25 Famous Landmarks in Mississippi You Should See

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When people hear "Mississippi," they often think about the Mississippi River. The state is often forgotten about. You might even struggle to come up with any famous landmarks in Mississippi. So, you might be wondering:

"What is Mississippi famous for?"

Mississippi is famous for the home that Elvis Presley grew up in. The state was also the site of multiple Civil War battles, and it has beautiful landscapes. It also has an impressive list of famous people from all areas who once called Mississippi home.

Mississippi may not be your first choice for where to go on your next trip, but there is a lot the state has to offer! To help you narrow down where to start and, hopefully, inspire your next vacation, here are 25 famous places in Mississippi to visit.

• 25 Mississippi landmarks

25 Famous Mississippi Landmarks

Mississippi Petrified Forest

Among state locals, one of the most famous places in Mississippi is the Petrified Forest in Flora. The forest is a park and museum that contains preserved wood from 36 million years ago.

The conditions needed to petrify wood are particular. For the forest to become petrified, the entire forest was submerged in mud and saturated with minerals, preventing decay and preserving the dead trees. The park is only the 2nd petrified forest in the eastern US, making it even rarer as a landmark.

Winterville Site

You may not know it, but Washington County, Mississippi, is home to a major archeological site. The Winterville Mounds are a complex of a dozen human-made mounds and multiple plazas constructed by Native Americans around 1000 years ago. Due to this, the site is listed in the national register of monuments.

What is now the Winterville Site was once an area used for religious ceremonies by the ancestors of the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes. It also used to have twice the number of ceremonial mounds as it does today.

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Rowan Oak

The William Faulkner House, known officially as Rowan, was the author's home for 40 years. It helped inspire the great American author's work for much of his career.

The estate was named after the rowan tree to symbolize peace and security and the oak tree to symbolize strength. However, funnily enough, neither tree is present on the property's grounds. Faulkner's home is now a museum that's open to the public to celebrate his life's work.

Biloxi Bay Bridge

The Biloxi Bay Bridge may sound like any other functional bridge. It connects Biloxi and Ocean Springs by creating a direct route over Biloxi Bay.

However, what sets this bridge apart is its size and view. It's over 1.6 miles and can be used by vehicles and pedestrians. Biloxi is known for its nightlife, especially during the spring and summer, so the bridge offers a beautiful view of the bay and the city's lights.

Fillmore Street Chapel

If you find yourself in Corinth, Mississippi, check out the Fillmore Street Chapel. The church was built in 1871, making it the city's oldest.

The church hasn't undergone much remodeling since it was first constructed. Therefore, it's a wonderfully preserved example of southern architecture during that time.

It is also one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the state. All of that makes Fillmore Street Chapel one of Mississippi's most underrated historical sites.

Rodney Ghost Town

While Rodney, Mississippi, is still technically an active town, it's been abandoned over the years. So much so that it's considered a ghost town. The city was once bustling with travelers and commerce due to its location only 2 miles away from the Mississippi.

However, the combination of other traffic routes being constructed and the yellow fever epidemic caused the population in the town to dwindle. Much of Rodney's original buildings still stand, which offers visitors a glimpse into the area's past.

Mississippi Museum Of Natural Science

If you're passionate about nature or traveling to Mississippi with your family, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is a perfect stop. Since the museum focuses on natural science, not history, it sets itself apart from other exhibits.

It's home to over 200 living animal species in the museum's aquarium. The museum also has a fossil exhibit that shows some of the prehistoric animals that once lived in the area.

Old Warren County Courthouse

The Old Warren County Courthouse was originally built in 1858 and is Vicksburg's oldest building. It operated as the county's courthouse for 81 years before it was decommissioned.

However, rather than knocking the building down, the government converted it into a cultural center for the city. Since 1946, it's been open to the public as a museum showcasing Mississippi's culture and history. It even includes pre-Colombian artifacts and a Civil War exhibit

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Emerald Mound Site

If you look at the National Reister of Historic Places in Mississippi, you'll easily find the Emerald Mound site, also called the Selsertown site. This singular mound sits on 8 acres of land and measures an impressive 770 by 435 feet around its base and 35 feet in height.

The mound is nearly 1000 years old and was constructed by the Natchez tribe's ancestors. However, archaeological findings revealed that these mounds were abandoned when the tribe moved further south.

Davis Bayous Area Gulf Islands National Seashore

Near Ocean Springs, you'll find the Davis Bayou Area. It's a part nature preserve and part recreational area. Visitors are welcome to camp and hike while they explore the Mississippi wildlife.

There is also a visitor's center on the property to learn more about the area's natural history. Unlike some camping areas, the park is open to the public year-round. However, the park authority may limit some activities, such as fishing during the fall and winter seasons.

Tupelo National Battlefield

During the summer of 1864, the Union fought the Confederacy in Tupelo, Mississippi. This was an attempt to keep confederate soldiers from making their way to union railroads further north. Over 20000 men fought, many of whom lost their lives.

The Union was ultimately victorious due to its better organization and battle strategies than the disorganized Confederate troops. Today the battlefield is one of the national historic landmarks commemorating the Civil War in Mississippi.

The Dentzel Antique Carousel At Highland Park

Located in the Highland Park Dentzel Carousel and Shelter Building is the acclaimed carousel that gives it its name. Originally built in 1896 for the 1904 St. Louis exhibition, the carousel was later sold to Meridian, Mississippi.

Though the carousel is over 100 years old, it's remained operational. Due to its continued use, the carousel has had to undergo restoration from wear and tear. It is closed for that same reason, but it is scheduled to reopen soon.

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Eudora Welty House & Garden

One of the most famous landmarks of Mississippi is the Eudora Welty House & Garden. During her life, Eudora made a name for herself as a prominent southern writer and photographer. Her work has had a significant impact on American literature.

Due to her contributions to American culture, the home she lived in for almost 80 years was named a national historic landmark in 2002. Her gardens which she tended with her mother, are also preserved.

Vicksburg National Military Park

The Battle of Vicksburg in 1863 was a battle that split the south. Brothers who found themselves on opposite sides of the Civil War fought against one another in this famous battle.

The battle came to a head after an 18-month-long siege led by General Ulysses S. Grant. Though it was a tough battle, it eventually ended in a Union victory. Today this battle is commemorated by the Vicksburg National Military Park.

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Elvis Presley Birthplace

Though the Mississippi Department Of Archives And History has yet to list it as an official state landmark, many visitors flock to Elvis Presley's birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Elvis came from humble beginnings which are shown by his childhood home, a trailer that has been preserved through the years. Now the site is home to a museum honoring the late musician. The site is also part of the famed Mississippi Blues Trail.

Mississippi Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty Site

Relations between the US government and Native American tribes have always been fraught with conflict. Thus, when the Chocktaw people and the United States negotiated a treaty at Dancing Rabbit Creek to end the fighting, the locations earned Mississippi landmark designation.

The treaty negotiated involved the Chocktaw tribe turning over their Oklahoma land to the government. The monument, however, doesn't aim to hide the less palatable parts of this dark time in American history.

Medgar And Myrlie Evers Home National Monument

A famous landmark in Mississippi you don't want to miss is the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. It was designated as a National Historic Place by the National Park Service in 2000. Since 2019, it's also been considered a national monument.

Built in 1956, the site was the home of Medgar Evers, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1900s. Notably, it was the last home Evers, and his family lived in before his assassination in 1963.

Port Gibson Battle Site

The Battle of Port Gibson was an 1863 Civil War battle aimed to help the Union clear a path to the south. General Ulysses S. Grant led the battle as a Union victory that put northern roots in the otherwise confederate territory.

With the Vicksburg victory, the Union could control the supplies entering the south via the railway. The Battle of Port Gibson is remembered today thanks to the preservation of its battlefield.

Mississippi State Capitol

Located in the state's capital, Jackson, is the Mississippi Capitol building. The building serves as the heart of the state's government.

It was built following the Beaux-Arts architecture style, commonly used for academic and intellectual buildings in Europe during the 1800s. Its construction took place between 1901 and 1903.

Many states have undergone Capitol changes over the years. However, since its construction, the state government has convened in the same place for over 100 years.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

As a southern state, Mississippi was an essential part of the Civil Rights Movement that occurred primarily between 1945 and 1970. To honor the history of the brave men and women who fought for equal rights, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum was constructed and opened in 2017.

Though it's a relatively new site in the state, it's quickly become an important educational landmark. Its exhibits aim to inform visitors of the history of this important period of American history.

Old Capitol Museum

Built in 1839 as the state's first capitol building, what is now the Old Capitol Museum is considered the most historic building in Mississippi. The museum preserves the state's history and some of its most important governing moments.

The building has undergone changes throughout the years, but it has been restored to much of its original appearance. It was built following Greek Revival architecture and is considered a prime example of this style.

Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile road from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi. It's considered a recreational road and a scenic drive that takes about 10.5 hours to complete by car.

The parkway is home to multiple nature trails that allow you to explore the wilderness along the way. The route is considered historically significant as it closely follows "Old Natchez Trace," which settlers, Native Americans, and soldiers used throughout the country's history.

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Ship Island

Ship Island is a small stretch of land on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It is one of the multiple islands that separate Mississippi and Alabama waters.

The island is uninhabited and is mainly visited for its white, sandy beaches. No roads lead directly to the island, so the only way to arrive is by ferry. There also isn't any accommodation, meaning guests can't stay overnight.

GRAMMY Museum Mississippi

Mississippi has been home to many important figures in music history. From Elvis to B.B. King, musicians from every genre have hailed from the state. For that reason, the GRAMMY Museum in Mississippi was opened in 2016.

The museum is an interactive experience aiming to educate visitors about the contributions of Mississippians to the music industry. It is the second official GRAMMY museum to be built, the first being in Los Angeles.

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site

One of the most important places in Mississippi is the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in Baldwyn. By 1864, the Confederacy had lost much ground in the state. However, the battle of Brices' Cross Roads was a victory for the rebel army.

Though they were far outnumbered, the confederate troops stationed here were able to defeat the Union. The battle helped ensure that supplies would make it to the state from Tennessee.

In Summary

This quaint southern state has something for everyone to do. From American history and literature to music and everything in between, you won't run out of things to do here!

This list just scratched the surface of all Mississippi has to offer, and visiting will surely leave you wanting to see more!

This article was edited by Henry Grahame.

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