Lawrence County: Nature, Activities and History

In the northwest of Lawrence County lies the Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area: 14,952 acres, 85 percent of which consists of mature hardwood forests. The area puts nature firmly in the spotlight. At the same time, the range of visitor experiences extends from scenic routes and park landscapes to historic museums, architecture, and local traditions. Depending on your interests, you can make outdoor activities, a drive along the Natchez Trace Parkway, or cultural history the focus of your trip.

Nature, Scenery, and Activities

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic route that passes through three states. Activities along the Parkway include hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and camping. The northwestern part of Lawrence County provides access to the route via Highway 64 West. This makes it possible to include the Parkway in your trip as either a scenic drive or a destination for its various recreational activities.

The David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg covers 1,400 acres. Activities listed there include birdwatching, camping, fishing, hiking, paddling, and cycling. Crockett Falls is a waterfall in the park. The museum there displays artifacts and exhibits about David Crockett, as well as a working grist mill powered by a water wheel. This brings together scenery, outdoor activities, and a historical exhibit in the same park.

Museums and History

At the Old Jail Museum, visitors can enter jail cells that were in use from 1893 to 1974. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A visit therefore offers a firsthand look at the cells’ former use as well as an official historical designation for the building.

The Ralph J Passarella Museum in downtown Loretto brings historical collections and memorabilia to life through interactive experiences. The Vaughan Museum presents rare memorabilia, historic artifacts, and interactive exhibits. In Lawrenceburg, the Art Deco Crockett Theatre adds another architectural highlight: it was built in 1950 and is listed on the National Historic Register.

The Lawrence County Historical Society also offers a distinctive look at architecture and history. Its tours take visitors through a residence built in 1904/05 in the Edwardian style of Colonial Revival architecture. Participation is by reservation only; as dates may change, it is advisable to check the details in advance and reserve a tour.

Ethridge and Local Traditions

In Ethridge, guided wagon rides through the Amish community are among the visitor experiences described; they include stops at Amish shops. Providers and routes may change. Amish farms in Ethridge sell fresh vegetables, jellies, jams, sorghum molasses, and baked goods. Individual sellers and their offerings may change here as well.

Maps for a self-guided tour of the Amish Museum are available at shops in Ethridge; which shops carry them may change. The Amish Heritage Farm Museum site also has a historical connection: it was the location of the first Amish home in Lawrence County. Amish settlers arrived in Ethridge in 1944.

Lawrenceburg and Water Activities

Lawrenceburg’s Downtown Square features a statue of David Crockett and is a good place to stroll among historic sites and antique shops. The Lawrence County Disc Golf Trail connects three municipal courses in St. Joseph, Loretto, and Lawrenceburg. For water activities, Shoal Creek in Lawrence County offers opportunities for wading, rowing, and fishing; there is bank-fishing and fly-fishing access near Lawrenceburg’s Veterans Park. These options vary by activity and location, from a stroll around town and disc golf at several municipal courses to activities on Shoal Creek.

Discover more destinations: Maury County, Stewart County, Campbell County, Lewis County, Tipton, Grainger County, Washington County.

Return to the main travel overview: Tennessee.