Hattiesburg (pop. 50,000) offers a range of recreational activities and cultural experiences. The Hattiesburg area is equipped with biking trails, art galleries and historical museums, and twelve golf courses.
The CW Woods Art Gallery in Hattiesburg features changing exhibits of traveling shows and graduate students. The permanent collection includes the works of African American sculptor Richmond Barthé.
The Camp Shelby Armed Forces Museum features more than 17,000 military items related to wars from the Spanish American War to the Persian Gulf War in more than 16,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Hours:
9am-4:30pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: Martin Luther King's Birthday - USA (3rd Monday, January ), New Year's Day (January 1), President's Day - USA (3rd Monday, February ), American Independance Day (July 4), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September), Columbus Day - USA (2nd Monday, October ), Veteran's Day - USA (November 11), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park provides a small collection of animals and a one-third scale railroad offering tours through the 21 acre park.
Hours:
10am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Lucile Parker Art Gallery at William Carey College
in Hattiesburg features oils and watercolors by Marie Hull and drawings, portraits, and abstracts by Lucile Parker. Both of these women are well known Mississippi artists.
The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel features European and American art, Native American baskets, English Georgian silver, and Japanese woodblock prints. Represented in the collection are the works of Thomas Moran, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, George Inness, Albert Bierstadt and Robert Henri.
Address: Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, 565 North Fifth Avenue, Laurel, MS 39441, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 649-6374, Fax: 1 (601) 649-6379
Hours:
10am-4:45pm; Sun:1pm-4pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Donations are accepted. Closed the first weekend in December.