Things to do in Jackson MS, Mississippi’s capital and biggest city, is packed with intriguing museums and centuries-old historic landmarks. While many are about state governance, others are about science and civil rights, art, and agriculture, among other things.
It is located on the banks of the Pearl River and has many lovely parks and gardens to explore, as well as the artistic Fondren neighbourhood. ‘The City with Soul’ also features a plethora of taverns and live music venues that specialise in blues, folk, and jazz.
With its various cultural institutions and attractions, Jackson has something for everyone. Every year, Jackson hosts a variety of entertaining events and festivals.
10. Mississippi Children’s Museum
The Mississippi Children’s Museum, one of Jackson’s major attractions for families with children, is situated near the park’s western end. Many fascinating displays and hands-on activities for children may be found in its bright and innovative structure.
It was founded in 2010 and mostly focused on STEM issues, with certain galleries also concentrating on health, literacy, and history. Children may learn via play, touch, and exploration in themed sections, painting rooms, and climbing walls. They may spend hours visiting the museum with its extensive selection of activities and displays.
Aside from all of the fun adventures and outdoor settings, several parts dive into Mississippi’s rich history, culture, and tradition. It’s almost difficult to be bored at this fantastic museum since there’s so much to do.
9. House of Medgar Evers
Things to do in Jackson MS, Despite its unassuming look, the Medgar Evers House is well worth a visit while in town. It is now a historic home museum that chronicles the life and legacy of the prominent African-American civil rights lawyer.
The one-story ranch-style residence, completed in 1956, was Medgar and Myrlie’s home, with civil rights meetings conducted inside on a regular basis. The couple faced a lot of harassment and death threats while fighting for school integration and researching racially motivated deaths. Medgar was tragically assassinated in 1963 by a white supremacist who shot him in his own house.
Visitors to the Little House now learn about their valiant battle for civil rights and the enduring impact they left behind. It is a National Historic Landmark located approximately fifteen minutes from the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in downtown Mississippi.
8. Mississippi Petrified Forest
The Mississippi Petrified Forest is an astonishing natural phenomena located near the northern outskirts of Jackson. It has green pathways and isolated campgrounds, as well as intriguing formations and fossils.
Stumps and petrified logs, said to have originated some 36 million years ago, now litter the forest floor. As you travel, you will see the massive lichen-covered ruins, as well as educational markers along the way. Others are safeguarded at its museum, which also has ancient fossils, dinosaur footprints, and even whale bones.
It’s one of the few such woods in the eastern United States, and it’s a great place to spend the day. On-site, there is also a gemstone mining area and a gift store.
7. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum
Things to do in Jackson MS, Visit the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum if you want to learn more about the state’s woodlands. Visitors to the massive living history farm may learn about the importance of these industries on the formation of Magnolia State.
The recreation of a rural village includes everything from a school and a store to a sugar cane mill and a blacksmith shop. These depict life in the Roaring Twenties, when the cotton trade was thriving. They feature instructional dioramas and exhibitions about the historic period, as well as old antiques and agricultural equipment.
The Heritage Center is also focused with agricultural and forestry transportation and commerce, although the luxuriant Victory Garden is more concerned with sustainable agriculture.
6. Eudora Welty Home and Garden
The lovely Eudora Welty House and Garden, now a National Historic Landmark, is located just south of Belhaven University. The lovely property, which has been very well kept, was the previous home of the famed twentieth-century writer.
The lovely Tudor Revival building, built by her parents in 1925, was Eudora Welty’s home for over eighty years. Guests may explore his bedroom, study, and book collection, as well as all of the pictures and paintings that line the walls, during tours. A brief movie, relics, and displays, as well as skilled docents, offer insight on his life and works.
While its interior is wonderful to explore, many visitors come for its gorgeous garden. Its beautiful grounds, full with roses and azaleas, are the ideal location to rest after a day of touring.
5. Mississippi Art Museum
Things to do in Jackson MS, The Mississippi Museum of Art is a must-see for art aficionados, including paintings and prints, ceramics and sculptures. The state’s biggest museum, its sleek, contemporary structure is right in the middle of downtown.
Its collection has developed greatly since its establishment in 1978, and it currently contains masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Jacob Lawrence, and Georgia O’Keeffe, among others. It’s a delight to walk through its open and airy halls, which are filled with unique pieces of art and installations. These span many centuries and include works by Mississippian and other Southern painters.
Explore its gorgeous sculpture and flower garden once you’ve seen all of its exhibitions. There is also a café and gift store on-site, and the museum hosts several community activities, courses, and festivals throughout the year.
4. Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Because Jackson is connected with the civil rights fight, no trip to the city is complete without a stop to this stunning contemporary museum. It was just opened in 2017 and provides a raw glimpse at some of the state’s worst times in the battle for social justice.
Its eight massive galleries, which are very beautifully planned out, cover challenging themes like as the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow, and the Civil War. Artifacts, images, and displays all contribute to highlighting the many challenges African Americans have faced while working for freedom and equality. The museum’s compelling visual and audio exhibits only add to its striking message.
Visitors will depart with a deeper knowledge of the hardships, tragedies, and victories that individuals endured in the battle for civil rights.
3. Old Capitol Museum
Things to do in Jackson MS, A short distance away lies the Old Capitol Museum, one of Mississippi’s oldest and most spectacular structures. The National Historic Site, which was formerly the state capital, today houses a plethora of intriguing antiques and exhibits.
The shining white three-story skyscraper, located right downtown, stands out beautifully from its surroundings. It was built in 1840 and has beautiful Greek Revival design, including a copper cupola atop its grand portico and robust Corinthian columns.
It was the seat of state administration until 1903, and tours now take you within its vast interior. You’ll explore impressive features including its rebuilt rotunda, vast rooms, and audience halls with a knowledgable guide. Most of his paintings are embellished with beautiful portraiture, woodwork, and embellishments.
2. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, a family favourite, has a plethora of antiques, aquariums, and animal displays. It is located in LeFleur’s Bluff State Park and focuses not only on flora and fauna, but also on the history and geology of the state’s natural landscapes.
It was founded in 1933 and is housed in a huge contemporary structure in the park’s southwest corner. Its galleries include instructive exhibitions and dioramas, as well as fossils, dinosaur bones, and amusing play spaces. While its massive tanks hold alligators, turtles, and fish, the large treehouses and pathways outdoors are just as popular.
The museum takes you from prehistory to the present day and is both educational and entertaining. With a greenhouse, natural walks, and fascinating activities, this is a must-see while in Mississippi.
1. Mississippi State Capitol
Things to do in Jackson MS, The Mississippi State Capitol’s massive dome and shimmering golden eagle dominate the downtown skyline. It has served as the seat of state government since 1903 and includes outstanding Beaux-Arts architecture.
The majestic edifice, made of Georgia granite and Indiana limestone, towering above the beautiful green gardens and lawns that surround it. While its enormous dome and bald eagle statue are unquestionably impressive, its lovely facade and colonnade are equally so.
Patrons may enjoy the elegant elements of its marble-clad interior on tours, with its spectacular rotunda being the unmistakable centrepiece. As you stroll, you will learn about its history and architecture, as well as significant political events and key people associated with the gorgeous city.
