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Mississippi

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Bridges over the Mississippi River in Vicksburg.

© Alex Gambill/Getty Images

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Overview

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.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

    Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

    Mississippi

    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…

  • Haynes Lake at Tishomingo State Park in northern Mississippi; Shutterstock ID 59818921; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Content Asset; Full Product or Project name including edition: Guides Project Eastern USA

    Tishomingo State Park

    Mississippi

    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…

  • Birthplace of Elvis Presley 1935; Shutterstock ID 2670684; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Content Asset; Full Product or Project name including edition: Guides Project Eastern USA

    Elvis Presley's Birthplace

    Mississippi

    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…

  • Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Gulf Islands National Seashore

    Mississippi

    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…

  • Emerald Mound

    Emerald Mound

    Mississippi

    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…

  • Longwood

    Longwood

    Mississippi

    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 of Mississippi History

    Museum of Mississippi History

    Mississippi

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

  • Medgar Evers Home

    Medgar Evers Home

    Mississippi

    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…

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