Jackson (named after Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845, seventh President of the United States), capital of Mississippi, is the economic centre and transport hub of the surrounding area with its oilfields. Here in 1861 the Southern states resolved on secession from the Union. Features of interest are the State Historical Museum in the old Capitol.
Jackson (pop. 185,000) is the most populous city in the State of Mississippi.
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 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.
Address: Manship House Museum, 420 East Fortification, Jackson, MS 39202-2340, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 961-4724, Fax: 1 (601) 354-6043
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.
Address: Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 South Lamar Street, Jackson, MS 39201, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 960-1515, Fax: 1 (601) 960-1505
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.
Address: Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS 39202-1353, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 354-7303, Fax: 1 (601) 354-7227
Hours:
8am-5pm; Sun:1pm-5pm; Sat:9am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May ), American Independance Day (July 4), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is housed in a unique building in Jackson. It features interactive exhbits and games, sports memorabilia and artifacts honoring Mississippi sports legends.
Address: Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, 1152 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 982-8264, Fax: 1 (601) 982-4702
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.
Hours:
10am-3pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), American Independance Day (July 4), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Tips: Group discount of 20% available for 10 or more.
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.
Address: The Old Capitol Museum of Mississippi History, 100 South State Street, Jackson, MS 39205-0571, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 576-6920, Fax: 1 (601) 576-6981
Hours:
9am-5pm; Sun:1pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
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.
Hours:
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Memorial Day - USA (last Monday, May ), Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
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.
Address: Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, 528 Bloom Street, Jackson, MS 39202-4005, United States
Phone: 1 (601) 960-1457, Fax: 1 (601) 960-2070
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.
Mississippi State Capitol & statue to women of Confereracy in Jackson.
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.
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.
Hours:
April 1 to September 6: 9am-6pm
September 7 to March 31: 9am-5pm
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
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.
Address: Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, 212 East Broadway, Yazoo City, MS 39194, United States
Phone: 1 (662) 746-1273, Fax: 1 (662) 746-7238