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Jackson is the capital and largest city of Mississippi, set on the Pearl River in the center of the state. Founded in 1821 as the new capital and named for Andrew Jackson, it was largely burned during the Civil War, earning it the grim nickname Chimneyville. The Old Capitol, built in 1839, survived and is now a museum, while the beaux-arts New Capitol, completed in 1903, crowns a hill downtown.
Jackson played a central role in the civil rights movement. Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary, lived and was assassinated here in 1963, and his home is now a national monument. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History, opened together in 2017, tell the stories of the state's struggles and achievements and are among the best museums in the South.
The city is also a center of blues and soul music, with historic venues on Farish Street and Mississippi Blues Trail markers like the one at Hal and Mal's. The Mississippi Museum of Art, Thalia Mara Hall, the LeFleur's Bluff State Park and the Mississippi Children's Museum add culture and outdoor space, and the Fondren neighborhood is known for its art galleries and restaurants.
A powerful museum that traces the civil rights movement in Mississippi from 1945 to 1976, with eight galleries around a central space that brightens with music as visitors gather. Exhibits cover Medgar Evers, Freedom Summer and the struggle for voting rights. Allow at least two hours.
A museum sharing a building with the Civil Rights Museum, covering 15,000 years of Mississippi history from Native American cultures to the 20th century, with artifacts, replicas and multimedia exhibits. A combined ticket covers both museums. Allow two hours for this museum alone.
The state's largest art museum, downtown next to the Art Garden, with collections of Mississippi artists, American art and changing traveling exhibitions. The outdoor garden hosts concerts and events and is free to visit. Check whether special exhibitions require tickets.
A museum in LeFleur's Bluff State Park with large aquariums of native fish, alligators and turtles, exhibits on Mississippi wildlife and ecosystems, and nature trails outside. It is especially good for families. Allow two hours and walk the trails down toward the Pearl River.
A grand Beaux-Arts building completed in 1903 with a large dome topped by a gilded eagle, a richly decorated rotunda and stained glass. Free guided tours are offered on weekdays, and visitors can see the legislative chambers. Bring photo ID for the security check at the entrance.
The Greek Revival building that served as the state capitol from 1839 to 1903, where Mississippi voted to secede in 1861, now a museum about the building and the state's political history. Admission is free. It is at the head of Capitol Street, close to the history museums.
The modest ranch home where civil rights leader Medgar Evers lived with his family and was assassinated in his driveway in 1963, now a national monument. Tours are offered by appointment through the National Park Service or partner groups. It is a moving stop; plan ahead.
The Tudor Revival home of Pulitzer Prize winning author Eudora Welty, kept as she left it with her books and furniture, plus the restored garden she tended with her mother. Guided tours run at set times, so reserve ahead. The garden is especially pretty in spring.
A Greek Revival house completed in 1842, one of the oldest continuously occupied governor's residences in the United States, with restored historic rooms open for free guided tours on weekday mornings. Reservations are recommended; bring photo ID for security screening.
A large downtown performing arts hall built in 1968 and named for ballet teacher Thalia Mara, hosting the USA International Ballet Competition, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, touring Broadway shows and concerts. Check the schedule; parking is near the convention center.
Jackson's arts and dining district north of downtown with galleries, cafes, restaurants, bars and vintage shops in older buildings, centered on the Duling Hall venue. It hosts the monthly Fondren After 5 street party in warmer months. Street parking is usually free.
A state park in the middle of Jackson with a lake for fishing, campsites, a nine-hole golf course, nature trails along the Pearl River and the Natural Science museum. It is a quiet escape inside the city. Campsites can be reserved online; bring insect repellent in summer.
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