashville area, and grazing near the Mississippi River. American Indians, developed the trace | It was first used by animals like bison to reach salt licks in the Nashville area, and grazing near the Mississippi River. American Indians, developed the trace mostly for trading, and also as a warpath. An unknown Frenchman was the first European to write about traveling the full Natchez Trace in 1742.<ref name="null">Wikipedia contributors, "Natchez Trace," ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace (accessed 24 July 2010).</ref> But earlier Europeans such as Spanish explorer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernando_de_Soto_(explorer) Hernando de Soto] may have come across parts of the trace in 1540 while being guided by [[Choctaw Indians|Choctaw]] and [[Chickasaw Indians|Chickasaw]] Indians. The trace followed a natural ridge and, at first, was only a narrow footpath or horse trail unsuitable for wagons because of trees. | ||
=== Route === | === Route === | ||