"Today we will look at a couple of exhibits near Swan Valley, where the Natchez Trace Parkway crosses Tennessee highway 412. The first exhibit is PHOSPHATE MINE. A 5 minute walk there takes visitors to a collapsed mine shaft and an abandoned railroad bed.

"This is a region where the limestone has rich deposits of phosphate. There was a lot of mining activity in this area at one time, and there are many abandoned mine shafts like this one.

"Just past PHOSPHATE MINE is a bridge that takes travelers across Big Swan Creek. Beyond the bridge is FALL HOLLOW. A short trail goes over to a waterfall and down to a small pool below. This water is making its way down toward Swan Creek.

"Join us next time when we will climb up out of the valley and visit SWAN VALLEY OVERLOOK. I'm Frank Thomas, your guide along the Natchez Trace, a road through the wilderness."

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