Did You Know Mississippi Is Home To One Of The Nation’s First Colleges For Women

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic drive that meanders through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Beginning in Natchez, Mississippi, and ending in Nashville, Tennessee, there are dozens of historic sights along the way that take you through 10,000 years of history. At the very beginning of the Natchez Trace, there’s one stop that many pass up, but I think it’s worth stopping for. Let’s take a deep dive into the Elizabeth Female Academy, one of the first colleges for women in Mississippi.

The Elizabeth Female Academy is located at Milepost 5.1 on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Like I said, it’s at the very beginning of the All-American Road.

Many folks pass it up since it’s not one of the more popular landmarks, but this hidden gem is worth pulling over.

This is what the entrance looks like. As you can see, it doesn't jump out at you, so it's easy to pass up if you're not looking for it.

The academy opened in 1818 and ran until 1845.

It was the first college for women in Mississippi, and one of the first colleges for women in the country. Mississippi is rarely at the forefront of education, but this is a rare exception!

Elizabeth Female Academy was named after Elizabeth Roach Greenfield who donated the land to build the school. Here, women could study natural philosophy, chemistry, Latin, botany, and classical subjects.

By 1825, under the leadership of Caroline Thayer, the school was thriving.

New buildings were being constructed, more students enrolled... things were looking great!John James Audubon even taught at the school for a short time. He taught drawing classes for one summer in 1822.

Unfortunately, the school closed down in 1845.

Once Jackson replaced Natchez as the state capital in 1821, there was a gradual shift in population. Many residents moved to Jackson, and as the population in Natchez and Washington dwindled, it became clear that the Elizabeth Female Academy’s days were numbered. The Yellow Fever epidemic was also raging at this time and certainly didn’t help.

Sadly, the school was destroyed in a fire in the 1870s, and all that remains is this brick wall.

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. There is a parking lot here where you can get out and wander around.

The Academy is just one of many sights on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Nearby, the Trace State Park is a great spot to take a waterfront stroll. It's one of three state parks along the Trace.

Visit the official website for the Natchez Trace Parkway to learn more. If you've ever visited this college for women in Mississippi, share your experience with us in the comments below!

If you're planning on driving the Natchez Trace, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide for Road Trips where we give our best tips for packing for road trips.