The tragedy and mystery of Meriweather Lewis

Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, politician, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with William Clark. On the evening of October 10, 1809, Lewis arrived at Grinder’s Stand in what is now Hohenwald, TN. The original Grinder’s Stand cabin was there to provide food and lodging to travelers passing through the Natchez Trace.

In the middle of the night here, Lewis was shot. By sunrise on October 11, 1809, he was dead.

His grave was located about 200 yards from Grinder's Stand, alongside the section of the Natchez Trace that was built by the U.S. Army under the direction of Lewis's mentor Thomas Jefferson.

The circumstances of his death are still unknown, but what we do know is that the monument was erected in 1848 and the current cabin was build in 1935. It is not a reconstruction of the original, no drawings of Grinder’s Stand are known to exist.

Today, one side of the cabin houses the park’s museum exhibits about the Corps of Discovery and Meriwether Lewis’ last days on the Natchez Trace. The site also includes a 32-site campground, pioneer cemetery, picnic tables, visitor information center, restrooms, exhibits, trails and a section of the Old Natchez Trace.

Get out and explore the history of Nashville's Big Back Yard in this beautiful Spring weather!