Discover History and Nature at Plymouth Bluff Center
In Mississippi, there are precious few locations where nature and history converge, allowing visitors to contemplate events that occurred over 200 years ago and providing nearly untouched landscapes that transport you back in time. Plymouth Bluff Center, operated by the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) and located a mere five miles from downtown Columbus, is one such extraordinary location.
This Thursday, the Plymouth Bluff Center will throw open its doors and invite the public to explore its wonders during an open house. This unique institution offers an immersive experience, combining a cultural and natural history museum and a conference center. The accommodation is equally intriguing, with 23 cabins available to rent on the property. The center is nestled amidst almost five miles of trails that meander through the forest and alongside the scenic banks and bodies of water of the Tombigbee River.
A Precious Historical Gem in Mississippi
The Plymouth Bluff Center is recognized for its rich cultural history encompassing periods of Native American, French colonial, and early American influences. It is also renowned as the only Mississippi site indicated in a National Park Service report related to protecting crucial sites from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Fascinating accounts provide insight into the happenings around the bluff in 1813, featuring narratives of Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians aligning with the soldiers of Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War that spanned 1813-14.
Tracing the History: The Story of the Pitchlynn’s Fort
In 1810, John Pitchlynn, a U.S. interpreter for the Choctaw Nation who was appointed by President George Washington, moved his residence to Plymouth Bluff. During the escalating hostilities with the Creek Indian Nation in 1813, Pitchlynn’s residence was fortified and named Fort Smith. At Fort Smith, U.S. officers and Choctaw leaders convened for meetings, it served as a U.S. supply depot, and it was a gathering point for the assembly of Choctaw and Chickasaw warriors in advance of their January 1813 incursion into the Creek Nation, backing Jackson’s military maneuvers.
A Testament to Survival: David Crockett’s Visit
Famous frontiersman David Crockett stopped at Pitchlynn’s for supplies in October 1814. Other notables who passed through included John Coffee, Gen. Andrew Jackson, and Colonel John McKee. Fort Smith withstood two near sieges by Creek warriors, who withdrew after noting the fort’s formidable defenses. Pilgrims can tread along the Plymouth Bluff Center’s forest and riverbank nature trails, possibly experiencing the same scenery that enveloped Pitchlynn’s fort over 200 years ago.
An Invitation to Experience the Past
On Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the MUW Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center, in partnership with the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, invites the public for the reopening celebration of the Plymouth Bluff. Both young and old can enjoy various programs and events, becoming truly immersed in the remarkable expanse of natural beauty that is Plymouth Bluff.
The Plymouth Bluff Center, located at 2200 Old West Point Road, is a testament to the profound confluence of history and nature. Experiencing it first-hand is as close as we can get to stepping back in time. The center’s representatives can be reached at (662) 370-1511 for additional information.
