Forks of the Roads Monument
Forks of the Roads Monument
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4.0
109 reviews
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43
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amym
43 contributions
Jan 2020
this is a very sobering site, which I believe everyone should see. It is not, however, an impressive site - just a few signboards that share historical info/newspaper ads for the return of runaway slaves and some shackles encased in a 3x3 concrete space. IMHO, given this site's historical significance, more attention and care should be paid.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amperage
Louisiana81 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
I am from Louisiana, specifically Southwest Louisiana. In the 19th century a man once wrote that the neck of the woods I am from was "a good place for a poor man" so that tells you something about my background.
I now live about an hour and a half south of Natchez and we've been touristing in Natchez many times. There are some things you need to know about the Forks of the Roads Monument.
First, it is relatively new. If I'm not mistaken, it only harkens back to 2007 or 2008. Second, much of the old line of Natchez has a hard time admitting that the fancy homes were built by nouveaux riche start-up plantation owners who made their money by enslaving people and using them as one would machinery, that the pretty and the nice was built completely on the immense sin of slavery that hangs as a pall over the South.
For many, many years there was just a plaque at Forks of the Road that didn't tell much. The signage and the monument only came about because of a grassroots effort by some people, mainly African American, who live in and around Natchez who lobbied tirelessly for years and years to make Natchez put the monument up and use a little bit of their grant money to make this a public place.
I will leave you to form your own opinions and make your own thoughts past that about why there still isn't much to mark a site this important in our history, but will instead encourage you to join some of the Natchez historic groups or even spend a while in some of their forums and find out for yourself.
This site IS important in the history of the town, of this region, of this state and of the United States. Visit it after reading up on the Forks of the Road.
I now live about an hour and a half south of Natchez and we've been touristing in Natchez many times. There are some things you need to know about the Forks of the Roads Monument.
First, it is relatively new. If I'm not mistaken, it only harkens back to 2007 or 2008. Second, much of the old line of Natchez has a hard time admitting that the fancy homes were built by nouveaux riche start-up plantation owners who made their money by enslaving people and using them as one would machinery, that the pretty and the nice was built completely on the immense sin of slavery that hangs as a pall over the South.
For many, many years there was just a plaque at Forks of the Road that didn't tell much. The signage and the monument only came about because of a grassroots effort by some people, mainly African American, who live in and around Natchez who lobbied tirelessly for years and years to make Natchez put the monument up and use a little bit of their grant money to make this a public place.
I will leave you to form your own opinions and make your own thoughts past that about why there still isn't much to mark a site this important in our history, but will instead encourage you to join some of the Natchez historic groups or even spend a while in some of their forums and find out for yourself.
This site IS important in the history of the town, of this region, of this state and of the United States. Visit it after reading up on the Forks of the Road.
Written 10 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rusty1014
Springdale, AR396 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
The Forks of the Road was the second largest slave market in the south. It is preserved with some descriptive signs and markers, and a very moving concrete monument encasing, the implements of slavery. We enjoyed the beautiful tour homes, but one should remember upon whose backs they were built, and honor their strength and involuntary sacrafice.
Written 20 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bleudad
Collierville, TN30 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
This little glimpse into the history of slavery in early America will give you a glimpse into an industry that you will wish never existed, ever if you know nothing about it. This is the place where human men, women and children were auctioned to other humans who were allowed to own them, just because they were a different color. From the slaves shackles preserved in concrete to the documentation displayed on signs that you must read, the glimpse brings a new range of emotions, even if you know a lot about pre-Civil War slavery like me. I won't be the same.
Written 17 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roz C
Kalamazoo197 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
Don't expect to see a building, a monument, or even much signage directing you to this spot. I'm not sure why there isn't more lot this location...just a couple informational signs with photos...and off to the right,side is a section of concrete with what appear to be shackles or manacles imbedded. Such a location seems to deserve something more to commemorate the huge numbers of lives changed by the horrors of slavery.
Written 16 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darlyne B
28 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Be sure to stop by the Forks in the Roads where 750,000 individuals were sold into slavery. This will give most hearts pause. There's sadness in the soil but important to the visitors wanting the "whole" story of plantation life.
Written 21 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
txtraveler077
Victoria, TX67 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
If you have even the slightest interest in our country's history. Don't miss this. It is NOT large, (only a corner of a street). There are NO buildings. It is truly a "fork in the road". While the limited information signs there may be unassuming....they speak volumes. But the most impressive thing is the concrete encased chains and shackles located in the small area of the grass.
When we first came upon them, it was almost something we walked right by. Then we stopped. And read. And all three of us were rather stunned.
Thinking of how relatively little time has passed since slaves stood here to be sold and humiliated was extremely numbing.
We were actually 'stuck' here for hours because our car broke down at this location and we had to wait to be towed.
It was a providential and powerful event for our family and we were able to talk with our 16 year old son about the impact of where we were. And that our ONLY problem was a car that wouldn't start. Considering where we were, it absolutely changed the direction of our thinking in a few seconds.
I would go back here... just to remember what we need to never forget.
When we first came upon them, it was almost something we walked right by. Then we stopped. And read. And all three of us were rather stunned.
Thinking of how relatively little time has passed since slaves stood here to be sold and humiliated was extremely numbing.
We were actually 'stuck' here for hours because our car broke down at this location and we had to wait to be towed.
It was a providential and powerful event for our family and we were able to talk with our 16 year old son about the impact of where we were. And that our ONLY problem was a car that wouldn't start. Considering where we were, it absolutely changed the direction of our thinking in a few seconds.
I would go back here... just to remember what we need to never forget.
Written 13 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JAGIN
Denison, TX149 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
The Forks of the Roads Monument is well worth the visit. The location is well marked and there are signs throughout Natchez leading the way. This was the first stop that we made once we got checked in to our lodging. We had no problems at all finding it. While quite small, the displays give a slice of what took place at this haunting location. We suggest starting your visit to Natchez here to get a feeling of the struggles of the slaves. This monument helps one realize how the wealth and mansions of the South came to be. While the stop was good and much work has been done to improve it we felt that there is still a need to expand and tell more._Travel Safe, JAGIN
Written 10 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holly W
Reading, PA487 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
It's a small area filled with plenty of history. Learn about the slave trade. Take it in. See the monument and realize they use that on cattle not humans--yet we did. Great place to reflect on our darker days of history.
Written 9 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DaveS_FL_OH
Fort Myers, FL121 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
This stop will take you about 15 minutes and is a MUST if you are in the area and want to better understand the slave trade in pre-Civil War Natchez (and the rest of the Deep South for that matter) and acknowledge the associated realities. I need say no more.
Written 24 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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