TUPELO, MS – To commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Natchez Trace Parkway will host a living history encampment representing the expedition of Hernando de Soto on Saturday, September 23, 2017. The encampment will be set up outside of the Parkway Visitor Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Through stories, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, visitors can learn about Hernando de Soto’s interactions with the Chickasaw along the historic Natchez Trace during the winter of 1540-41.

From September 15 through October 15, 2017, the visitor center will feature an exhibit and film commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month. Visitors can view a photo exhibit or learn more about the De Soto expedition through the short film, “Hernando de Soto in America.”

The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will also demonstrate pioneer era crafts and skills from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on September 23, 2017. The presentations will show the challenges faced and creative solutions developed by those Americans who lived in the area from the 1700s to 1840.

These programs are free to the public. The visitor center is located along the Parkway at milepost 266, near Tupelo, Mississippi. For more information about this and other Parkway programs, visit the NPS website at www.nps.gov/natr or call 1-800-305-7417.