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Mississippi

Flanked by the mighty Mississippi River along its entire western border, the Magnolia State encompasses many identities. You'll find palatial mansions and rural poverty; haunting cotton flats and verdant hill country; honey-dipped sand on the coast and serene farmland in the north. Often mythologized and misunderstood, this is the womb of some of the rawest history in the country. And that's why the state is worth an extended visit. The novels, music and art birthed here tell deeply personal stories. They're not always easy to hear. But there's a compelling sense of connection – even joy – in the sharing. See for yourself in a late-night blues club in the Delta. Or on a wander through the homes of the state's great novelists. Or during a quiet moment inside an artist's cabin where bright murals depict the wonders of nature here. Immersion sparks conversations and will challenge your assumptions.

Explore Mississippi

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Latest Stories from Mississippi

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Mississippi.

  • Museum

    Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

    Whether it's a voice from overhead yelling at you to 'keep on moving,' graphic photos of lynchings hitting you with a gut punch, or the towering wall of…

  • Park

    Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Here along one of the last undeveloped stretches of the coastal South, this maze of wetlands, beaches and five off-shore barrier islands is not…

  • Museum

    Emmett Till Interpretive Center

    In 1955, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black boy from Chicago, was lynched in Mississippi after being accused of flirting with a white woman. An all-white…

  • Historic Building

    Longwood

    This multistory confection is not what it seems. Commissioned by cotton baron Haller Nutt in 1861, the interior of the home – the largest octagonal house…

  • Museum

    GRAMMY Museum Mississippi

    Open since 2016, this glossy outpost of the GRAMMY Museum – the other is in Los Angeles – traces the development of recorded music, with a focus on its…

  • Museum

    Museum of Mississippi History

    In the ten-minute introductory film, the voice of God himself, Mississippian Morgan Freeman, introduces visitors to this compelling new museum. Exhibits…

  • Historic Building

    Medgar Evers Home

    It's hard not to get chills while touring the ranch-style home where Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers was murdered in 1963. Evers was standing outside…

  • Historic Site

    Vicksburg National Military Park

    Vicksburg controlled access to the Mississippi River, and its seizure was one of the turning points of the Civil War. A 16-mile driving tour passes…

  • Historic Building

    Melrose

    Tours of this Greek Revival home take a fascinating, multi-perspective look at life on the city estate of a slave-owning cotton magnate. A lawyer, state…

  • Ruins

    Windsor Ruins

    Twenty-three Corinthian columns are all that remain of the once grand mansion built for cotton baron Smith Coffee Daniel II in 1861. The 45ft-tall columns…

  • Basilica

    St Mary Basilica

    Celebrating its first Mass on December 25, 1843, this striking Gothic Revival church is the longest-operating Catholic building in Mississippi. The ornate…

  • Archaeological Site

    Emerald Mound

    Just outside town, along the Trace, you'll find Emerald Mound, the grassy ruins of a Native American city that includes the second-largest pre-Columbian…

  • State Park

    Tishomingo State Park

    This state park is named for the Chickasaw Chief Tishomingo. You may want to camp here, among the evocative, moss-covered sandstone cliffs and rock…

  • Landmark

    Elvis Presley's Birthplace

    A pilgrimage site for those who kneel before the King. The two-room original structure has a new roof and furniture, but no matter the decor – it was…

  • Cemetery

    Robert Johnson's Grave

    Folks leave bourbon and other mementos beside the tombstone of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, whose immense talent, they say, may have stemmed from a…

  • Historic Building

    Bryant's Grocery

    There's not much left to see other than a dilapidated building covered with vines, a historic marker and the railroad tracks, but the scene remains…

  • Museum

    Walter Anderson Museum

    A consummate artist and lover of Gulf Coast nature, Anderson suffered from mental illness, which spurred his monastic existence and fueled his life’s work…

  • Museum

    Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center

    Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black youth from Chicago, was abducted from his uncle's house by two white men for allegedly flirting with one of the men's…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Mississippi.

  • Activities

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