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U.S. 64: Pulaski, Tennessee,
Heading west as you leave Pulaski, Tennessee, either by the bypass around the southern edge of the community or the old route through the heart of town, U.S. 64 shrinks to two lanes once again. |
But not for long.
Several stretches of the highway between Pulaski and the Natchez Trace Parkway, some 45 miles west, are undergoing a major reconstruction. This route doubles as Tennessee 15 and the state is working to widen the road to four lanes west of Pulaski.
So, you better hurry if you want to drive this stretch of U.S. 64 as a two-lane highway; within a couple of years it will be four lanes with a new alignment.
U.S. 64 west from Pulaski is a pleasing scenic drive through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. You'll pass through several unincorporated communities such as Bodenham and Mount Prospect as the highway winds its way to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
Davy Crockett Lived Here
As I drove into the community for the first time (and without any prior knowledge of its history), I could guess right away that Davy Crockett once lived here. Everything here is named after the frontier hero -- there's a Crockett Motel, the Crockett Theater, Crockett State Park and, of course, there's a statue of him standing over the town square in Lawrenceburg's historic downtown.
Crockett lived in Lawrence County for just a few short years -- from 1817 until shortly after a flood in 1821 wiped out his business interests on land tghat is now David Crockett State Park just west of downtown Lawrenceburg on U.S. 64.
In addition to the statue, a museum and cultural center dedicated to Crockett is on the town square, as is a museum dedicated to James D. Vaughan, the founder of Southern Gospel music. Vaughan's music publishing company was founded here in 1902 and his work is now memorialized in the Sun Trust Bank Building on Lawrenceburg's Square.
A Park by any Other Name ...
Leaving Lawrenceburg, you'll pass David Crockett State Park (not to be confused with the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park at Limestone in eastern Tennessee.) Among the highlights here include yet another museum of Crockett artifacts and a restaurant specializing in home-style cooking served on the buffet that overlooks Lake Lindsey.
U.S. 64 veers northwest from the park, meandering past Sims Ridge on its way to the Natchez Trace Parkway. Shortly before the junction, the road widens to four newly paved lanes.
Cleverly Marked
As I approached the new section of highway I noticed a road sign that proclaimed "Scenic Road." Upon further investigation, it turns out that the "Scenic Road" is the newly decomissioned stretch of highway that runs for a mile or so past several well-kept homes.
Returning to "new" U.S. 64, the parkway junction lie just ahead. Will you ...
Continue west on U.S. 64 (Coming soon!)
Take the Natchez Trace Parkway (Coming soon!)
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