"In 1811, on board a steamboat named the New Orleans, Nicholas Roosevelt pioneered steam travel down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

"As the New Orleans passed along the western border of the state of Tennessee, the first shocks of an earthquake struck near New Madrid, Mo. on December the 16th. Villages were destroyed, bluffs along the Mississippi fell into the river, ravines opened as far south as Natchez. As a result of the earthquake of 1811, the ground in the northwestern corner of Tennessee collapsed and giant waves from the Mississippi flowed to fill the depression, reversing the flow of the Mighty River and forming Reelfoot Lake.

(Awakening musical Interlude)

"This tune is called Awakening. It is RoadMusic® written especially for this part of our journey along the Natchez Trace Parkway through Tennessee.

"Steamboats helped bring an end to pioneer travel along the Natchez Trace in the early 1800s. At a pivotal point in this rapidly changing world stood a truly remarkable year.

"Annus mirabilis 1811.

"Join us next time when we will visit SWEETWATER BRANCH, GLENROCK BRANCH and DOGWOOD MUDHOLE. For Natchez Trace a road through the wilderness, I'm Frank Thomas."

For more about Natchez Trace: A Road Through the Wilderness, visit eddieandfrank.com