Sprawling along the Pearl River, Jackson is the lively capital of Mississippi and played a significant role in America’s civil rights movement. It boasts numerous landmarks along the Mississippi Freedom Trail and living museums that celebrate its activists and agricultural heritage.
Things to do in Jackson
The Mississippi Freedom Trail leads through the heart of Jackson and highlights historic sites from America’s civil rights movement. Admire the Italian white marble architecture of the Mississippi State Capitol, then stop in at the former home of civil rights activist, Medgar Evers.
If you want to learn more about Jackson’s heritage, visit the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, which explores the events that took place between 1945 and 1970. Step inside a segregated classroom and a mock jail cell, then see the bullet-riddled truck belonging to civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer and the rifle that killed Medgar Evers.
Nature enthusiasts can visit the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, located within the leafy surrounds of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. Follow one of the nature trails to learn about the state’s flora and fauna, come face-to-face with fish, amphibians and reptiles in the aquariums or attend a scientific-based presentation in the open-air amphitheatre.
Explore a 1920s cotton-farming community at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, which includes historic buildings and rural artefacts. Learn about aerial crop dusting in the National Agricultural Aviation Museum and see the Mississippi railroad models, then admire the beautiful floral varieties in the Victory Garden.
Getting around Jackson
Jackson–Evers International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre and there are regular trains to New Orleans and Chicago from Union Station. Buses travel throughout Jackson, but the downtown area can easily be explored on foot.