NATCHEZ, Miss. – April 17, 2023 – Today, Natchez unveiled the city’s first site on the Mississippi Freedom Trail with a marker at the Dr. John Banks House, which served as the headquarters for the local NAACP during the civil rights movement. The unveiling of this marker is a significant moment for the city, and Natchez is honored to now be listed on the state’s Freedom Trail and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. An unveiling ceremony was held at the Dr. John Banks House with a reception at Zion Chapel AME Church.
“Natchez’s inclusion on the Mississippi Freedom Trail and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail has been an ongoing effort of ours, and we are so proud our dream is finally becoming a reality,” says Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage and tourism manager of Visit Natchez. “The marker is a special way for us to honor Natchez’s history and those who came before us, and we look forward to welcoming visitors and locals alike to experience it with us.”
The front of the marker recalls the important history of the Dr. John Banks House that not only served as the headquarters for the local NAACP, but was the home of its president, George Metcalfe. It additionally notes that in January 1965, “night riders” fired shots through a window of the home in an effort to terrorize the local movement. The back of the marker provides a deeper insight into the role that the House and Metcalfe played in the civil rights movement as well as the intense segregation and turmoil that Natchez and its people experienced during that time.
The Mississippi Freedom Trail was established in 2011 to commemorate Mississippi’s pivotal role in the U.S. civil rights movement. More than 30 existing markers throughout the state highlight the people, places and events that were instrumental in this period – from the years leading up to the historic movement to the years Mississippi served as ground zero in the national fight for equality.
The Mississippi Freedom Trail is administered by Visit Mississippi, the official tourism organization dedicated to promoting the state to visitors across the U.S. and the world, in partnership with the Mississippi Humanities Council. Support for this collaboration is made possible by a State Tourism Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The EDA State Tourism Grants, issued in 2021, totaled $510 million in direct awards to help states invest in marketing, infrastructure, workforce and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business and international travel.
“While each site on the Mississippi Freedom Trail is an important landmark in Mississippi’s civil rights struggle, this house was a central hub of activity for many men and women who fought for equality during those trying times in our nation’s history,” said Visit Mississippi Director Craig Ray. “We are proud to recognize their efforts and their accomplishments with this Freedom Trail marker, which will serve to keep their story alive while educating its visitors for many generations to come.”
The Mississippi Humanities Council is a private nonprofit corporation funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council creates opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the larger world and enriches communities through civil conversations about the state’s history and culture.
For images of the Dr. John Banks House and more information on the marker, visit https://spaces.hightail.com/space/VcQuP0NHam.
About Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi, located 80 miles north of Baton Rouge, is quickly becoming a sought-after cultural tourism destination. Attracting over 670,000 visitors annually from around the world, Natchez is known for its culture and history, offering more historic structures than any other location in the United States. It is also the” Bed and Breakfast Capital of the South,” and “The Biscuit Capital of the World.” Natchez is one of the oldest continuous settlements on the Mississippi River and its evolution over 300 years has provided an astounding array of ways to discover and enjoy southwest Mississippi. For more information about Natchez, visit www.visitnatchez.org or call 800-647-6724.
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