NATCHEZ, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Natchez is rich with history.

One place where you can learn about the history of the city is the African American Museum of History and Culture. The museum contains exhibits from several Natchez-related African American historic sites.

Bobby Dennis, the director of the museum, said it’s more than what you might expect.

“What I like most is that we are able to look at it from its very beginning, not pick it up in the middle of the book to understand people. Gives you an understanding of the desire of the city, to move forward and continue to move forward,” he explained. “It doesn’t just focus on enslavement. You only hear of the heartbreaks, the sorrows, and never get the opportunity to see those compromises. We focus on the people. So, our guests can understand that before a man was enslaved, he had a skill and knowledge, and it was used to building the City of Natchez.”

Dennis said the research shows enslaved people already had knowledge of how to use and manipulate cotton before they were enslaved.

“Our African American History Museum has also helped us to bring more attention to various issues facing our world today, and the need for us here in Natchez and also for Mississippi to step out and be on the forefront of telling that proper story of American history that gives credit to those enslaved Africans who built this country,” said Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson.

A visit to Natchez is not complete without a tour of the Natchez City Cemetery. The cemetery was established in 1822 on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River.

Tourists come through every year, wanting to know more about the stories of the dead, like little Florence Irene Ford.

“One of the most visited graves here is little Florence Irene Ford. Florence Irene was born in 1861, and she died at the age of 10, 1871 of yellow fever, which was a huge epidemic here during that time. Florence was afraid of storms, and so when she was buried, her mother built steps down to her grave with an open glass panel where she could go down the stairs during storms and sit with her daughter and comfort her during those stormy times,” explained Catherine Ratcliffe, a member of the Natchez City Cemetery Association.

That’s not the only interesting story in the cemetery.

“Bud Scott, he was a musician that they say when loved to play music. But when the sheriff would come along walking down the street, the sheriff always thought he was playing for him, but he was alerting all his buddies. ‘Here comes the law.’ Whatever they were drinking or gambling back then. Like, you better put it up because the music was being played. And he thought the sheriff just thought, he was playing the music for him. But it was kind of a, you know, an outpost or kind of a, you know, alarm to say, ‘Here comes the law,'” said Mark Fortenberry, director of the Natchez City Cemetery.

And then there’s the story of Louise the Unfortunate.

“Jewish Hill is full of stories over there. One is that Louise the Unfortunate is buried on Jewish Hill, and Louise died at a brothel under the hill right after the Civil War. And no one knows really what Louise’s whole story was. But we know how she ended up here in Natchez. And Rev. Stratton, who was the Presbyterian minister here for 50 years, comforted Louise during her dying years. And he befriended her and tried to steer the other ladies that were working with her to join another profession. But when she did pass away, Rev. Stratton purchased the stone and had the service for Louise, and he named her Louise the Unfortunate,” said Ratcliffe.

Another grave you may know know about is that of L.H. Lawrence. After his wife’s death and each day after work, Lawrence would come to her grave until his death in 1960.

“I believe he would come every day after his wife died and would come and maintain the lot, would literally with scissors and little hoe or whatever, you know, whatever he had and that he would walk. Here is what I was told, that he would come every day to check on that lot and make sure it was all pristine and kept up. So, that was very special. A dedicated husband. So now that he’s passed, his tool kit still there,” said Fortenberry.

You can’t forget about the Turning Angel. It stands guard over five gravesites of young people who died during an explosion at the Natchez Drug Company in 1908. Over the years, some have claimed to see the angel turning as they pass by.

Visitors in Natchez can also check out the Little Natchez Theatre. Over the years, the theatre has brought fun and entertainment to the city.

“Natchez Little Theatre started in 1932, even though we weren’t in this building. They performed at the old Brighton School at Cathedral School. So, we performed throughout the the City of Natchez. And then in 1960 and 1969, Natchez Little Theatre purchased this building that we’re in now. So, we’ve had 76 seasons in this building, but we’ve had consecutive seasons since 1932, which makes us the oldest on the Mississippi River,” said Misty Tuccio, with the Natchez Little Theatre.

The theatre is getting ready for their next musical, SpongeBob SquarePants.

“It’s our annual summer youth workshop. We’re doing SpongeBob: the Musical. It’s really great. It’s based off of the SpongeBob show. We have an amazing set. We have an amazing cast crew. The songs are so fun. it’s going to be amazing. You’ll love it,” said Skylar, who is a choreographer for the theatre.

The show will run from June 27-30.