WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution authored by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., recognizing the 300th anniversary and historical significance of Natchez, Mississippi. The measure, S. Res. 519, designates the year 2016 as the “Natchez Tricentennial” and honors the history and founding of Mississippi.

“Natchez’s history runs deep,” Wicker said. “Given its strategic location along the Mississippi River, the city has played a significant role in our state’s economy for hundreds of years. It is an honor to memorialize this rare celebration of Natchez’s remarkable heritage.”

“Natchez is a historic treasure. This resolution honors the city’s long history and celebrates its past and future,” Cochran said. “I’m pleased that the Senate is commemorating the Natchez tricentennial and its continued influence on the culture of Mississippi and our nation.”

Natchez is signified nationally as the oldest European-built city on the lower Mississippi River. It was founded as Fort Rosalie in 1716 by French settlers under Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne De Bienville. In 1798, the Treaty of San Lorenzo established Natchez as a United States territory.

The designated end of the historic Old Natchez Trace, Natchez served as the original capital of the Mississippi Territory from 1798 to 1802, as well as the original capital of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State University, formerly known as Natchez Seminary, was initially located in Natchez.

The city of Natchez is currently holding a year-long tricentennial celebration that will end with a 300th birthday party on August 3, 2016 – exactly 300 years after the construction of Fort Rosalie was completed. In addition to its annual events – such as the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration and the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race – the city has led revitalization projects and sponsored educational events.