Napier Mine stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The mine that would eventually take on the name “Napier” began operation around 1820. The original owners ran into financial problems and sold the mine to John Catron, who then ran the business under the name of Buffalo Ironworks. Catron purchased additional land over the years and hired his nephew Felix Catron as his assistant. In 1833, Catron sold everything to Felix and George Napier. When the partnership ran into financial difficulty, Napier’s wealthy brother, Dr. Elias Napier, purchased the furnace and mine.

In 1845, Elias gave half of the operation to his nephew, William C. Napier, and when Elias died in 1848, William took over the entire operation and renamed it Napier Furnace. He tried to sell it in the mid-1850s, but had no buyers. He ran the mine until after the Civil War, and eventually had to file for bankruptcy. He was, however, able to keep the land and eventually leased it out. The new owners built a much larger furnace and continued to operate the pit mine here along the Natchez Trace. Business remained brisk until the end of World War I; the mine closed for good in 1923. It was dismantled and the equipment sold for scrap in 1930.

There are two information panels with information about the mine and a viewing area overlooking the Napier iron ore mine pit, but today there’s nothing but forest at the bottom. Nothing else remains of the operation. With no view of the mine, or anything else for that matter, there is no need to stop here.