Meet the Makers: The Hands Behind the Trace
The Natchez Trace Parkway has carried travelers through Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama for centuries, connecting communities and preserving stories along the way. Today, that creative spirit lives on through galleries, craft centers, and artists who invite visitors to experience the Trace through handmade works.
Whether you’re watching molten glass take shape, browsing one-of-a-kind Southern artwork, or exploring a regional arts center, these stops offer a chance to take home more than a souvenir – they offer a story.
The Glassblower, Ridgeland, Mississippi
Just minutes from the Natchez Trace Parkway in Ridgeland, the Bill Waller Craft Center is home to the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi and one of the best places to experience Mississippi’s rich artistic traditions. Visitors can browse galleries filled with handcrafted pottery, woodwork, jewelry, fiber arts, and paintings, but the real highlight is seeing artists at work.
Glassblower Nic Neese captivates visitors as he transforms glowing molten glass into colorful works of art, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a craft that combines creativity, precision, and years of practice. Throughout the year, the Craft Center also
hosts demonstrations, workshops, and events that celebrate Mississippi’s vibrant maker community, making it an ideal stop for travelers looking to connect with local artists.
The Copper Fox Gallery, Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee
Near the Parkway’s northern end, nestled in the historic village of Leiper’s Fork near Franklin, The Copper Fox Gallery celebrates the work of more than 90 artists from
across the Southeast. Inside the restored 1860s home, visitors will find everything from handcrafted furniture and blown glass to ceramics, textiles, paintings, jewelry, and
sculpture.
Rather than simply shopping, The Copper Fox encourages guests to slow down, learn the stories behind each artist, and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into every piece. Throughout the year, the gallery also hosts artist demonstrations and special
exhibitions, allowing travelers to meet the makers themselves.
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, Alabama
Down in the Shoals, where the Trace clips the northwestern corner of Alabama, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts anchors downtown Florence’s creative community. Spread across three historic buildings, including a home once willed to the city by Reverend Hiram Kennedy Douglass, the center houses galleries, workshop studios, an outdoor sculpture garden, and a working ceramics studio.
The center hosts rotating exhibits and classes year-round, and each May it throws Arts Alive, a two-day festival benefiting arts education in the community. It’s a reminder that the Shoals region is known for more than its music history; the same creative spirit that built Muscle Shoals’ recording studios runs through its visual arts scene too.
A Trace Built by Makers
Every handcrafted bowl, painting, glass ornament, or woven basket tells the story of the people and places that make the Natchez Trace special. By stopping at galleries and craft centers along the Parkway, travelers not only discover beautiful works of art but also support the artists who keep these traditions alive. The next time you travel the Natchez Trace, make time to meet the makers – you may leave with a favorite memory as well as a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
