what s going on in jackson? - mississippi state hospital 2009 visitors guide.pdfwhat’s going on in...

What’s going on in Jackson?J A C K S O N, M I S S I S S I P P I

C I T Y W I T H S O U L

WHAT’S GOING ON IN JACKSON?PLENTY OF FUN.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU’LL FIND EVENTS LIKE THE

FARISH STREET FESTIVAL, DIXIE NATIONAL RODEO,

USA INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION, MAL’S

ST. PADDY’S PARADE, MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE,

CELTIC FEST, MISSISSIPPI WILDLIFE EXTRAVAGANZA

AND CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC. AND WE HAVEN’T EVEN

MENTIONED THE CAPITAL CITY’S RICH VISUAL AND

PERFORMING ARTS AND MANY HISTORICAL AND FUN

ATTRACTIONS. SO LOOK THROUGH THIS HANDY,

HELPFUL GUIDE. WHEN IT COMES TO EXCITING THINGS

TO SEE AND DO, WE’VE GOT IT GOING ON.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN JACKSON 2

GENERAL INFORMATION 11

ATTRACTIONS AND MUSEUMS 14

SAMPLE ITINERARIES 24

ANNUAL EVENTS 26

ARTS AND CULTURE 33

ACCOMMODATIONS 37

HOTELS AND ATTRACTIONS MAP 40

OTHER AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

AND TOURISM OFFICES 42

MEET ME IN JACKSON 44

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Farish Street Heritage Festival

The second oldest African-American community

festival in the state of Mississippi features live

entertainment from national, regional, and local

artists and performers.

Mississippi State Fair

One of the South’s largest fairs, featuring

amusement rides, entertainment, livestock

competition, exhibits, and concessions.

Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival

Downtown Jackson turns out the green

and the green-at-heart for this truly fun-loving,

Irish inspired celebration.

Russell C. Davis Planetarium/

Ronald E. McNair Space Theater

Experience the universe in one of the South’slargest and best-equipped planetariums!

Eudora Welty House & Garden

2009 marks the 100 birthday of Jackson’scelebrated and beloved author, Eudora Welty.

Among the most intact literary homes in America,

the museum and carefully restored gardens are

open to the public, and many centennial events

and activities take place throughout the year.

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W H A T ’ S G O I N G O N I N J A C K S O N W H A T ’ S G O I N G O N I N J A C K S O N

Summers Hotel and

Subway Lounge Marker

During the era of segregation, many black

musicians stayed at the Summers Hotel,

established in 1944 by W.J. Summers. In 1966,

Summers opened a popular club in the hotel

basement that he called the Subway Lounge.

The Subway garnered international fame with

the release of the film documentary, “Last of the

Mississippi Jukes.” A Mississippi Blues Trail

marker commemorates the place where it stood.

54

Celtic Fest

Come immerse yourself in Celtic culture. This

event features Celtic music, displays by Celtic

artists, educational workshops, family and

children’s activities, and plenty of concessions.

Jubilee!JAM

As the city’s biggest outdoor music and arts

festival, Jubilee!JAM features performances by

great local, regional, and national artists.

JSU Homecoming

Activities include a parade, coronation of

the Homecoming Queen, the football game,

and a Greek step show.

Capital City Football Classic

Activities surrounding the Jackson State

University and Alcorn State University football

game include a scholarship banquet, Miss Capital

City Classic pageant, pep rally, comedy show,

Battle of the Bands, and much more!

Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo

Beginning in January, the Mississippi Fairgrounds

hosts the largest livestock show east of the

Mississippi River. In February, the Coliseum hosts

the second largest PRCA Rodeo with ten

performances over seven days.


Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza

The state’s largest wildlife trade show for

outdoor enthusiasts of all ages at the

Mississippi Trade Mart.

Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry

Museum/National Agricultural

Aviation Museum

This 40-acre complex, located in the heart of

the city, brings to life Mississippi’s rich

agricultural heritage.

Mississippi Museum

of Natural Science

Experience Mississippi’s living heritage through a

visit to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

Medgar Evers Library

This city library located in Evers’ former

neighborhood was renamed in dedication to

the memory of Medgar Evers, with a life-

sized bronze statue of him erected at the

library by local citizens.

Mississippi State Capitol

Completed in 1903, the Mississippi State

Capitol, patterned after the nation’s capitol in

Washington, D.C., exemplifies the Beaux Arts

Classical Style of architecture and serves as the

working seat of state government.

Smith Robertson Museum

& Cultural Center

A comprehensive depository of artifacts

celebrating the African-American Mississippians’accomplishments in the fields of history, art,

music, and literature. Named one of the Top 10

“Best Places to be Enveloped in Quilts” by

USA Today.

76


The International Museum

of Muslim Cultures

Unique in the United States, the IMMC

highlights contributions that Muslims have made

to the city of Jackson, the state of Mississippi,

the region, the nation, and the world.

98

Jackson Zoological Park

An afternoon wandering along the walkways

of the Jackson Zoo will delight kids of any

age. Explore the newest attraction,

Wilderness Mississippi, along with many

other exhibits containing hundreds of

animals from around the world.

Entertainment

Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country, and much more.

Catch it live all around the town.

Mississippi Museum of Art

Mississippi’s oldest and largest professional arts

organization now has a beautiful new home with

changing exhibits and an extensive, permanent

collection of more than 4,000 works.

Mississippi Sports Hall

of Fame and Museum

Mississippi’s first museum for the 21st century

contains an array of interactive sports exhibits.

Named one of the Top 10 “Most Amazing

Baseball Museums in America” by ESPN.


Mistletoe Marketplace

The largest fundraiser in Mississippi! Enjoy the

excitement of this multi-day holiday shopping

extravaganza featuring more than 100 merchants

from across the nation. Named an ABA Top 100

Event in North America

Christmas at the

Governor’s Mansion

Beautifully decorated with traditional

holiday greenery and fruit, the

mansion is open for morning tours.

11S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M

G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N

A CITY WITH WONDERFUL TEMPERATURES

AND WONDERFUL ENTERTAINMENT.

GENERAL FACTS

Web Sites for Visitorswww.visitjackson.com

www.jacksoncitywithsoul.com

Population202,064

ClimateWinter: 48°, Spring: 65°,

Summer: 81°, Fall: 66°

LocationCentral Mississippi, crossroads of Interstates 55 and

20, running north-south and east-west respectively.

Hotels48 properties with over 5,000 rooms.

RestaurantsOver 300 fine restaurants, many with convention

and banquet rooms; cuisine from authentic deep

Southern cooking to international fare.

Taxes 7% sales tax; 4% hotel and 2% restaurant tax;

$0.75 per room night tax.

TRANSPORTATION

Air

Jackson-Evers International Airport100 International Drive 601-939-5631www.jmaa.comJackson-Evers International Airport is the commercial

airport serving Jackson. Designated as a general

purpose Foreign Trade Zone, it maintains two 8,500-

foot runways and has undergone a multi-million

dollar renovation.

Airlines serving Jackson are American Eagle,

Continental, Delta, Northwest Airlines, Southwest

Airlines, and US Airways Express.

Daily Direct Flights Serving Jackson:

• Atlanta

• Baltimore/

Washington, D.C.

• Charlotte

• Chicago Midway

• Dallas/Ft.Worth

• Detroit

• Houston Bush

Intercontinental

• Houston Hobby

• Memphis

• Orlando

• Washington, D.C.

Reagan National

Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree

A Belhaven College tradition since 1933, the

singing Christmas Tree is an outdoor choral

performance of the season’s favorite Christmas

songs and lights.

Chimneyville Crafts Festival

This yearly event promotes and preserves the

fine work of regional craftsmen through

demonstrations and displays.

City of Jackson Christmas Parade

Usher in the Yuletide Season in downtown

Jackson at the annual Christmas Parade held the

first Saturday in December.

10

W H A T ’ S G O I N G O N I N J A C K S O N

1312 S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O MS E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M

Union Station

300 West Capitol Street 601-355-6350

RailAmtrak Passenger StationGeneral Information and Reservations1-800-872-7245 • www.amtrak.com

Amtrak serves the City of Jackson

with daily service to Chicago and

New Orleans.

Bus Greyhound-Trailways Bus Lines

601-354-1913 • www.greyhound.com

Provides 8 inbound and outbound

buses daily.

Limo/Taxi CabInformation is available by contacting the

Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau

at 1-800-354-7695 or 601-960-1891 or by

visiting our web site at www.visitjackson.com.

Public Facilities

Jackson Convention Complex(opens January, 2009)

105 Pascagoula Street

Jackson, MS 39202

601-973-7002

Mississippi Coliseum1207 Mississippi Street

Jackson, MS 39202

601-961-4000

Mississippi Trade Mart1207 Mississippi Street

Jackson, MS 39202

601-961-4000

Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium2531 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216

601-354-6021

Thalia Mara Hall Auditorium(Municipal Auditorium)

255 E. Pascagoula Street

Jackson, MS 39202

601-960-1537

Smith-Wills Stadium1200 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216

601-362-2294

Ground Distances To Other Major Cities

• Atlanta 441 • Memphis 208• Birmingham 248 • Miami 979• Chicago 753 • New Orleans185• Dallas 412 • St. Louis 505

Ground Distances To OtherMississippi Cities

• Biloxi 165 • Laurel 84• Brookhaven 56 • Meridian 93• Clarksdale 151 • Moss Point 181• Cleveland 127 • Natchez 102• Columbus 147 • Oxford 165• Corinth 218 • Pascagoula 184• Greenville 115 • Southaven 198• Greenwood 96 • Starkville 125• Grenada 113 • Tupelo 170• Gulfport 157 • Vicksburg 44• Hattiesburg 88 • Yazoo City 44


LOCAL TOURS

& GUIDESBy Appointment Only

African-American Heritage Tours601-366-1762 • Contact: Clotie Graves, Tour Manager

Step-on guide for motor coach; customized tour

planning.

Clinton BagleyLicensed Tour Guide601-576-6834 (day) • 601-206-5725 (evening)

Custom Tours601-845-2989 • Contact: Forrest Cooper601-540-1098 (cell)Step-on guide for motor coach; personally guided city

tours for individuals.

The Fondren Express Trolley601-213-7433Lunchtime shuttle service in the Fondren community;

private charter for weddings, birthdays and corporate

events. Historical and Cultural Tours for groups of all

ages. www.FondrenExpress.com or Captain Ron at

601-213-7433.

Silver Platter Tour Travel601-953-9999 • 601-206-1234Contact: Maureen Watt

Services:

• Full-service receptive operator

• Step-on guide—motor coach

• Personally guided historical city or regional tours for

individuals or groups.



A T T R A C T I O N S A N D M U S E U M S

stories. The garden is beautifully reconstructed to the1925-1945 period when Welty worked at her mother’sside planting, watering, and weeding.

• Tours: Wednesday-Friday (by reservation only) • Hours: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.• Admission: Adults $5, Students $3, & children under

6 free. Groups of 13 or more $1 off each ticket.

Farish Street Historic District(This area is undergoing renovation)Amite Street across to Fortification Street and Mill Streetto Lamar Street • 601-948-5667

The District is made up of residences and diversebusinesses and was placed in the National Register ofHistoric Places in 1980. The District includes over690 listings in the National Register of HistoricPlaces. There are vernacular architectural examplesrepresenting craftsmanship skills of numerousAfrican-American building contractors. Walkingtours reveal a variety of styles which includeantebellum, Creole, Queen Anne, shotgun, andbungalow cottages in addition to business structureswhich represent the early-20th century. Tours can bearranged through the Jackson Convention & VisitorsBureau at 601-960-1891, or 1-800-354-7695.

The Fondren District3318 North State Street 601-981-9606 • www.fondren.org

A destination for culture and urban living in theJackson area, Fondren offers shops, great restaurants,notable art galleries, eclectic architecture, charminghomes, and wonderful people. The community is hometo four hospitals and the University of MississippiMedical Center. Its borders include everything southof Northside Drive, west of I-55, north of WoodrowWilson and east of Mill Street.

Greenwood CemeteryWest Street at Lamar Street601-960-1891 • 800-354-7695

Historic burial site of Pulitzer Prize-winning authorEudora Welty, six Confederate brigadier generals, over

100 soldiers, and past governors of Mississippi. Opendaily dawn to dusk.

The International Museum ofMuslim CulturesMississippi Arts Center, 201 East Pascagoula Street601-960-0440 • www.muslimmuseum.org

Unique in America, the IMMC is dedicated toeducating the public about Islamic history andculture, the contribution of Muslims to the globalcommunity, and the diversity of the Muslimcommunity: past, present, and future. IMMC’scontains two permanent exhibitions. The Legacy ofTimbuktu features ancient Timbuktu manuscriptsuncovering Africa’s literate culture and celebrating aglorious age of learning and empire building. IslamicMoorish Spain: Its Legacy to Europe and the West featuresartifacts and interpretive information on Muslim rulein Spain, its contributions to the fields of philosophy,science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy,agriculture, commerce, architecture and the arts.

• Tour Time: 1 hour• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,

Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Personalized, guided toursare available by reservation.

• Admission: Adults $13, Seniors $12, & Children $7 • Group Rates: Adults $12, Seniors $10 & Students $5• Handicap accessible

Jackson Municipal Art Gallery839 North State Street • 601-960-1582

The building, originally built in the late 1860s as astately private home, stands today as one of theoldest surviving historic structures in Jackson.Attracting thousands of visitors each year with itschanging exhibits, the gallery has become a culturalfocal point for hundreds of local artists.

• Tour Time: 30 minutes-1 hour• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,

Sunday 2-5 p.m.• Admission: Free• Handicap accessible

Jackson State University1400 John R. Lynch Street 601-979-2272 • www.jsums.edu

Jackson State University, built in 1882, isMississippi’s fourth largest institute of higher learningand one of America’s most prominent historicallyblack colleges and universities. JSU occupies a scenic,123-acre tract only minutes from downtown Jackson,and serves as the educational, cultural, and spiritualheart of the African-American community statewide.

Fondren Express Trolley

The Alamo Theater/DorothyMoore Blues Trail Marker333 North Farish Street Located on the Mississippi Blues Trail601-948-8410 Larry Turner

Added to the Mississippi Blues Trail in 2008, thehistoric, recently renovated Alamo Theater was oneof the last dual purpose theaters in the United States.The building originally featured “chase Westerns”and African-American films and also hosted live,black vaudeville acts, stage bands, and other blackperforming artists. Jackson singer Dorothy Moore,best known for her hit, “Misty Blue,” got her starthere and is included on the Blues Trail marker. Thetheatre is available for rental to small audienceproductions.

• Tour Contact: Theater Manager• Hours: Tours by appointment only

Bobby Rush Blues Trail Marker

Lynch Street/Metro Parkway at Valley Street(Former site of WOAD/WJMI Broadcasting)Located on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Named “Best Male Soul Blues Artist” at the 2008

Blues Music Awards, Bobby Rush has been a leading

force in the Southern Soul market as both a

recording artist and live performer for decades. A

resident of Jackson, Bobby has been an important

figure for the history of the R&B and Blues genres

through his great music, unique performances and his

own label, Deep Rush. The marker is located in front

of the former location of WOKJ, founded in 1954,

the first radio station in Mississippi to institute full-

time programming targeted to an African American

audience. WJMI and WOAD were also later based at

this location. (No facilities on site)

City Hall219 South President Street • 601-960-1084

Completed in 1847, City Hall is one of the mostbeautiful and historic municipal buildings in thenation. Used as a hospital by both sides during theCivil War, it was one of only three public buildingsto survive the destruction of the city by Uniontroops. The top floor of the building, originally

constructed for use by the Odd Fellows and Masonicgroups, remains the home of Pearl Lodge No. 23 F. &A.M. City Hall is now the seat of municipalgovernment for Jackson. The Josh Halbert Gardens,featuring fountains and a statue of Jackson’snamesake, General Andrew Jackson, is a favoritephotographic spot.

• Tour Contact: Hospitality Desk• Tour Time: 30-45 minutes• Admission: Free• Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment• Handicap accessible

The City of JacksonFire Museum & Public Fire SafetyEducation Center355 Woodrow Wilson • 601-960-2433

Exhibits consist of artifacts and fire apparatus from

the early 1800s to the present, including a 1904

horse-drawn steamer, 1917 chain-driven American

LaFrance, and a 1936 Seagrave.

• Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. byappointment only

• Educational programs• Admission: Free

Eudora Welty House & Garden1119 Pinehurst Street • [email protected]/welty

The house is a National Historic Landmark and one ofthe most intact literary homes in America. Welty, born in1908, was a writer of international acclaim, and herhome in Jackson’s historic Belhaven neighborhood iswhere she always returned to create her novels and short

WE DARE YOU TO TRY TO FIT

ALL OF THIS INTO ONE VISIT.


Jackson City Hall


Medgar Evers Home2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive601-977-7839

Evers was the first field secretary for the NAACPin Jackson at the time of his death, June 12, 1963.The small house and site of his assassination, and theneighborhood of similar houses that surround it,make palpable the very simple longings for freedomand opportunity that drove the Civil RightsMovement. As a museum and a house in a historicdistrict, the renovated structure informs those whovisit of the many sacrifices that took place in Jacksonand in Mississippi, and presents a modern link in thesuccession of Mississippi landmarks thatcommunicate the history of the state.

• By appointment only• To visit the Medgar Evers home, contact the

Office of EDC at Tougaloo College at 601-977-7839 or the Office of Public Relations at 601-977-7842.

• Admission: Free/Donations encouraged

Medgar Evers Library/Statue4215 Medgar Evers Boulevard • 601-982-2867

This city library located in Evers’ formerneighborhood, along with the street on which it sits,was renamed in memory of Medgar Evers. A life-sized bronze statue of Evers was erected at thelibrary site by local citizens.

Mississippi Agriculture &Forestry Museum/NationalAgricultural Aviation Museum1150 Lakeland Drive • 601-713-33651-800-844-TOUR • www.mdac.state.ms.us

This 40-acre complex, located in the heart of thecity, brings to life Mississippi’s rich agriculturalheritage. A 40,000-square-foot Heritage Center tracesthe history of agriculture and forestry through anextensive collection of artifacts and lifelike exhibits.Outside, the Fortenberry-Parkman Farm restorationand Bisland Cotton Gin, both circa 1860, tell thestory of farm life in early Mississippi. Walk downMain Street of the “Small Town, Mississippi”restoration (circa 1920) and imagine a day in the livesof the people who once toiled and worshiped in thesebuildings. A visit to the Fitzgerald Collection and theEthnic Heritage Center complete this walk throughhistory. Award-winning rose gardens and specialinterest gardens provide enjoyment year-round.

• Tour Time: 1-2 hours• Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Reservations requested for groups of 15 or more

• Admission: Adults $5 per person, Seniors $4, Ages 5-18 $3, and Ages 3-4 $1

Special Services:• Member NTA • Interpretative guide provided upon request• Multi-media presentation available • Gift shop • Picnic area • Refreshments available in General Store• Museum Café serves breakfast and lunch• Meeting rooms • Motorcoach parking

Mississippi Farmers Market939 High Street • 601-359-1163(adjacent to Mississippi State Fairgrounds)www.msfarmersmarket.com

The Mississippi Farmers Market is a year-roundmarket showcasing Mississippi’s best produce. Watchchef demonstrations using produce from the market,listen to live entertainment, and purchase handmadecrafts from local artists and craftsmen. Special eventsare held throughout the year. Restaurant on site.

• Hours: Seasonal, call for days & hours

Mississippi Governor’s Mansion300 East Capitol Street • 601-359-6421www.mdah.state.ms.us/museum/mansion.html

Constructed in 1841, this beautiful Greek revivalmansion was designed, according to architectWilliam Nichols, “to adhere to plain republicansimplicity.” Having served as the official residenceof Mississippi’s first family since January 1842, themansion is the second-oldest continuously occupiedgubernatorial residence in the United States. In1975, the mansion was designated a NationalHistoric Landmark.

• Tour Time: 30 minutes• Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:30-11 a.m., on the half-

hour. Closed major holidays and two weeks atChristmas. May be closed at other times for officialstate functions. Call to confirm availability.

• Reservations required for groups of 10 or more• Admission: Free


Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum

Notable Sites and Exhibits:

• Ayers Hall (1903) – Oldest building on the site,listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• F.D. Hall Music Center/Art Gallery – The galleryhosts exhibits by known artists working intraditional and contemporary disciplines.

• H.T. Sampson Library – Houses portraits, rarebook collections, and African artifacts.

• Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander National African-American Research Center – Addresses two majorthemes: African-American life in the segregationperiod and African-American life in the era of theCivil Rights Movement.

• Tour Contact: Jean Frazier, Office of Public Relations• Tour Time: 1 hour• Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

during school semesters only.• Reservations required for groups

(2 week notice preferred)• Admission: Free/Donations accepted

Special Services:• Meeting facilities• Handicap accessible• Motorcoach parking

Jackson Zoological Park2918 West Capitol Street601-352-2581 • www.jacksonzoo.org2007 Mississippi Tourism Attraction of the Year

An afternoon wandering along the walkways of theJackson Zoo will delight kids of any age. TheJackson Zoo has one of the finest collections of wildanimals from throughout the world, with over 700animals shown in natural surroundings. Don’t missWilderness Mississippi, the zoo’s newest exhibit ofindigenous animals. Enjoy an outdoor picnic at theElephant House Café.

• Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.• Admission: Adults $6, Children ages 3-12 $3, &

Seniors $5.40• Group Rates: $1.75. Reservations required seven

days in advance for school groups, church groups,and boy/girl scout groups of 15 or more ages 2-18.

Special Services:• Gift shop • Concessions/Café • Handicap accessible • Motorcoach parking on site

LeFleur’s Bluff State Park2140 Riverside Drive • 601-987-3985

This beautiful urban park is located on 500 acres of

woodlands that are home to nature trails, a publicnine-hole golf course and driving range, picnic areas,playgrounds, and Mayes Lake for fishing. Lefleur’sBluff has an excellent RV camping facility. There arecamp sites and utility hookups, campgroundbathhouses, and comfort stations. The MississippiNatural Science Museum is located within the park.• Admission: Private vehicles $3 (Additional use fees.

Call for information.)

Malaco Records and Malaco Records Blues Trail Marker3023 West Northside Drive • 601-982-4522www.malaco.comLocated on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Malaco Records is an independent record labelbased in Jackson since 1967 and the home of famousblues and gospel recording artists such as JohnnieTaylor, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, and theMississippi Mass Choir. In 2008 Malaco received ahistoric Mississippi Blues Trail Marker commemoratingits important contributions to the state’s Blues heritage.Tours of the studio are available by appointment only.

Manship House420 East Fortification Street • 601-961-4724www.mdah.state.ms.us/museum/manship.html

One of the few remaining antebellum houses inJackson and a rare example of Gothic Revivalarchitecture, the Manship House offers a glimpse ofthe daily life of an interesting 19th-century middle-class family. Charles Henry Manship, a talentedartisan who served as mayor of Jackson during theCivil War, built the house for his family in 1857. Itsunusual features include several examples ofManship’s wood-graining craftsmanship.

• Tour Time: 1 hour• Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.• Admission: Free/Donations accepted• Reservations requested for groups of 10 or more


Manship House


Mississippi State Capitol400 High Street • 601-359-3114

Designed by architect Theodore Link andcompleted in 1903, the Mississippi State Capitol,patterned after the nation’s capitol in Washington,D.C., exemplifies the Beaux Arts Classical style ofarchitecture and today serves as the working seat ofstate government. Often referred to as the “NewCapitol,” the building boasts exceptional examplesof stained glass, faux finishes, and marble fromaround the world.

• Tour Time: 1 hour• Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.• Reservations required for all groups• Admission: Free

Special Services:• Interpretative guide provided• Handicap accessible• Motorcoach parking on street

Mynelle Gardens4736 Clinton Boulevard • 601-960-1894www.jacksonms.gov/visitors/mynellgardens

From a simple garden started over a half-centuryago, Mynelle Gardens stands as a botanical wonderland,wildlife sanctuary, and haven for songbirds. Thegardens feature azalea and camellia trails and daylilydisplays, as well as hundreds of perennials and annualsin natural landscape settings.

• Tour Time: 45 minutes • Admission: Adults $4, Children $1, Student Pass $5,

Family Pass $30• Hours: March-October, 12 noon-5:15 p.m.

Sunday, 12 noon -5:15 p.m.• November-February, 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m.• Closed major holidays

Special Services:• Gift shop • Handicap accessible • Motorcoach parking

The Oaks House Museum 823 North Jefferson Street • 601-353-9339

The Oaks (circa 1850) is the oldest residence inthe city to be continuously occupied. It was builtaround 1850 by James Hervey and Eliza Boyd andsurvived the fire of 1863, which reduced most ofJackson to ashes. The home may have served asheadquarters for General William T. Sherman duringthe siege of the city by Union troops. James HerveyBoyd was mayor of Jackson for 4 two-year terms.The House exemplifies the Greek Revival cottagestyle popular in the mid-19th century. Lovingly

restored and furnished with period antiques by itspresent owner, the Colonial Dames of America inthe State of Mississippi, The Oaks remains atreasured part of Mississippi history.

• Tour Time: 40 minutes• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.• Reservations required for groups of 10 or more• Admission: Adults $4.50, Children $3.50, & Seniors $4• Group Rate: 20% off (Groups of 10 or more by

appointment)

Special Services:• Interpretative guide provided• Motorcoach parking on street

The Old Capitol Museum100 South State Street • 601-359-6920www.mdah.state.ms.us

A National Historic Landmark and one ofAmerica’s finest examples of Greek Revival publicarchitecture, the Old Capitol building served asstate capitol from 1839 to 1903, housing suchnotable events as the passage of the Ordinance ofSecession. The Old Capitol was restored from 1959to 1961 for use as the state historical museum. In2005 Hurricane Katrina damaged the building’s roofand flooded the museum. Most of the artifacts andexhibits were safely removed for relocation to afuture, all-new Museum of Mississippi History.Restored to its original glory, the Old Capitolreturns as a state house museum in early 2009.

• Hours beginning February 7, 2009: Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

• Free admission

Queen of Hearts and Queen ofHearts Blues Trail Marker2243 Martin Luther King Jr Drive • 601- 352-5730Located on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Still operating, this authentic, urban juke jointdishes out real Blues along with “Chittlings,” Pork


Special Services:• Interpretative guide provided• Motorcoach parking curbside

Mississippi Museum of Art380 South Lamar Street in downtown Jackson 601-960-1515 • www.msmuseumart.org

Mississippi’s largest art museum holds an extensivecollection of more than 4,000 works including theworld’s largest collection by and relating toMississippians and their culturally diverse heritage.Many of these works can be seen in the museum’spermanent exhibition, The Mississippi Story, whichis free for all visitors. The museum features changingexhibitions of local to national and internationalimportance. Exhibitions are complemented by a varietyof educational and entertaining programs throughoutthe year. Visit the Museum Store for unique gifts,crafts, and exhibition-related merchandise, and savetime for a stop in The Palette Café by Viking forsandwiches, salads, and Starbucks coffee! Visit themuseum’s website for more information.

• Tour Time: 1-4 hours to view all exhibitions, café, and store

• Regular Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m. with extendedhours during special exhibitions

• Admission: Varies by exhibition. Admission to TheMississippi Story is FREE. School groups are free onTuesdays through the generous support ofTrustmark National Bank. School groups are freeon Thursdays through the generous support ofBlueCross & BlueShield of Mississippi. Senioradults 60+ are free on the first Wednesday of eachmonth through the generous support of BancorpSouth.

Special Services:• Gift shop • Restaurant • Handicap accessible • Motorcoach parking• Meeting rooms • Garden• Classrooms

Mississippi Museumof Natural Science2148 Riverside Drive • 601-354-7303www.mdwfp.com/museum

Experience Mississippi’s living heritage through avisit to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.An aquarium system housing over 200 species ofnative fish, reptiles, and amphibians tells an ecologicalstory of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, andthe Mississippi Sound. “The Swamp” is home to anassortment of alligators, turtles, and fish surroundedby a native garden. The 300-acre nature area, with

native trees, shrubs, and vines, is a great place forbird watching or enjoying a stroll over the 2.5-milenature trail with interpretive stops along the way.

• Tour Time: 1 hour (2 hours including Nature Trail tour)• Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. • Admission: Adults $5, Children ages 3-18 $3,

Seniors 60 and over $4, & Children under 3 FREE • Group Rate: $1 off above rates, $2 per person for

school groups with teacher(10 people minimum for group rate)

Special Services:• Handicap accessible • Picnic pavilion• Motorcoach parking • Multi-media presentations available

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum1152 Lakeland Drive 601-982-8264 • 1-800-280-FAME • www.msfame.com

Named one of Top 10 “Most Amazing BaseballMuseums in America” by ESPN, the museum containsan array of sports-related, interactive exhibits. Touch-screen television kiosks allow museum visitors to accessarchival footage, achievement data, biographicalinformation, and more than 500 interviews withfamous Mississippi athletes like Jerry Rice, Brett Favre,Archie Manning, Ralph Boston, and Dizzy Dean.Reservations requested for group tours.

• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Admission: Adults $5, Students (6-17) and Seniors

$3.50, Children (5 and under) Free• Group Rate: $3.00 (12 people minimum in group)

Special Services:• Tailgate parties • Handicap accessible • Motorcoach parking • Meeting rooms


The Old Capitol Museum

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Swamp Exhibit


Situated on what was once the Boddie Plantation,Tougaloo College, a historically black, private,liberal arts institution, was founded in 1869 by theAmerican Missionary Association. Tougaloo, locatedon a beautiful site with centuries-old magnolias andoaks, played a vital role in the Civil RightsMovement in the 1960s. Students of history willappreciate the Lillian Pierce Benbow Room ofSpecial Collections in the Coleman Library wherethousands of documents, tapes, photographs, andartifacts tell the story of the civil rights struggle.

Other notable Tougaloo sites & exhibitions:

• The Boddie Mansion (1848), originally erected asa planter’s home, now houses the Collegeadministration offices.

• Woodworth Chapel (1901) built mostly with studentlabor, remains a center of religious life and culturalactivity for the College and surrounding community.

• The Tougaloo Art Collection – over 1,000 pieces,including paintings, sculptures, wood carvings, andartifacts from around the world. The African-American collection is considered one of the mostexhaustive in the southeastern United States.

• Tour Contact: Shandra Daniel• Tour Time: 30 minutes• Hours: By appointment only• Reservations required for groups• Admission: Free/Donations accepted

Special Services:• Interpretative guide available• Handicap accessible • Motorcoach parking

Trumpet Records Blues Trail Marker309 N. Farish StreetLocated on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Trumpet Records was the first record company inMississippi to achieve national stature through itsdistribution, sales, radio airplay and promotion.Willard F. and Lillian S. McMurry launched the labelfrom their retail store, the Record Mart, at 309North Farish Street, in 1950. The first releases byMississippi blues legends Sonny Boy Williamson No.2, Elmore James, and Willie Love appeared onTrumpet, which also recorded gospel and countrymusic. The label used several different studios forrecording sessions, including Diamond RecordingStudio, housed in the back room of the store. Theoperation, which eventually included the Globepublishing company and record label, held its finalsessions in 1956.

War Memorial Building120 North State Street • 601-354-7207

Located next to the Old Capitol, the MississippiWar Memorial Building stands as a monument to thememory of Mississippi men and women who havegiven their lives in defense of their country. Thebuilding contains unique cast aluminum doors andpanels depicting battle scenes starting from the Battleof Ackia in 1736. The classic Art Deco buildingshowcases displays of uniforms, weapons, maps,photographs, medals of honor, and other artifactsfrom the battlefields of the Spanish American War,World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, andthe Vietnam Conflict.

• Handicap accessible• Admission: Free

William F. Winter Archives & History Building200 North Street 601-576-6850 • www.mdah.state.ms.us

A haven for genealogists from all over the nation,this is the second-oldest state archives department inthe country, now located in a beautiful, climate-controlled facility. It contains U.S. Bureau of Censusrecords, 1,800 private collections, 3,000,000 feet ofnews footage dating to 1954, nearly 17,000 rolls ofmicrofilmed newspapers, 30,000 boxes of stategovernment documents, 1,400 historical maps datedfrom 1582, and over 1,000,000 photographs.

• Contact: Information Desk• Hours: Monday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Only asmall Search Room staff is present on Saturdays; as a result, reference services may be limited)

• Admission: Free

A research identification card is required. There isno charge, and this card can be obtained from thelibrary receptionist with valid identification.


Chops, Cheeseburgers, Ribs and other soulful fare.“This club is for you, but if you came to clown youcan just turn around,” reads the sign behind thestage. The music usually starts after midnight, withlive music mostly on Sundays. The Queen of Heartsreceives its own historic Mississippi Blues TrailMarker in the spring of 2009.

Russell C. Davis Planetarium/Ronald E. McNair Space Theater201 East Pascagoula Street 601-960-1550 • www.thedavisplanetarium.com

Experience the universe in one of the South’s largestplanetariums, containing an advanced optical-mechanical star projection system that can show thesky as it appears at any time from any location onEarth. It also features the state’s only MEGA-HD(large-format) film projection system for wraparoundscreening of IMAX®-style films. The magnificenthemispheric theater bears the name of Ronald E.McNair, the astronaut instrumental in on-orbit filmingfor Jackson’s The Space Shuttle: An American Adventure,who perished aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in1986. Programs include multi-media sky features,spectacular MEGA-HD Cinema films, and laser/light“concerts.” The lobby includes exhibits on spacetransportation, the solar system, and the universe asrevealed by the Hubble Space Telescope.

• Tour Time: 1 hour per show• Sky Show Admission: Adults $5.50, Seniors $4.50,

Children (Ages 4-12) $3 and Student GroupMembers $2

• Film and Laser Show Admission: Adults $6.50,Seniors $5.50, Children $4 and Student GroupMembers $3

• Special discount for groups of 20 or more. Advance reservations are required (601-960-1552).

• Shows take place daily except Mondays andholidays. Call 601-960-1550 for current schedule.

Special Services:• Accessible to the disabled • Gift shop

Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center528 Bloom Street • 601-960-1457www.jacksonms.gov/visitors/museums/smithrobertsonNamed one of Top 10 “Best Places to be Enveloped inQuilts”by USA Today

Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center is acomprehensive depository of artifacts portrayingAfrican-American Mississippians’ experience in thefields of history, art, music, and literature. The

museum was originally Smith Robertson ElementarySchool, the first public school for African-Americanchildren in the city of Jackson.

• Tour Time: 45 minutes• Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 2-5 p.m. No guided tourson Monday.

• Admission: Adults $4.50, Seniors $3.00, &under 18 $1.50

• Advance reservations for groups of 10 or more are required.

Special Services:• Gift shop • Meeting rooms• Interpretative guide provided for groups• Motorcoach parking

Summers Hotel and Subway Lounge Blues Trail Marker619 West Pearl Street • www.msbluestrail.orgLocated on the Mississippi Blues Trail

During the era of segregation, many blackmusicians stayed at the Summers Hotel, establishedin 1944 by W.J. Summers. In 1966, Summersopened a club in the hotel basement that he calledthe Subway Lounge. The Subway began as a regularjazz venue and offered popular late-night bluesshows from the mid-1980s until the hotel’sdemolition in 2004. The Subway attracted touringmusicians including James Brown, Hank Ballard andNat “King” Cole and garnered international famewith the release of the film documentary, “Last ofthe Mississippi Jukes.” (no facilities on site)

Tougaloo College500 West County Line Road 601-977-7905 • 1-888-42GALOO

www.tougaloo.edu


War Memorial Building

Site of the Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center

23S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M22 S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M

OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS

Cactus Plantation 1088 Chapel Hill Road, Edwards • 601-852-2705

The world’s only cactus plantation is located nearEdwards and features over 3,500 varieties of exoticcacti, succulents, bromeliads, daylilies, tropical foliage,and seasonal plants. Some are available for purchase.

• Tour Time: 45 minutes • Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,

Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.• Admission: Free

Clinton Community Nature Center617 Dunton Road, Clinton • 601-926-1104 www.clintonnaturecenter.org

The Clinton Community Nature Center exists as aplace for people to enjoy and learn about nature inall its aspects. The nature center consists of 33 acresof woodlands near the center of “Olde Towne”Clinton and provides several educational programsabout nature, gardening, and the history of thisunique area. The center maintains 2.5 miles of all-weather walking trails with plants and historic siteslabeled and benches where one may sit in solitudeand appreciate nature.

• Tour Time: 45 minutes• Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,

Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.• Admission: Free

Dupree House & Mamie’s Cottage2809 Dupree Road, Raymond • 1-877-629-6051

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, theDupree House developed from a three-room structurebuilt in the 1850s to the picturesque, transitional GreekRevival/Italianate plantation home of Dr. H. T. T.Dupree. Mamie’s Cottage, the in-town home of Dr.Dupree’s adopted daughter, Mamie, was moved to theproperty in 1977 following her death. Today, thecottage houses two bed & breakfast suites. DupreeHouse welcomes groups for tours and catered meals.The home is also available for reunions, weddings,luncheons, and parties. A special motorcoach entrancemakes the home easily accessible.

• Tour contact: Brenda Davis, owner

Luckett Lodge214 Clark Creek Road, Brandon 601-832-6263 • www.theluckettlodge.com

The Luckett Lodge facility consists of the originallodge, Luckett Hall for special events, and thechapel. The lodge is available for overnight stays.With five bedrooms and five private baths, as well asa full kitchen, the lodge provides a wonderfulweekend getaway for family and friends. All threebuildings are surrounded by beautifully landscapedgrounds including a lake and three gazebos.

Mississippi Crafts CenterNatchez Trace Exit from I-55 North950 Rice Road, Ridgeland • 601-856-7546

Since its beginning in 1973, the Craftsmen’s Guildof Mississippi has grown from a membership of 30craftsmen to more than 400 professional artisans fromacross the Southeast. The center, opened in 2007, wasdesigned for the display, sale, and demonstration offine craft. It is a showplace of both traditional andcontemporary folk arts and crafts of our state.Informative exhibits and live demonstrations involvevisitors in the artistic process.

• Tour Time: 30 minutes-1 hour• Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.• Admission: Free/Donations accepted

Special Services:• Craft Shop• Motorcoach parking • Handicap accessible • Special calendar for craft demonstrations is

available upon request.

Mississippi Petrified Forest P. O. Box 37, Flora • 601-879-8189124 Forest Park Road, Flora (north of Jackson off I-55)www.mspetrifiedforest.com

The forest’s many points of interest are viewed froman easy walking nature trail about six blocks long. Aprinted trail guide explains each feature and point ofinterest. In 1966, the Mississippi Petrified Forest wasdeclared a Registered National Natural Landmark bythe National Park Service. Additional features includecolorful badlands, picnic area, campground, a museum,

A T T R A C T I O N S A N D M U S E U M S A T T R A C T I O N S A N D M U S E U M S

Mississippi Crafts Center

gemstone fluming, native wildlife display, dinomite mine,rock shop, educational exhibits, gifts, and souvenirs.

• Hours: April 1-Labor Day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Labor Day-April 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Closed only on Christmas Day.

• Admission

Museum of theSouthern Jewish Experience 3863 Morrison Road, Utica(40 minutes southwest of Jackson)601-362-6357 (September-May)601-885-6042 (June-August)

Found on the picturesque campus of the Henry S.Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi, the Museum isdedicated to exploring the rich history andexperience of Jews in the South. Religious objects,materials, and memorabilia speak to the long andrich tradition of Jewish life in the South. Changingexhibits featuring artifacts from collections explorerelevant issues and themes of the Southern Jewishstory. The Museum houses a fully-functioningsanctuary and a gift shop which offers gift items,books, and souvenirs for sale. The Museum also offersCultural Corridor Tours to sites of Southern Jewishhistory in the Mississippi River region.

• Group tours available by appointment• Hours: 7 days, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.• Admission: Adults $5, Students and Seniors $4• Group rate: $4• Gift Shop

Natchez Trace Parkway601-680-4025 • 1-800-305-7417 • www.nps.gov/natr/

This 400-mile parkway stretches from Natchez toNashville, Tennessee. The Trace is a historic routetraveled by early Indian tribes, pioneer settlers,colonial troops, and traders. This beautiful scenichighway follows the shore of the Ross BarnettReservoir where picnic areas and parks beckon the

traveler. Hauling and commercial trucks areprohibited; however, motorcoaches are permitted onthe Trace with proper permits. Speed limit is 50mph unless posted otherwise. Natchez TraceParkway tour itineraries are available through theJackson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Park on the River2280 Lakeland Drive • 601-939-8333

Formerly known as “The Park,” the amusementcenter reopened with new activities and features,including 75 video games, 20 go-carts, a new foodarea, laser tag room, an area for parties andgatherings, and an indoor soccer field. Call forhours and other details.

Piney Woods Country Life School &Sam Myers and the Five Blind Boysof Mississippi Blues Trail MarkerHighway 49 South • 601-845-2214Located on the Mississippi Blues Trail

Just 21 miles southeast of Jackson, Piney WoodsCountry Life School began as a dream of Dr. LaurenceJones in 1909, when he started the first Mississippischool for African-American children. Today, thecampus serves as a viable modern school thateducates young people from around the world.Piney Woods has a rustic charm and welcomingspirit that obscures the obstacles overcome in itscreation. Points of interest include a museum, thehistoric site of the first school, a farm, and a thrift shop.

The Mississippi Blues Trail marker honors SamMyers, born in Laurel in 1936, who was visuallyimpaired and developed an interest in music atPiney Woods School. He attended the AmericanConservatory of Music in Chicago and eventuallywas in great demand for his authentic Delta Bluesvocal and Blues harp style. The Blind Boysoriginally sang as the “Cotton Blossom Singers” andtoured the nation to raise funds for the school.After relocating to Chicago, the group released 27successful singles and five albums.

Ross Barnett Reservoir 601-354-3448 • 601-856-6574www.rossbarnettreservoir.org

Thirty thousand acres of fish-filled waters,bounded on the north by the historic Natchez TraceParkway, create boundless opportunities for outdooradventures. Fishing, boating, water-skiing, bird-watching, picnicking, and camping are all availableon the beautiful Ross Barnett Reservoir, visible fromthe scenic Natchez Trace Parkway. Visitors alsoenjoy nearby restaurants and shopping.

Scenic Natchez Trace Parkway


• Explore the historic Farish Street District,where you’ll find over 100 years of richAfrican-American heritage. Walk through thearea where you’ll see many examples ofQueen Anne, Creole Cottage, and Bungalowstyles. The district has the largest knownnumber of restored “Shotgun Style” housesin the country.

• Study the special exhibit on vernacularhousing at the Smith Robertson Museumand Cultural Center.

• Follow a fascinating route along Jackson’sCivil Rights Driving Tour featuring suchsites as Freedom Corner, the former home ofslain NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers;the Medgar Evers Library/Statue, JacksonState University, Margaret Walker AlexanderNational African-American Research Center,Tougaloo College, and several historicchurches. Call 1-800-354-7695, or 601-960-1891 for your copy of the JacksonCivil Rights Movement Driving Tour.

GET THE CAPITAL CITY BLUES!

Jackson is full of authentic Mississippi Bluesheritage, urban juke joints, incredible soul foodand popular local acts to help you catch theBlues and chase them away!

Hear live Blues all around town. Visitjacksonfreepress.com/index.php/music/ for dailylistings.

Visit Jackson’s Mississippi Blues Trail Markers.There are more to be added in the future, socheck http://www.msbluestrail.org/for additions.

• Alamo Theater/Dorothy Moore • Bobby Rush• Malaco Records

• Piney Woods School• Queen of Hearts• Summers Hotel and Subway Lounge• Trumpet Records

(See Attractions for more details on each marker.)• Want to play the blues? Take a private lesson

with a genuine Mississippi bluesman. We canhelp arrange it for you! Call 1-800-354-7695in advance.

• Don’t miss The Legacy of Timbuktu, at theInternational Museum of Muslim Cultures,Mississippi Arts Center downtown. Hear howtoday’s blues recalls the music of Timbuktuon the African continent!

• Drive through Historic Farish Street.* FarishStreet is to Jackson what Beale Street is toMemphis and Nelson Street is to Greenville.Can you find these Blues landmarks?

• Speir Phonograph Company, 225 N. Farish St. • Ace Records, 241 Farish St. • Record Mart (and Trumpet Record

Company and Diamond Recording Studio),309 N. Farish Street. Read the Blues TrailMarker.

• Alamo Theater, 333 N. Farish St. Read theBlues Trail Marker.

• Big Apple Inn, 509 N. Farish St. • Birdland, 538 Farish Street. For more Bluesy

things to do see visitjackson.com and clickon “Get the Capital City Blues.”

*For more information on blues sites in Jackson and

throughout Mississippi, pick up a copy of “Blues Traveling”by Steve Cheseborough (www.stevecheseborough.com),

published by University Press of Mississippi

(www.upress.state.ms.us). Portions of the text above were

excerpted from this book by permission of the author.

S A M P L E I T I N E R A R I E SS A M P L E I T I N E R A R I E S

OLD & NEW TREASURES...ANTIQUING AT ITS BEST

Visitors will delight in a great variety of areaantique shops and markets. Plan to spend thenight in a Bed & Breakfast Inn and dreamamong some of the most beautiful antiquefurnishings in the South.

Start your shopping tour with a visit to thehistoric Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, thesecond continuously occupied governor’sresidence in the nation. It is completelyrestored and furnished with museum-qualityantiques of the period.

Visit the Manship House (circa 1857) andThe Oaks House Museum (circa 1850) for aglimpse of times long-past.

When you’re ready for your shopping spree,try these:

• Fondren District/Woodland Hills: Fondren,Jackson’s first suburb, is well known for itstrendy retail shops, antique merchants, andaward-winning restaurants. It’s convenient,located right in the middle of everything. Fora brochure with a complete listing of shopsand businesses, e-mail: [email protected]

• Highland Village: One of Mississippi’s mostprestigious specialty shopping experienceswith over 45 unique shops, restaurants, andservices. Beautifully landscaped courtyardsand lush greenery.

• There are plenty of other antique shops aroundthe town. Check the phone book for listings.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

WALKING TOUR

You’ll find plenty of interesting andenlightening sites to explore in downtownJackson on this stroll through history. Don’tforget to look up! Many treasures are perchedupon the rooftops.

• Stroll down Capitol Street to the Governor’sMansion. Across the street is the Lamar LifeBuilding with a purple-faced clock tower andfierce-looking gargoyles standing guard overthe building and the adjacent St. AndrewsEpiscopal Cathedral.

• A turn northward takes you past Smith Park,the only remaining downtown park from thecity’s original checkerboard layout, St. Peter’sCatholic Cathedral, Old Central High School(now the Department of Education), and theoriginal First Baptist Church (circa 1843-44).Visit the Mississippi Veterans Monument nextto the Woolfolk State Office Building. A rightturn on Mississippi Street brings you to themagnificent Mississippi State Capitol, with itsmajestic gold-leafed American Bald Eaglekeeping watch over the city. Step inside therotunda for a breath-taking view of thebeautiful Beaux Arts architecture.

• Turn right on Congress Street and passGalloway Memorial United MethodistChurch and the Galloway House (circa1889) on your way back into the heart ofthe city. Stroll along the brick street untilyou come to City Hall, one of four publicbuildings left standing after General Shermanburned Jackson during the Civil War.Burnings of the city got Jackson itsnickname, “Chimneyville.”

• Look across Pascagoula Street to the HindsCounty Courthouse and discover the twostatues on top of the building. One is Moses,the giver of the law, and the other is Socrates,the interpreter of the law.

• Don’t stop now, there’s so much more to see!For a more detailed Downtown Walking Touritinerary, visit www.visitjackson.com or call 1-800-354-7695.

A PLACE IN HISTORY...AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN

HERITAGE TOUR

Discover it nearly everywhere you look, fromthe thousands of artifacts on display at theSmith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center,to the grand turn-of-the-century architecturethat graces the campus of Tougaloo College.From the proud civil rights legacy of MedgarEvers, to the intricate cultural tapestry that isthe Farish Street District, Jackson is alive withAfrican-American heritage. Spend a day, or aweek, with us and we guarantee you’ll leavefeeling uplifted and enriched by the experience.

SELF-GUIDED TOURSHere is a sampling of itineraries to give you the real flavor of Jackson.

Speaking of flavors, there are over 300 restaurants to enjoy while you’re in town.Call 601-960-1891, or 1-800-354-7695 for your copy of the Jackson Restaurant Guide.


Mississippi Performing ArtsFestival for Children/Puppetry JamMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-977-9840 • www.mspuppetry.com

Presented by the Mississippi Puppetry Guild,this entertaining event for kids features puppetshows, storytellers, clowns, and more.

National Cutting Horse AssociationEastern National ChampionshipsMississippi State Fairgrounds601-961-4000 • 817-244-6188www.nchacutting.com

The exciting sport of “cutting” is a timedevent involving a horse and rider attempting toseparate specific cattle from a herd and keepingthem away. A great family event!

Spring Festival & Plant Saleat Mynelle Gardens601-960-1894

Annual plant sale fundraiser and celebrationof Mother Nature’s floral beauty.

Taste of MississippiHighland Village • 601-353-2759A Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 Event” for 2009

A culinary tasting event hosting dozens ofMississippi’s finest restaurateurs, live music, andauctions featuring art and more. Proceeds from theevent go to fight hunger in Mississippi. Admission.

Zoo Day601-352-2581 • www.jacksonzoo.com

Spring festival at the Jackson Zooincorporating live music, local craftsmen, andactivities for children, including a space jump,clowns, educational animal shows, and more.

APRIL

Annual Lynch Street Heritage Festival601-352-6993

This two-day event is designed to recapturethe festive, artistic, and cultural atmosphere ofthe area. Festivities include a talent show, artsand crafts booths, and musical entertainment.

Arts, Eats and BeatsHistoric Fondren District • 601-981-9606

This fun-filled evening celebrates the “return ofspringtime” to Fondren with a grand merchant’safter-hours open house and street party featuringmore than 30 merchants and plenty of food, libations,music, art, and shopping. Free.

Crossroads Film FestivalAssorted venues • 601-510-9148www.crossroadsfilmfest.com

Multi-day celebration of local, national, andinternational film and video featuring a film andvideo competition for features, short films, studentfilms, documentaries, and experimental projects.Special seminars and evening galas. Admission.

Easter Egg Hunt & ParadeMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

Easter parade featuring the Easter Bunny,bands, clowns, free pony rides, carousel, andtrain rides. Egg hunt for ages 2-12. Free hotdogs, chips, and soft drinks. Co-sponsored bythe First Baptist Church of Jackson.

Easter Sunrise ServiceMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

Easter service provided by local churches,including music by local choirs.

Greater Belhaven MarketMcDade’s parking lot, corner of Fortification andJefferson Streets • 601-352-8850www.greaterbelhaven.com/market.html

Local produce, crafts and food specialtiesoutdoor market. Open every Saturday, Aprilthrough the Saturday before Christmas from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Santé South Wine FestivalHighland Village • 601-987-0200 • www.msalz.org

Features over 30 winemakers from around the

A N N U A L E V E N T S

ANNUAL EVENTS

JANUARY

Dixie National LivestockShow and Rodeo Mississippi State Fairgrounds • 601-961-4000 (Event runs through mid-February)

Largest livestock show east of the MississippiRiver. In February, the Mississippi Coliseumhosts the second largest PRCA Rodeo. Thereare also five horse shows, a Junior Livestockshow, a two-day Western Festival, two tradeshows, rodeo dance, and parade during thisthree-week event. Admission to some events.

The Premier Bridal ShowJackson Convention Complex601-957-1050

Mississippi’s top wedding vendors and otherprofessionals help plan your special day. Doorprizes, a New York style fashion show, andproduct samplings.

Martin Luther King, Jr.Celebration and Parade Parade route TBA601-960-1090

Two weeks ofactivities lead up tothe big paradehonoring Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. Thisannual celebrationfeatures gospelsinging, a talent show,live entertainment,and more.

Jackson Jewish Film FestivalMillsaps College and Mississippi Museum of Art601-956-6215

This unique film festival features four days offilms from the Jewish culture and includes talkswith filmmakers.

FEBRUARY

Gem & Mineral ShowAgriculture & Industrial Buildings,Mississippi State Fairgrounds • 601-961-4000

Semiannual. This show promotes education andenjoyment related to the earth sciences. Admission.

Mississippi Hearts AgainstAIDS Benefit601-366-9084 • www.mississippihearts.org

Hundreds of artists donate their works for anauction to benefit the Mississippi Hearts AgainstAIDS organization. Dozens of local restaurants caterthe event, which includes live music. Admission.

MARCH

Bagwell Antiques ShowMississippi Trade Mart662-844-3095 • 662-231-9654

Mississippi’s premier antiques event, featuringover 75 antique dealers from 20 states. Furniture,decorative accessories, estate jewelry, silver,collectibles, textiles, porcelain, and books. Heldtwice a year. Admission.

Ballet Magnificat! – Spring ConcertThalia Mara Hall • 601-977-1001

One of the country’s foremost liturgical balletcompanies celebrates Easter with the beauty andexpression of dance.

Handworks Spring & Easter MarketMississippi Trade Mart 601-981-1052 • www.handworksmarket.com

Shop for fine arts and crafts by Mississippi andregional artisans. Home and garden accessoriesare also available. Handworks is held twice ayear. Admission.

Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & FestivalDowntown Jackson601-984-1972 • www.halandmals.com

A fun-loving, Irish-inspired celebration. Thelong weekend includes a ball, parties, runs,concerts, children’s activities, and a majorparade that attracts thousands of participantsand spectators from across the globe. Thefamous Sweet Potato Queens and theirWannabes, the Krewe of Kazoo, the O’TuxSociety, the Rude Men, and more gather with acast of thousands to revel and raise money forthe Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.

Mississippi Metropolitan BalletSpring Gala PerformanceThalia Mara Hall601-853-4508 • www.msmetroballet.com

This annual performance of classical andcontemporary ballet features the artistry oflocal dancers with performances by world-classguest artists.


Puppetry Guild Performance

Martin Luther King, Jr.


Beary Cherry, and Cheetah Chip Cookie Doughserved up by local celebrities. Admission.

Old-Fashioned 4th of JulyCelebrationMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

This family event includes pony rides, trainrides, carousel rides, games and prizes, freewatermelon, musical entertainment, and otherfun activities for the kids. Admission.

Tougaloo Art ColonyHistoric Tougaloo College Campus601-977-7839 • www.tougaloo.edu

A week-long indulgence in the visual arts forartists, art educators, and art students on thecampus.

AUGUST

Bright Lights, Belhaven NightsThe Historic Belhaven Neighborhood • 601-352-8850

Enjoy an evening street festival celebratingJackson’s unique Belhaven neighborhood.Belhaven’s Carlisle Street is “lit up” with art,children’s events, vendors, one-act plays,musical acts, food and libations. Admission.

Mississippi Animal Rescue LeagueAnnual Fur Ball601-607-3411

This is a benefit for the Mississippi AnimalRescue League. Be entertained by music, asilent auction of celebrity-signed dog bones anddancing while supporting our four-leggedfriends. Admission.

Mississippi Wildlife ExtravaganzaMississippi Trade Mart • 601-354-7051

Lovers of the great outdoors, hunters,fishermen, and other nature enthusiasts of allages enjoy the state’s largest wildlife tradeshow featuring a large selection of outdoorwear, equipment, and more. Admission.

SEPTEMBER

CelticFest MississippiMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

Immerse yourself in Celtic art, music, and

culture. The event features Celtic music, displaysby Celtic artists, educational workshops, familyand children’s activities, and plenty of food.Admission.

Farish Street Heritage FestivalFarish Street Historic District in downtown Jackson • 601-948-5667 • farishstfestival.com

The second oldest African-Americancommunity festival in the state of Mississippifeatures three stages of live entertainment fromnational, regional, and local performers. Thereare arts and crafts, a Kiddy Cottage, “soulfood,” and other ethnic delicacies. Admission.

Symphony at SunsetThe Cedars, on Old Canton Road • 601-981-9606

Enjoy an evening under the stars on thegrounds of the historic Cedars house, circa 1840.A Mississippi Symphony Orchestra outdoorconcert sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shieldof Mississippi provides the entertainment. Bringblankets, chairs, picnics, and beverages for apops performance. The Cedars also hosts an artshow. Free.

WellsFestJamie Fowler Boyll Park • 601-353-0658

A family festival held to benefit a different non-profit service organization each year. Activitiesinclude a 5K race, fun walk, food, children’sgames, arts and crafts, silent auction, and plentyof live music by area entertainers. Admission.

ZooParty601-352-2582 • www.jacksonzoo.com

The wildest party in town! This black-tiefundraiser is an adult evening out under thestars at the Jackson Zoo. Offering food fromJackson’s finest restaurants, live music, andexotic silent auction items from localmerchants. Admission.


globe, whose wines are served along withculinary offerings from nearly 20 of Mississippi’sfinest restaurants. Live music and auctionsenhance the event, a benefit for the Alzheimer’sAssociation Mississippi Chapter. Admission.

MAY

Canton Flea MarketCanton, Mississippi601-859-8055 • 1-800-844-3369

Over 1,100 artists and craftsmen fromapproximately 29 states display their work onthe grounds of the historic Madison CountyCourthouse and surrounding locations. Heldtwice a year. Free.

Mississippi Symphony: Pops Series “Pepsi Pops”Old Trace Park in Ridgeland • 601-960-15651-800-898-5050 • www.msorchestra.com

This outdoor concert presents popular musicfor all ages and concludes with a spectacularfireworks display over the reservoir. Bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission.

Take A Tasty Bite Out of CrimeHighland Village601-968-9999 • www.crimecom.org

More than 40 area restaurants providesamplings of their cuisine as an annual springfundraiser for the Metro Crime Commission.Also features live music. Admission.

Trail of HonorJPD Pistol Range, 3509 I-55 South601-372-5770 • www.trailofhonor.orgA Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 Event” for 2009

Three-day, living history tribute to veteransof all American wars from 1776 to Operation

Freedom. Reenactments, modern armor displays,weapons, military helicopters, performances bythe Army Aviation Foundation and more for theentire family. Free.

JUNE

Jubilee!JAMDowntown Jackson601-960-2008 • www.jubileejam.com

As the city’s biggest outdoor music and artsfestival, Jubilee!JAM features performances bypopular local, regional, and national artists, food,and family and children’s activities. Admission.

USA International BalletCompetition (2010)Thalia Mara Hall and ancillary venues601-355-9853 • www.usaibc.com

During two weeks, every four years, the USAInternational Ballet Competition (IBC) brings theworld to Jackson. Dancers come to compete forprizes, study with master teachers, and perhapscontract with professional ballet companies.Visitors enjoy the world’s best dance performances.The USA IBC is the official IBC in the US by a1982 Joint Resolution of Congress. The nextUSA IBC will take place June 12-27, 2010.

Reptile RendezvousJackson Zoo601-352-2581 • www.jacksonzoo.com

The Jackson Zoo features over 100 reptilesand over 22 different species of rattlesnakes inthe annual North American Rattlesnake Exhibit.Admission.

JULY

Canton Hot Air Balloon RaceCanton, Mississippi • 601-859-4358

Features 50 hot air balloons, a Balloon Glow,carnival rides, fireworks, and concessions.

Fourth of July Celebrationat The Cedars601-981-9606

An afternoon of BBQ, an artists market,music, and beverages. Free.

Ice Cream SafariJackson Zoo601-352-2581 • www.jacksonzoo.com

Visit the animals and enjoy special “animal-flavored” ice cream such as Chinchilla Vanilla,


Mississippi Symphony “Pepsi Pops” Performance

Family Activities at WellsFest


Fondren UnwrappedThe Fondren Historic Neighborhood601-981-9606 • www.fondren.org

Typically held the Thursday beforeThanksgiving, the merry merchants of Fondrenhost this annual open house party to welcomethe Christmas season by extending their hoursfor shopping, food, drink, and music. Free.

Handworks Holiday MarketMississippi Trade Mart601-981-1052 • www.handworksmarket.com

Shop for fine crafts and art by nearly 100Mississippi and regional artisans. Find Christmasdecorations and other home décor, clothing,gifts, as well as jewelry and favorite items forchildren. Held twice a year. Admission.

Harvest FestivalMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

At harvest time, observe the operation of thecotton gin, sawmill, cane mill, and blacksmithshop. Admission includes tour of the Museum.

Holiday Open HouseWilliam F. Winter Archives & History Building601-576-6876

The gift shop hosts its annual Open House,offering visitors a sampling of the state’s folkart, crafts, and books by Mississippians andabout Mississippi. Free.

Mistletoe MarketplaceMississippi Trade Mart601-948-2357 • 1-800-380-2870 www.mistletoemarketplace.comAn ABA Top 100 Event in North America

A three-day holiday shopping extravaganzaspotlights more than 100 merchants fromacross the nation. Special events occur eachday. Concessions. Admission.

DECEMBER

Annual Christmas Tree FestivalSmith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center601-960-1457

A showcase of various civic, social, andreligious organizations’ creatively decoratedChristmas trees. Each year’s festival conveys aspecial theme. Free.

Ballet Magnificat! A Christmas DreamThalia Mara Hall • 255 East Pascagoula601-977-1001 • www.balletmagnificat.com

The liturgical touring company is joined bytheir School of the Arts students in the group’straditional holiday performance. Call forinformation and tickets.

Ballet Mississippi: The NutcrackerThalia Mara Hall • 255 East Pascagoula601-960-1560 • www.balletms.com

The beloved classic Christmas story ofClara, the nutcracker, and their adventures inthe Land of Sweets comes to life each year atThalia Mara Hall. Guest professional artistsappear with the Ballet Mississippi Schoolcompany directed by David Keary. Eveningand matinee performances provide magicalfamily entertainment. Call for reserved tickets.

Belhaven Singing Christmas TreeBelhaven College soccer bowl601-968-5930 • www.belhaven.edu

A Belhaven tradition since 1933, the SingingChristmas Tree is an outdoor choral performanceof the season’s favorite Christmas carols andsongs. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Free.

Chimneyville Crafts FestivalMississippi Trade Mart601-981-0019 • www.mscraftsmenguild.org

At this ultimate Christmas shopping spree,works by hundreds of juried craftsmen fromthroughout the Southeast are exhibited,demonstrated, and sold. Find crafts in wood,pottery, glass, fiber, metal, basketry, jewelry,and more. Admission.

Christmas at theGovernor’s Mansion601-359-6421 • www.mdah.state.ms.us


OCTOBER

Bagwell Antiques ShowMississippi Trade Mart662-844-3095 • 662-231-9654

Mississippi’s premier antiques event, thisshow features 75 antique dealers from 20 states.Furniture, decorative accessories, estate jewelry,silver, collectibles, textiles, porcelain, and booksare offered. Held twice a year. Admission.

Canton Flea MarketCanton, Mississippi601-859-8055 • 1-800-844-3369

Over 1,100 artists and craftsmen fromapproximately 29 states display their work onthe grounds of the historic Madison CountyCourthouse and surrounding locations. Heldtwice a year. Free.

Boo at the Zoo601-352-2581 • www.jacksonzoo.com

For little Trick-or-Treaters, the Jackson Zoo isthe place to be! Kids love the “unscary” familyactivities. Admission.

Halloween CarnivalMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687www.mdac.state.ms.us

Children of all ages can enjoy ghostly rides,a haunted farm, fortune telling, a nature trail,magic show, and trick-or-treat goodies. Admission.

Mississippi State FairMississippi State Fairgrounds • 601-961-4000

One of the South’s largest fairs boastsamusement rides, concessions, entertainment bynational recording artists, a variety of agriculturaland livestock competitions, exhibits, andeducational demonstrations. Admission.

Mississippi Watercolor SocietyGrand National ExhibitionMississippi Museum of Art601-960-1515 • www.msmuseumart.org

The exhibition includes more than 60 worksfrom artists across the country in various water-based media. Organized in conjunction withthe Mississippi Watercolor Society. Admission.

OUToberfestwww.outoberfest.com

A celebration of the Mississippi lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender/transsexual community

showcasing many local and national organizations,groups, businesses, artists, musicians and more.

Pumpkin PickingMississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8687 www.mdac.state.ms.us

Join a hayride tour of a vegetable garden andchildren’s barnyard, have a snack, and visit thepumpkin patch to pick out your own pumpkin!Admission.

Southern Cutting FuturityMississippi State Fairgrounds • 601-654-9271

One of the world’s fastest-growing equinesports, cutting offers tremendous excitementand drama for the horse, rider, and spectator.

Viking PGA Golf ClassicAnnandale Golf Club, Madison • 601-856-9290

Mississippi’s only regular PGA Tour event.Some of the top PGA Tour players compete fora total purse of over $3,000,000.

NOVEMBER

Capital City Football ClassicVeterans’ Memorial Stadium601-979-2450 • 601-259-2701www.ccclassic.com • www.jsums.eduwww.alcornsports.com • www.jsutigers.com

Activities surrounding the Jackson StateUniversity and Alcorn State University footballgame include a scholarship banquet, MissCapital City Classic pageant, pep rally, Greekstep show, and Battle of the Bands.


Pumpkin Picking at the MS Agricultural & Forestry Museum

Ballet Mississippi’s Presentation of “The Nutcracker”

32 S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M

The Mansion is beautifully decorated withtraditional holiday greenery and fruit forregular morning tours on Tuesday throughFriday. Call for tour times. Free.

Christmas at the Manship House601-961-4724 • www.mdah.state.ms.us

See this beautiful Victorian home come alivewith traditional decorations of the holiday season.Reservations required for groups of 10 or more.Admission is free and donations are accepted.

A Christmas CarolNew Stage Theatre • 1100 Carlisle Street601-948-3531 • www.newstagetheatre.com

New Stage’s classic version was recognizedas one of five outstanding productions across thecountry by USA Weekend. Set in VictorianLondon, it is a holiday family tradition. Admission.

City of Jackson Christmas ParadeDowntown Jackson601-960-1084 • www.city.jackson.ms.us

Usher in the Yuletide Season at the annualChristmas Parade held the first Saturday inDecember. After the parade, gather at City Hallfor the tree lighting ceremony and musicalentertainment. Free.

Community Kwanzaa CelebrationMedgar Evers Community Center • 601-960-1741

Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration ofcultural fellowship and brotherhood, whichfocuses on the heritage of African-Americans.Call for details.

Greater Belhaven MarketMcDade’s parking lot, corner of Fortification andJefferson Streets • 601-352-8850www.greaterbelhaven.com/market.html

Local produce, crafts and food specialtiesoutdoor market. Open every Saturday, Aprilthrough the Saturday before Christmas from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Historic Christmas at The OaksOaks House Museum • 823 North Jefferson Street601-353-9339 • www.theoakshousemuseum.org

Experience an authentic Victorian Christmasthat includes 1850s entertainment and decorationstypical of that period in Jackson’s history. Free.

“Old Jackson Christmas byCandlelight” TourMississippi State Capitol, Governor’s Mansion, and Manship House Museum601-576-6920 • www.mdah.state.ms.us

Catch the Christmas spirit in Jackson’s mosthistoric buildings. Walk through candlelit roomsfilled with nostalgic Victorian decorations.Concerts, refreshments, and trolley rides addto the holiday spirit. Free.

Olde Tyme Christmas VillageMississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum601-713-3365 • 1-800-844-8676www.mdac.state.ms.us

The Mississippi Heritage Center is decoratedfor an old-fashioned Mississippi Christmas.Admire the handmade, miniature Christmasvillage by Lester Alvis, featuring lights andearly 1900s-era buildings. Admission.

Puppet WonderlandMillsaps College • 601-977-9840

The Mississippi Puppetry Guild in cooperationwith the Millsaps College Department of Theaterpresents “Peter and the Wolf” and “TheNutcracker Sweets.” Admission.


City of Jackson Downtown Christmas Parade

33S E E W W W . V I S I T J A C K S O N . C O M

PERFORMING ARTS

ORGANIZATIONS

BALLET MAGNIFICAT5406 I-55 North • 601-977-1001www.balletmagnificat.com

Ballet Magnificat is a classical balletcompany with a religious focus. The companyis sponsored by churches, educationalfoundations, and arts councils. It toursthroughout the world.

BALLET MISSISSIPPIMississippi Arts Center201 East Pascagoula Street • 601-960-1560www.msmuseumart.org

Ballet Mississippi is one of Jackson’s premiereperforming arts organizations providingeducational outreach and the Ballet MississippiSchool to expose Mississippi students to thebeauty and artistry of ballet. The company’sprofessionally trained dancers perform “TheNutcracker” each winter and present a specialSpring Gala performance as well. Guestchoreographers are invited to stage their work.Ballet Mississippi now partners with MillsapsCollege, offering a credit course in ballet.

COMMUNITY CHILDREN’S THEATRE1000 Monroe Street • P. O. Box 4403 • 601-354-1191

Community Children’s Theatre is a 50-year-old volunteer organization that annuallyproduces a play for area children. Membersselect the play, build sets, gather props,rehearse, make costumes, work spotlights,arrange the schedule, and otherwise work theirhearts out for the 10,000 plus children who seethe play each winter.

FONDREN THEATRE WORKSHOPwww.fondrentheatreworkshop.org

The Fondren Theatre Workshop is dedicatedto building a theatre community with anemphasis on sharing the creative process bygiving workshops and performances year-round.

JACKSON CHORAL SOCIETYP. O. Box 4211 • Fondren Station

The Jackson Choral Society includes peoplefrom all walks of life who enjoy performing finechoral works. Some are professional musicians,but most are people who just enjoy singing.

METROPOLITAN CHAMBER

ORCHESTRA SOCIETY3615 Hawthorne Drive • 601-366-3457

The Society provides Central Mississippiaudiences with concerts of quality classicalmusic in a chamber orchestra setting. It givescommunity members the opportunity toperform classical music, and it gives individualsthe opportunity to solo with an orchestra.

MISSISSIPPI CHORUS787 East Northside Drive • 601-278-3351www.mschorus.org

Enjoy the work of this volunteer group ofdedicated singers as they reveal the passionand intricacy of timeless music during eachyear’s season of public concerts. Experiencethe music as an audience member or as amember of the chorus as it keeps beautifulmusic alive through local, national andinternational performances.

MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY

SYMPHONIC BAND601-601-2786 • www.mcsb.us/

The Mississippi Community SymphonicBand is an organization of over 70 volunteerwind and percussion instrumentalists. Theband, along with the Mississippi Swing jazzband, performs five main pops concerts and anumber of by-request concerts each year, allfor the sheer joy of bringing great music to thecommunity. The band includes players of all

A R T S A N D C U L T U R E

GO FROM BALLET TO

DOWN-HOME BLUES.

For many more events,please visit our website at

www.visitjackson.com

Mississippi Chorus with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra


CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Guild of Organists ........................................................................................................601-362-3235

Ballet Magnificat ............................................................................................................................601-977-1001www.balletmagnificat.com

Ballet Mississippi............................................................................................................................601-960-1560www.balletms.com

Belhaven College ..........................................................................................................................601-968-5940www.belhaven.edu

Community Children’s Theatre....................................................................................................601-354-1191

Eudora Welty Library System........................................................................................................601-968-5811

Fondren Theatre Workshop ..........................................................................................................601-982-2217

Greater Jackson Arts Council ........................................................................................................601-960-1557www.jacksonartscouncil.org

Hinds Community College ..........................................................................................................601-857-3321www.hinds.cc.ms.us

Jackson Arts Collective..................................................................................................................601-942-7285

Jackson Public School’s Academic & Performing Arts ................................................................601-960-5387Complex (APAC) Performing Arts Division

Jackson State University................................................................................................................601-979-2040www.jsums.edu

Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Society ..................................................................................601-366-3457

Millsaps College ............................................................................................................................601-974-1039www.millsaps.edu

Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music ........................................................................................601-852-4848revolvingpaintdream.com/ancientmusic

Mississippi Artists Guild ................................................................................................................601-373-1110

Mississippi Arts Center..................................................................................................................601-960-1500

Mississippi Arts Commission ........................................................................................................601-359-6030www.arts.state.ms.us

Mississippi Chorus ........................................................................................................................601-278-3351www.mschorus.org

Mississippi Department of Archives & History ............................................................................601-576-6850www.mdah.state.ms.us


ages and backgrounds, and the main concertsare always free. It frequently premieres newworks and features local musicians.

MISSISSIPPI METROPOLITAN BALLET110 Homestead Drive, Madison601-853-4508 • www.msmetroballet.com

The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet is a non-profit regional ballet company in neighboringMadison, Mississippi, that provides professionaldance training and performance opportunitiesfor serious students. Mississippi MetropolitanBallet offers work of the highest artistic qualityfor the Metro Jackson area with the Nutcrackerand a Spring Gala performance given every year.

MISSISSIPPI MURDER MYSTERIES601-331-4045 • www.missmurdermystery.com

Mississippi Murder Mysteries, a StewartProduction Company, is a group of professionalactors, presenting comedic murder mystery styledinner theatre. An evening with the MississippiMurder Mysteries troupe provides adultaudiences with a night of hilarious, originalentertainment while enjoying fine diningexperiences at local restaurants.

MISSISSIPPI OPERAMississippi Arts Center201 East Pascagoula Street • P. O. Box 1551601-960-1528 • Box Office 601-960-2300www.msopera.org

The Mississippi Opera produces andpresents a season of Grand Opera and a varietyof other opera/musical theater, recital, andspecial events. Acclaimed by national andinternational critics, Mississippi Opera attractsaudiences from throughout the region andserves Mississippi through touring andeducation productions.

MISSISSIPPI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAMississippi Arts Center201 East Pascagoula Street • P.O. Box 205601-960-1565 • www.msorchestra.com

The largest performing arts organization inMississippi, MSO exists to enrich the quality oflife and enliven the spirit of all Mississippianswith live performance grounded in artisticexcellence. MSO partners with innovativeeducators and practices sound fiscalmanagement. The Symphony performs forapproximately 400,000 Mississippians eachyear either as a full orchestra, a touringorchestra, or a chamber orchestra.

MISSISSIPPI PUPPETRY GUILD1927 Springridge Drive • 601-956-3414

The Mississippi Puppetry Guild is aprofessional puppet theatre company organizedin 1967. Performances combine arts, education,and entertainment. The Puppet Arts Theatretours Mississippi and the Southeast.

NEW STAGE THEATRE1100 Carlisle Street • 601-948-3531www.newstagetheatre.com

New Stage Theatre, founded in 1965, isMississippi’s only professional theater andproduces a full season of shows from Septemberto June. New Stage also boasts a dynamiceducation department dedicated to keepingtheatre imaginative, creative, and vital tostudents across Mississippi. New Stage Theatreis committed to cultivating and educating aculturally-diverse audience through its playselection, casting, artistic staffing, andeducational outreach programs.

USA INTERNATIONAL BALLET

COMPETITION, INC.P. O. Box 3696 • 601-355-9853www.usaibc.com

One of the world’s most prestigious danceevents, the USA International Ballet Competition(USA IBC) is a two-week “olympic style”competition where tomorrow’s ballet stars viefor gold, silver, and bronze medals, cash awards,and scholarships. Designated as the officialUSA Competition by a Joint Resolution ofCongress, the USA IBC is held every four years,in the tradition of sister competitions in Varna,Bulgaria and Moscow, Russia. Audiences andparticipants alike enjoy a festival of ancillaryevents, such as the International Dance School,regional ballet company performances, dancefilms and dance workshops.


Performance at the 2006 USA IBC


1. America’s Best Suites5411 I-55 North601-899-9000 • 1-800-BEST-INN103 Rooms • Exit 100

2. America’s Best Value Inn2655 I-55 South601-372-1006 • 1-800-800-800075 Rooms • Exit 92A

3. Best Value Inn & Suites5035 I-55 North601-982-1011

120 Rooms • Exit 100

4. Best Western Executive Inn725 Larson Street601-969-6555 • 1-800-WESTERN

62 Rooms

5. Best Western Jackson North593 Beasley Road601-956-8686 • 1-800-528-1234

60 Rooms

6. Budget Inn 1525 Ellis Avenue601-944-1150 • 1-800-265-9399199 Rooms • Exit 42B

7. Cabot Lodge Millsaps 2375 North State Street601-948-8650 • 1-800-874-4737

205 Rooms • Exit 98A

8. Clarion Hotel & Suites5075 I-55 North601-366-9411 • 1-800-611-915122 Rooms • Exit 102A

9. Coliseum Inn & Suites614 Monroe Street601-352-8282

51 Rooms • Exit 96B

10.Comfort Inn North5709 I-55 North601-206-1616 • 1-800-424-6423

121 Rooms

11.Comfort Inn Southwest2800 Greenway Drive601-922-5600 • 1-800-228-5150


12.Courtyard by Marriott6280 Ridgewood Court 601-956-9991 • 1-800-321-2211


13.Days Inn-Coliseum804 Larson Street601-352-7387 • 1-800-329-7466


14.Days Inn Southwest2616 Highway 80 West 601-969-5511 • 1-800-DAYS-INN


15.E.com Lodge3880 I-55 South, Savannah Street 601-373-1244


16.Econo Lodge2450 Highway 80 West601-353-0340 • 1-800-553-2666


17.Extended Stay Deluxe572 Beasley Road601-206-5757 • 1-800-257-3000

94 Suites

18.Extended Stay of America5354 I-55 North601-956-4312 • 1-800-EXT-STAY


19.Fairfield Inn by Marriott5723 I-55 North601-957-8557 • 1-800-228-2800


20.Fairview Inn (Bed & Breakfast)734 Fairview Street601-948-3429 • 1-888-948-1908


A C C O M M O D A T I O N S

Mississippi Humanities Council ....................................................................................................601-432-6752www.mshumanities.org

Mississippi Mass Choir..................................................................................................................601-366-8863www.themississippimasschoir.com

Mississippi Museum of Art ............................................................................................................601-960-1515www.msmuseumart.org

The Mississippi Opera ..................................................................................................................601-960-2300www.msopera.org

Mississippi Poetry Society ............................................................................................................601-856-3635

Mississippi Puppetry Guild............................................................................................................601-977-9840www.mspuppetry.com

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra..................................................................................................601-960-1565www.msorchestra.com

Mississippi Writers Association ....................................................................................................601-352-6864

Municipal Art Gallery....................................................................................................................601-960-1582www.jacksonms.gov/visitors/museums/Municipal

New Stage Theatre........................................................................................................................601-948-3533www.newstagetheatre.com

Opera South ....................................................................................................................................601-979-2700or 601-979-2100

Puppet Arts Theatre ......................................................................................................................601-956-3414

Tougaloo College ..........................................................................................................................601-977-7839www.tougaloo.edu or 1-888-42GALOO

USA International Ballet Competition, Inc...................................................................................601-355-9853www.usaibc.com

Very Special Arts of Mississippi ....................................................................................................601-713-3311

W. Kessler, Ltd...............................................................................................................................601-981-1847www.kesslerbroadway.com




39.Regency Hotel & Convention Center400 Greymont Avenue • 601-969-2141141 Rooms • Exit 96B

40.Regency Inn1714 Highway 80 West • 601-354-493170 Rooms • Exit 43B

41.Residence Inn by Marriott881 East River Place601-355-3599 • 1-800-331-3131

120 Rooms • Exit 96C

42. Roberts Walthall Hotel225 East Capitol Street601-948-6161 • 1-800-932-6161


43.Select 10 4639 I-55 North601-982-1044 • 1-800-800-8000


44.Sleep Inn2620 Highway 80 West601-354-3900 • 1-800-753-3746


45.Studio 65925 I-55 North601-956-9988 • 1-800-557-3435


46.Super 82355 Hwy 80 West601-948-0680 • 1-800-800-800053 Rooms • Exit 42B

47.Super 8 North6058 I-55 North601-956-9986 • 1-800-272-6233


Key to Hotel Amenities:

Non-smoking Rooms

Handicap Accessible Rooms

Restaurant

Lounge

Swimming Pool

Pet Friendly

21.Hampton Inn North465 Briarwood Drive601-956-3611 • 1-800-HAMPTON


22.Hampton Inn & Suites320 Greymont Avenue601-352-1700 • 1-800-HAMPTON

80 Rooms, 31 Suites • Exit 96B

23.Hill Top Inn1065 S. Frontage Rd, I-20601-354-445565 Rooms • Exit 44A

24.Hilton Jackson & Convention Center1001 East County Line Road 601-957-2800 • 1-888-263-0524


25.Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites310 Greymont Avenue601-948-4466 • 1-800-HOLIDAY


26.In-Town Suites5731 I-55 North • 601-957-6833

131 Rooms

27.Inns of USA4641 I-55 North601-981-3320


28.Jackson Marriott-Downtown200 East Amite Street601-969-5100


29.Jameson Inn585 Beasley Road601-206-8923 • 1-800-526-3766

67 Rooms

30.La Quinta Inn North616 Briarwood Drive601-957-1741 • 1-800-531-5900


31.Metro Inn1520 Ellis Avenue601-355-7483 • 1-800-542-2923


32.Motel 66145 I-55 North601-956-8848 • 1-800-466-8356


33.Old Capitol Inn (Bed & Breakfast)226 North State Street 601-359-9000 • 1-888-359-9001


34.Parkside Inn3720 I-55 North 601-982-1122


35.Poindexter Park Inn (Bed & Breakfast)803 Deer Park Street601-944-13925 Rooms

36.Quality Inn400 Greymont Avenue601-969-2230 • 1-800-300-8800


37.Red Roof Inn Fairgrounds700 Larson Street • 601-969-50061-800-THE-ROOF (1-800-843-7663)


38.Regal Inn1651 Terry Road • 601-355-0753




Lake Harbour

Highway 80

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See map on next page for detailof downtown Jackson

AttractionsA. City Hall*B. Davis Planetarium*C. Eudora Welty House

MuseumD. Governor’s Mansion*E. Jackson Convention

Complex*F. Jackson Zoological Park

G. Manship HouseH. Mississippi Agriculture &

Forestry MuseumI. Mississippi Arts Center*J. Mississippi Crafts Center

K. Mississippi MemorialStadium

L. Mississippi Museum of Art*M. Mississippi Museum of

Natural Science N. Mississippi Sports Hall of

Fame and MuseumO. Mississippi State Capitol*P. Mississippi State Coliseum*

Q. Mississippi StateFairgrounds*

R. Mississippi Trade Mart*S. Mynelle Gardens

T. The Oaks House Museum*U. Old Capitol Museum*V. Smith Robertson Museum*

W. Smith-Wills StadiumX. Thalia Mara Hall*Y. War Memorial Building*Z. William F. Winter Archives

Building*

ShoppingAA. Dogwood Festival MarketBB. Highland Village

CC. Jackson Medical MallDD. Metrocenter MallEE. Northpark Mall

Hotels1. America’s Best Suites2. America’s Best Value Inn3. Best Value Inn & Suites4. Best Western Executive

Inn*5. Best Western Jackson

North6. Budget Inn7. Cabot Lodge Millsaps8. Clarion Hotel & Suites

9. Coliseum Inn & Suites*10. Comfort Inn North11. Comfort Inn Southwest12. Courtyard by Marriott13. Days Inn-Coliseum*14. Days Inn Southwest15. E.com Lodge16. Econo Lodge17. Extended Stay Deluxe18. Extended Stay of America19. Fairfield Inn by Marriott20. Fairview Inn

(Bed & Breakfast)21. Hampton Inn North22. Hampton Inn & Suites*23. Hill Top Inn24. Hilton Jackson &

Convention Center25. Holiday Inn Express

Hotel & Suites*26. In-Town Suites27. Inns of USA28. Jackson Marriott-

Downtown*29. Jameson Inn30. La Quinta Inn North31. Metro Inn

32. Motel 633. Old Capitol Inn* 34. Parkside Inn35. Poindexter Park Inn

(Bed & Breakfast) 36. Quality Inn*37. Red Roof Inn Fairgrounds*38. Regal Inn39. Regency Hotel &

Convention Center*40. Regency Inn41. Residence Inn by Marriott42. Roberts Walthall Hotel*43. Select 10 44. Sleep Inn45. Studio 6 46. Super 847. Super 8 North

Transportation48. Jackson-Evers

International Airport49. Union Station*

*See downtown map opposite for detail

JACKSON ATTRACTIONS, SHOPPING & HOTELS

DO W N T O W N

AT T R A C T I O N S

A. City HallB. Davis PlanetariumD. Governor’s MansionE. Jackson Convention Complex I. Mississippi Arts CenterL. Mississippi Museum of Art

O. Mississippi State CapitolP. Mississippi State Coliseum

Q. Mississippi State FairgroundsR. Mississippi Trade MartT. The Oaks House MuseumU. Old Capitol Museum V. Smith Robertson Museum &

Cultural CenterX. Thalia Mara HallY. War Memorial BuildingZ. William F. Winter Archives

Building

DO W N T O W N

HO T E L S

4. Best Western Executive Inn9. Coliseum Inn & Suites

13. Days Inn – Coliseum22. Hampton Inn & Suites25. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites28. Jackson Marriott – Downtown33. Old Capitol Inn36. Quality Inn37. Red Roof Inn Fairgrounds 39. Regency Hotel & Convention Center 42. Roberts Walthall Hotel

TR A N S P O RTAT I O N49. Union Station

*See listings on previous page

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OTHER AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

AND TOURISM OFFICES

Aberdeen Visitors Bureau 662-369-9440 • 800-634-3538

Booneville Area Chamber/Tourism662-728-4130 • 800-300-9302

Brookhaven/Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce601-833-1411 • 800-613-4667

Canton Convention & Visitors Bureau 601-859-1307 • 1-800-844-3369

Carthage/Leake County Chamber of Commerce601-267-9231 • 601-267-8123

Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce662-627-7337 • 800-626-3764

Cleveland/Bolivar CountyChamber of Commerce/Tourism662-843-2712 • 800-295-7473

Clinton Chamber of Commerce 601-924-5912 • 800-611-9980

Columbus-Lowndes County Convention & Visitors Bureau 662-329-1191 • 800-327-2686

Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council662-287-8300 • 800-748-9048

Covington County Chamber of Commerce601-765-6012

Crystal Springs Chamber of Commerce601-829-2711

Desoto County Tourism662-393-8770

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership601-948-7575

Greater Starkville Development Partnership 662-323-3322 • 800-649-8687

Greenwood Convention & Visitors Bureau 662-453-9197 • 800-748-9064

Grenada County Chamber of Commerce &Grenada Tourism Commission 662-226-2571 • 800-373-2571

Hattiesburg Convention & Visitors Bureau 601-296-7475 • 866-442-8843

Hazlehurst Chamber of Commerce 601-894-3752

Holly Springs Tourism Recreation Bureau662-252-2515

Indianola Chamber of Commerce662-887-4454 • 877-816-7581

Iuka/Tishomingo County Tourism662-423-0051 • 800-386-4373

Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau601-960-1891 • 800-354-7695

Jackson County Chamber of Commerce228-762-3391

Jones County Chamber of Commerce601-428-0574 • 800-392-9629

Kemper County Chamber of Commerce 601-743-2754

Kosciusko Tourist Promotion Council 662-289-2981

Lauderdale County Tourism 601-428-8001 • 888-868-7720

Louisville/Winston County Chamber of Commerce662-773-3921

Marion County Development Partnership601-736-6385

McComb Visitors Bureau601-249-0116

Mendenhall Chamber of Commerce601-847-1725

Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism601-359-3297 • 866-SEE-MISS

Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau228-896-6699 • 888-467-4853

Mississippi’s West Coast – Hancock CountyTourism Bureau228-463-9222 • 800-466-9048

Natchez Convention & Visitors Bureau 601-446-6345 • 800-647-6724

Newton Chamber of Commerce601-683-2201

Noxubee Alliance662-726-2603 • 800-487-0165

Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce 228-875-4424

Okolona Area Chamber of Commerce662-447-5913

Oxford Tourism Council 662-234-4680 • 800-758-9177

Panola Partnership, Inc.662-563-3126 • 888-872-6652

Philadelphia/Neshoba County Community Development Partnership601-656-1000 • 877-752-2643

Picayune Chamber of Commerce 601-798-3122

Poplarville Chamber of Commerce 601-795-0578

Port Gibson Chamber of Commerce 601-437-4351

Quitman/Clarke County Chamber of Commerce601-776-5701

Rankin County Chamber of Commerce601-825-2268

Ridgeland Tourism Commission601-956-1225 • 800-468-6078

Stone County Economic Development Partnership601-928-5418 • 601-928-6469

Tate County Economic DevelopmentFoundation662-562-8715

Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau662-363-3800 • 888-488-6422

Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau 662-841-6521 • 800-533-0611

Union County Development Association662-534-4354 • 888-534-8232

Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau601-636-9421 • 800-221-3536

Washington CountyConvention & Visitors Bureau662-334-2711 • 800-467-3582

Webster County Development Council662-258-7835 • 662-258-7201

West Point/Clay County Community Growth Alliance662-494-5121 • 866-494-5127

Yazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau662-746-1815 • 800-381-0662


THERE’S NO BETTER

PLACE TO MEET

AND GREET.

The City with Soul offers a world ofpossibilities for your next meeting, conference,or convention. With over 5,000 hotel rooms,over 300 restaurants, elegant banquet andconvention facilities, and the beautiful new330,000 square-foot Jackson ConventionComplex, we can accommodate everythingfrom board meetings to convention groups of7,000 – all with the same flair for hospitalitythat makes our city famous.

Located at the crossroads of I-20 and I-55,Jackson is easily accessible by all modes oftransportation and the Jackson-Evers InternationalAirport, our “user friendly” airport, is locatedonly 15 minutes from downtown.

WE’LL MAKE YOUR NEXT

CONVENTION LESS TAXING.

Planning a convention in Jackson won’t justmake you look good. It’ll make your bottomline look good, because not only do we haveworld-class events for your group to enjoy andone-of-a-kind historic attractions to explore,we also offer your group a fairly low tax rate.Jackson has one of the lowest tourism taxes inthe region, and the Jackson Convention andVisitors Bureau offers one of the best freeservices packages for meetings in the nation.All these attributes make Jackson one veryaffordable, accessible, and accommodating place.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE PERKS WE

PROVIDE, FREE OF CHARGE.

• Site inspections for qualified meeting andconvention planners

• Assistance with program and excursion planning

• Registration assistance

• Area pamphlets, brochures, and maps

• Canvassing of local hotels/motels foravailable rooms and meeting space for your convention

• News releases

• Photographs and printed materials for use inpreparing your organization’s publications

• An official invitation and welcome

• Attendance promotion

M E E T M E I N J A C K S O N

This guide was compiled by the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau. All information contained herein is current at the

time of printing with every effort made to ensure its accuracy and inclusiveness. The Bureau accepts no legal responsibility

for errors or omissions. (2/09)

For information on complementary services for your next convention or group tour,

call (601) 960-1891 or 1-800-354-7695.

www.visitjackson.com

1-800-354-7695

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