Travelers from all over the world stop by and visit with the regulars at Under-The-Hill-Saloon. Almost all of them comment on its location beside the Mississippi River and they marvel at the view looking across the river. We get comments from modern riverboat travlers that Under-The-Hill-Saloon is the only saloon on the Mississippi River where you can walk out the door and touch the river itself with about 50 steps. How old is the building? It was built about 200 years ago, in the late 1700s or early 1800s. What has the building been used for in the past? The building has served many different businesses during its life. Prior to its conversion into Under-The-Hill-Saloon, it was a grocery store and bar combination that was run by a black family. Historic research shows it has been a brothel, bar, warehouse and general merchandise store. Do you have bands every night? No, just on the weekends. However, occasionally someone on one of the riverboats or a local musician will sit at the piano and play a tune or two. Do you serve food? Only hot tamales occasionally, but just down Silver Street about 50 yards is the Magnolia Grill and the Isle of Capri where you can get something to eat. And if your lucky the Magnolia Grill will deliver to the saloon. When are you open and what are your hours? We're open 365 days a year. We open at 10:00 A. M. unless we haven't closed from the night before. At night we normally close when the last person leaves. This varies but it seems to be round 4:00 A. M. What was the main settlement of Spanish control in the area that later became Mississippi? Natchez Are any dwellings built during the Spanish period (late 1700’s) still standing in Natchez? Yes. They include Kings’ Tavern, Governor Holmes’s House, Texada, Hope Farm, Airlie, Richmond, and the Griffin McComas House. What was the most important trade item produced principally by Native Americans in Natchez? Deerskins What did the Spanish do to strengthen its claim on its new lands in the Lower Mississippi Valley? Spain built five forts in the Lower Mississippi Valley; Fort Rosalie in Natchez, Nogales in present-day Vicksburg, San Fernando de las Barrancas in present-day Memphis, San Esteban (or Fort St. Steven) and Confederation on the Tombigbee River. What was the Spanish name for the treaty that relinquished Spain’s control of the Natchez area? Spain called it the Treaty of San Lorenzo. The English name for it was Pinckney’s Treaty. Was France the only European country to aid the colonies during the American Revolution? No. Although not an official ally of the American colonies, Spain attacked British installations on the Gulf of Mexico, thereby diverting British forces from the main theater of the war. Who was the post commandant of Natchez that established two parishes there in an effort to convert residents to Catholicism? Carlos de Grand Pre, but his efforts towards conversion failed