Natchez Bluffs and Under-the-Hill Historic District

Natchez Bluffs and Under-the-Hill Historic District spreads across roughly 75 acres along the Mississippi River and includes Silver Street, Broadway, and many historical buildings from different periods. The area sits on steep riverbanks and connects the upper town with the lower river trading center.

The district developed as a trading and residential center during French colonial times and got its name under British rule in West Florida. Most buildings date from the 1800s after the United States took over the region.

The wooden houses here show French building traditions with raised foundations and storage spaces below, where merchants and craftspeople once kept their goods. This style still shapes how the area looks today and reveals how residents adapted to the river and its flooding.

Getting to the lower district is easiest by stairs and paths from the upper town, and several viewpoints overlook the river. Restaurants and shops are spread out around the area, so take your time exploring, and be aware that riverbank paths may close when water levels rise.

The area gained fame for its frequent floods that damaged buildings and led to their elevation, which gave the place its unusual architecture. This constant threat from water was actually the driving feature behind how the district was built and rebuilt over time.