Jackson, MS Attractions

The writer Eudora Welty lived for more than seventy-five years in this home on Pinehurst Street in Jackson. She wrote almost all of her fiction and essays there. The garden was created by her mother, Chestina, and tended by Eudora for years. It is being restored to the 1925-1945 era.

The Jackson Zoological Park maintains a collection of 776 animals representing 120 species.

The Manship House Museum in Jackson was built in 1857. This Gothic Revival house belonged to Charles Henry Manship, mayor of Jackson during the Civil War. On display are some of the family memorabilia and 19th C decorative arts.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson covers 39 acres of land and deals with the history of agriculture and forestry and its impact on Mississippi. Located on the site are the National Agricultural Aviation Museum, Fortenberry-Parkman Farmstead, Ethic Heritage Center, and the Forestry Auditorium.

The Governor's Mansion in Jackson was built in 1839 and first occupied in 1842. It is now the second oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the USA. In 1975 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson presents a permanent collection and changing exhibits by national, and international artists. Originally designed to display the works of local and regional artists, the museum still places a heavy emphasis on local and regional art. It is the largest art museum in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson focuses on the natural history of Mississippi, including plants, animals, fossils, and habitats. It maintains a collection of fish, reptiles and amphibians, with a swamp of live alligators. The 300 acre grounds also offer nature trails.

The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is housed in a unique building in Jackson. It features sports memorabilia and artifacts honoring Mississippi sports figures.

The Municipal Art Gallery in Jackson features contemporary art with a permanent collection and changing exhibits. One of the primary goals of the gallery is to allow emerging artists a chance to show their work.

Built circa 1850, The Oaks was the home of four-time Mayor of Jackson, James Hervey Boyd, his wife Eliza Ellis Boyd, and their six children. This four-room Greek Revival cottage is now a museum furnished to represent life in the mid-19th C Jackson, as seen through the eyes of one of its earliest settlers. Recent excavations on the site have located the foundations of the original detached kitchen building and carriage house.

Built in 1839, this Greek Revival building served as the seat of Mississippi government until the early 1900s. The museum offers displays on prehistory Mississippi, the Civil War, the cotton industry, and the civil rights movement.

The Russell C Davis Planetarium in Jackson features sky and laser light shows, and educational programs on astronomy, science, travel, and the arts. The McNair Space Theatre shows films on a 60 foot-wide dome screen.

The Smith Robertson Museum in Jackson is housed in the city's first public school for African-Americans. Exhibits describe the history and culture of African Americans in the area.

The State Capitol building in Jackson was build between 1901-03 and houses the executive and legislative chambers. The 180ft/55m dome roof is crowned with a 15ft/5m high gold leaf-covered eagle. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The War Memorial Building in Jackson was built in 1940 as a tribute to Mississippi's veterans. A replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in the courtyard.

Brookhaven (pop. 9,850) was founded in 1818 and still maintains many old homes and buildings. The city hosts a number of annual festivals and parades, and offers theatre, music recitals, art exhibits and historic tours.

Built in 1870 the Old Jail Courthouse in Canton is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Cactus Plantation near Edwards (pop. 1,300) features more than 3,500 varieties of cacti and tropical plants.

The Mississippi Petrified Forest near Flora is a rare site, being the only one of it's kind in the eastern United States. Some of the petrified wood dates back 36 million years.

Also on site is a geology museum, rock and gem shop, and nature trails.

The Casey Jones Railroad Museum and State Park in Vaughan is a restored railroad station that houses items and information from the 1900 train crash that killed John Luther "Casey" Jones.

Yazoo City (pop. 14,500) is located north of Jackson along the Yazoo River. Nearby Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers wildlife observation, photography, fishing, and hunting.