Experience the Richness of Mississippi
Mississippi is not just a place to visit - it is a destination to experience. History in the state begins with prehistoric times, and the journey continues through Natchez Trace and the Civil War, with exciting places for you to visit.
Experience History
When you explore the history of Mississippi, you are exploring the history of our nation. The story begins in prehistoric times, when vast herds of buffalo trampled and “traced” out a route known as the Natchez Trace. This same path would later be traveled by Native Americans, traders, missionaries, and early pioneers.
Ancient Sites. If you want to come face-to-face with the most impressive landmarks of the ancient past, plan a visit to Mississippi’s mound sites, showcasing well-preserved, Native American mounds built of earth. These mounds were the centers of daily and spiritual life, and you can find sites remaining across the state. Among the most visited are the Winterville Mound site, located in Greenville, and the Pocahontas Mound A, located north of Jackson. You can see a complete list of the mounds in Mississippi here: nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds.
Civl War. Mississippi was a young state when the country erupted in Civil War, but its strategic location destined it to become a crucial part of that epic conflict. The stories of Mississippi and those who fought for her are preserved in the more than 1,000 stately and solemn monuments of Vicksburg National Military Park, the pristine battlefield and gently rolling hills of Brice’s Crossroads, the Corinth Contraband Camp, the last home of Jefferson Davis at Beauvoir, the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University and countless churches and gravesites.
usgrantlibrary.org
Historic Homes. From the Greek Revival classics of the nineteenth century to the work of Frank Gehry in the twenty-first, Mississippi’s architecture is a grand depiction of a remarkable evolution. Montrose and the Montrose Museum is a two-story columned Greek Revival home built as a wedding present in the 1800s and run not only as a museum, but also as a unique wedding venue by the Holly Springs Garden Club. Belmont Plantation, est. 1857 is the last antebellum mansion along the river in the Mississippi Delta; the house and the grounds have undergone an extensive restoration and all rooms are available for weddings, events, tours, B&B accommodations, and more.
hollyspringsmsgardenclub.com
belmontplantation1857.com
The Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museums invite visitors inside the state’s rich and complex 200-year history. Students have the opportunity to learn and reflect upon the true stories responsible for shaping a state and influencing the world. Located in Indianola, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center reflects on the life and music of the renowned “King of the Blues” along with the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta. Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience is a 60,000-square-foot facility dedicated to the state’s musicians, actors, writers and other creative artists. The MAX showcases the roots of Mississippi’s most famous contributors to the arts with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits.
mdah.ms.gov
bbkingmuseum.org
msarts.org
grammymuseumms.org
Experience Music
World renowned as the “Birthplace of America’s Music,” Mississippi has literally shaped the course of modern music with its contributions to blues, jazz, rock, country and gospel. Explore the state’s storied musical history at world-class museums, by following the music cultural trails or experience them first-hand at rollicking venues large and small.
Music Museum. The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of music while casting a spotlight on the deep musical roots of Mississippi. Through December 13, they will feature the exhibit “Stronger Together: The Power of Women in Country Music”.
grammymuseumms.org
Clarksdale, Mississippi has been a center for blues culture since the 1920s. Many now-legendary musical artists were born and raised here. The Delta Blues Museum has preserves, interprets, and encourages a deep interest in the story of the blues. Established in 1979, this is the state’s oldest music museum - they have just celebrated their 40th anniversary. Experience exhibits like “Panny Mayfield: Live From the Mississippi Delta.”
visitclarksdale.com
deltabluesmuseum.org
Tupelo is an important stop on any music lover’s list. The most significant landmark of Tupelo’s modern history is a modest, two-room house where Elvis was born! The house, built by his father with $180, draws over 50,000 visitors each year from across the world and is part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. The home is a Mississippi landmark and the centerpiece of the park which includes, among many other exhibits, the popular photo-op “Elvis at 13” statue and Elvis’ childhood church. Don’t miss the chance to visit Elvis Presley’s birthplace & museum.
elvispresleybirthplace.com
Experience the Arts
Creative culture is never in short supply in Mississippi. As the birthplace of renowned native fiction authors, including John Grisham, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Willie Morris and Richard Wright and playwrights Tennessee Williams and Beth Henley, Mississippi is America’s literary soul.
Cultural Center. The Margaret Walker Center is a cultural preservation research resource center, housing significant records of the late Margaret Walker Alexander. The oral history department includes the official collection of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement. The campus also offers museum and exhibit spaces highlighting the Center’s collections and the history of Jackson State University.
jsums.edu/margaretwalkercenter
Fine Food. Time to eat? You can still enjoy the arts. One of the most storied restaurants and watering holes in Jackson is also the site of several literary points of interest. Eudora Welty’s 90th birthday party was held at Hal & Mal’s. Book signings of John Grisham, Barry Hannah, Larry Brown, Willie Morris and Willie Dixon have been held there as well. With a crowd-pleasing menu of hearty southern staples, you are sure to find a satisfying meal and plenty of nightcap options. Be sure to check out memorabilia lining the walls and learn about the history of one of Jackson’s most colorful, cultural institutions. Nearly all featured writers at the Mississippi Book Festival frequent Hal & Mals.
halandmals.com
Belhaven Books. Unwind and take a relaxing tour of the Eudora Welty House located in the historic Belhaven neighborhood. A Jackson native and Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, Eudora Welty returned to her home in Jackson to create novels and short stories. Books cover virtually every surface in Welty’s home, where she lived until her death in 2001. The garden at the house is beautifully reconstructed to the 1925-1945 period.
welty.mdah.ms.gov
Writers Walk. Walk the The Mississippi Writers Trail, an initiative of the Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with local organizations. The trail pays tribute to the state’s most acclaimed and influential writers through a series of historical markers that recognize the importance of place in an author’s life while educating the public about the history and legacy of Mississippi writers. Still being added to, the cast aluminum markers, shaped like an open book, will inform travelers and highlight information about local authors, their birthplace, home, gravesite, museum, or literary locale Plus, you can get your steps in!
arts.ms.gov/writers-trail
Experience the Outdoors
Outdoor exploration has become increasingly popular as we all try to find open-air adventures during social-distance travel. This year has seen a meteoric rise in visits to state parks - and Mississippi has 24 for you to choose from! Here are our top recommendations; and if you want to learn more, visit the National Parks Service website at nps.gov/state/ms.
Pirate Beach. Located on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico, Buccaneer State Park is a year-round vacation spot rich in coastal beauty. The area now encompassed by the park was frequented by pirates in the 1700s, and figures prominently in mysterious tales of smuggling and buried treasure. Today Buccaneer State Park is best known for its exciting wave pool, which provides a safe yet exciting setting for summer rafting and body surfing, and as a winter retreat where the mild temperatures allow outdoor recreation.
Watersport Heaven. Perched on a rocky bluff overlooking the Tennessee River, J.P. Coleman State Park offers the finest in all types of water sports. Visitors experience unmatched sailing, swimming, skiing, and fishing for Smallmouth bass in the sparkling waters of Pickwick Lake, and enjoy camping and exploring in the untamed wilderness along the banks of the Tennessee River.
Lovely Lake. Lake Lowndes State Park is set on a beautiful 150-acre lake, the park offers unlimited opportunities for fishing and camping, as well as complete facilities for football, tennis, softball, and other organized sports.
Experience Accommodations
If you prefer unique accommodations with a touch of Southern Hospitality, then Mississippi lodgings are the place for you. Throughout the state you will find breakfast inns in historic homes to upscale boutique hotels and repurposed sharecropper houses.
Writers’ Favorite. The Fairview Inn in Jackson is not only a beautiful boutique hotel - the Library Lounge is a gathering place for locals and book lovers. As Jackson’s only AAA four-diamond small luxury hotel, the Fairview Inn is a must-stay. Imparting a distinct literary feel, the Library Lounge of the inn serves up craft cocktails named after Mississippi’s famous authors. Sip a “William Faulkner” while perusing the many books lining the walls. You can also plan to have your next event here, such as a family reunion or wedding. fairviewinn.com
Glamorous Camping. In these crazy times, cozy campgrounds are an increasingly popular place to spend a vacation. In Mississippi you will find 24 state parks to explore, with most offering camping. You could also visit a private campground or RV park. Heavenly Grace Farm is near to Buccaneer State Park, where you can enjoy the farm life with pony rides and campfires, as well as camping, swimming, and fishing. Call 570-220-4874 to book your campsite. Paradise Ranch RV Resort is a gorgeous family campground that combines the beauty of nature with resort-style amenities like a waterpark, cabins, RV hookups, 20-acre natural cypress lake, and 105 acres of land is fenced in with tame Red Stag deer and other animals.
paradiseranchrv.com
Adult Treehouse. Imagine staying in a treehouse - but for adults! The Forest Retreat is a secluded adult getaway open year-round. The retreat was designed in the Adirondack style by noted Louisiana antiquarian, Don Didier, and sits on the edge of the Homochitto National Forest. Thunder Ridge is at the top of the ridge and has a below deck outdoor soaking tub. Both houses have wraparound porches with 360 degree views of the surrounding forest, as well as kitchens, comfy beds, and other homey amenities.
forestretreat.com
Famous Flats. Experience the cozy side of history! Tallahatchie Flats sits on the banks of the Tallahatchie River, just a short drive up Money Road from Greenwood. A row of relocated sharecropper shacks welcomes visitors with surprisingly comfortable interiors, surrounded by cotton fields and the sounds of Delta wildlife. A renovated commissary features occasional musical entertainment and room for parties and reunions.
tallahatchieflats.com
