In Lewis County, traces of history along the Natchez Trace Parkway meet natural areas and a range of visitor attractions. Near Hohenwald stands the Meriwether Lewis Burial Monument; elsewhere in the county, a natural area and a state forest offer their own reasons to take in the landscape. Museums, a wildlife collection, and a venue in Hohenwald round out the options. To plan your visit, start by deciding whether history, nature, or cultural offerings are of greatest interest to you.
History Along the Natchez Trace Parkway
The Meriwether Lewis Burial Monument is near Hohenwald at milepost 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It was erected in 1848 with funds from the government of Tennessee. Its form also carries meaning: the broken shaft was designed that way intentionally and symbolizes a life cut short by a premature death. The site thus connects a tangible historic place with an interpretation of the monument.
At the same milepost is the Footsteps Through History Trail at the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site. The trail leads to a preserved section of the Old Trace, where Meriwether Lewis took his final steps. The Meriwether Lewis Area has a large parking lot, restrooms, and access to this trail. One side of the cabin there houses museum exhibits about the Corps of Discovery and Lewis’s final days on the Natchez Trace. The monument, trail, and exhibits each offer a different perspective: the monument commemorates the person, the trail the historic site, and the cabin the expedition and final days.
Practical information is also part of a visit to the site. The campground at Meriwether Lewis has 32 sites; all are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you plan to stay there overnight, do not count on having a reserved site. These campsites are a separate camping option and say nothing about hotels in the county.
Museums, Wildlife, and the Arts
The Lewis County Museum’s exhibits of local history reach far back in time and include prehistoric artifacts from Lewis County. These include pottery, some pieces of which are among the oldest discovered in the southeastern United States. After visiting the museum, visitors can explore the outdoor Discovery Trail. The collection and trail offer two different ways to engage with regional history and the museum visit.
The Maddox Wildlife Collection offers a different kind of exploration. Its self-guided video and audio safari lets young visitors choose missions in which they search for specific animals. At the Elephant Discovery Center, visitors are welcome to explore on their own during opening hours without an appointment. Important to keep in mind: the elephants’ habitats at the sanctuary are closed to the public; visitors to the center do not see or interact with elephants.
In Hohenwald, the Strand Theatre is a local venue that celebrates the arts. Individual programs may vary. It adds an arts and events dimension to the historic and nature-focused attractions, without assuming any particular program will be on offer.
Natural Areas and Their Size
Devil’s Backbone covers 950 acres and is classified as a Class I state natural area for scenic and recreational use. On the Devil’s Backbone Trail, visitors can observe forest birds, white-tailed deer, raccoons, box turtles, and frogs. Wildlife viewing is specifically associated with this trail.
Lewis State Forest covers 1,288 acres on the Western Highland Rim in Lewis County. It is larger in area than Devil’s Backbone. The two figures give a sense of comparable scale, but describe different areas: Devil’s Backbone is classified as a natural area and is associated with a trail and wildlife viewing; for Lewis State Forest, its size and landscape region are the specific points of reference.
Choose a Focus for Your Stay
The historic site at milepost 385.9 is near Hohenwald; nature lovers can consider Devil’s Backbone and Lewis State Forest as distinct options. The museum, wildlife collection, and theater appeal to other interests. Choose which of these attractions matters most to you rather than assuming the different locations follow a set order.
Discover more destinations: Hohenwald, Hamilton, Cumberland County, Lauderdale County, Cocke, Claiborne County, Lawrence County, Haywood County.
For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.
