Exciting things are happening in Mississippi.
This Southern state is abuzz with energy over new attractions and tourism experiences, some of which opened late last year and others that are coming online this year or early in 2019. These and updated museums, plus a beach resort with a famous name, are giving groups new reasons to plan tours to the state.
In Jackson, the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened side by side in December and have already proven popular with visitors. The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian pays tribute to many of the famous creators and entertainers from around the state, as well as the communities that shaped their voices. And the upcoming Catfish Row Museum in Vicksburg will tell stories of this river city’s unique history and culture.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast had several notable openings as well. In Biloxi, the new Margaritaville Resort is a coastal property full of Jimmy Buffett-inspired activities and dining options. And the Infinity Science Center in nearby Pearlington just debuted a $9.8 million overhaul complete with interactive exhibits.
Dynamic Duo
In Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city, a pair of museums opened in tandem in December, and the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum sit adjacent to each other in a 200,000-square-foot complex that was built with more than $107 million in public-private partnership funding.
The Museum of Mississippi history gives visitors a comprehensive look at the state’s past. Exhibits cover early Native American inhabitants, the slavery era, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Guests also learn about events that happened in the 20th century and even some of the forces shaping Mississippi today. These stories are all told through thousands of artifacts donated to the museum by people from around the state.
At the adjoining Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, seven galleries give visitors a closer look at the period between 1945 and 1976 to highlight the pivotal role that Mississippi played in the civil rights movement.
