This Southern capital city is rich in art, culture and American history.
Teeming with historic sites pivotal to the success of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson, Mississippi, numbers among the most historically significant cities in the South. The Mississippi Freedom Trail runs through this state capital, home to dozens of museums and landmarks. But it’s not all about the past: Today’s Jackson includes hip eateries, an emerging art scene and state parks along the Pearl River.
Explore Jackson
- Belhaven
- Downtown Jackson
- Fondren
- LeFleur Museum District
Belhaven
Overview
Located just north of downtown, this lush, tree-lined historic district is home to the campuses of Belhaven University and Millsaps College. The pretty residential area features Queen Anne, Tudor and Colonial Revival homes as well as cultural landmarks, such as the Eudora Welty House & Garden, the lifelong home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist.
Known For
History, Museums, Dining
Downtown Jackson
Overview
In lively downtown Jackson, explore cultural sites like the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center. By evening, eat like Southern royalty at the Mayflower Café (the city’s oldest restaurant) or Hal & Mal’s, an upscale country dance hall serving regional dishes, such as bayou gumbo and fried catfish.
Known For
History, Restaurants, Museums
Fondren
Overview
This busy area is in the heart of the city’s emerging arts scene. Stroll blocks lined with local galleries, locally owned shops and classic cocktail lounges, like the Apothecary, rated one “America’s 50 Best Bars” by “Esquire” magazine.
Known For
Restaurants, Shopping, Nightlife
LeFleur Museum District
Overview
You’ll find four fabulous museums—Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Mississippi Children’s Museum, Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, and the Museum of Natural Science—in this dynamic district. After you’ve learned a thing or two about the state, head to LeFleur’s Bluff, a 305-acre state park on the Pearl River, where you can hike nature trails, play a round of golf and enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of urban Jackson.
Known For
Museums, Nature, Recreation
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Explore Jackson, Mississippi, the Historic Epicenter of the South
Experience Historic Landmarks and Southern-Style Fare
Enjoy breakfast at Elvie’s before getting dual admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. After lunch, visit the Eudora Welty House & Garden before shopping and eating in Fondren.
Visit Museums and Enjoy Live Blues Music
Take in the local farmers market and the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center before lunch at the famous Mayflower Café. Spend the afternoon in the Mississippi Museum of Art, then head to Manship Wood Fired Kitchen for dinner.
Experience Jackson’s Museum District—and a Classic Soda Fountain
Dig into the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum before enjoying a hearty lunch of Creole and Cajun cuisine. That afternoon, take in the natural beauty of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park before an unforgettable night on the town.