Things to do in Jackson MS

Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi. The statewide Mississippi Freedom Trail runs through the city, encompassing a number of historic sites that were significant in the civil rights movement. These include the Medgar Evers Home Museum and the landmark Mississippi State Capitol building. In leafy LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science includes an aquarium and nature trails.

ZIP codes: 39200-39299

Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and also is one of 2 county seats of Hinds County. Named after General Andrew Jackson, it was developed in 1821 to be the state capital. After the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, General William Tecumseh Sherman's Union troops over-ran Jackson and destroyed it. There was a natural gas boom in the 1920s, and it's nicknamed "The City with Soul."

The Jackson area has a population of 579,332. It was part of the Choctaw Indians in the day. Mississippi Choctaw are now part of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and live in a number of Native-American communities in the state.

The first European inhabitant was Louis LeFleur, and Jackson was initially referred to as LeFleur's Bluff. In 1821, a state-commissioned summary stated LeFleur's Bluff was a beautiful area and also had lots of water and timber and access to the Natchez Trail. The area then ended up being the seat of state government. It was plated in 1822 in a grid pattern, and city blocks include many parks. The railway was built through Jackson in 1840, which triggered growth after the Civil War.

Jackson was a manufacturing facility for the Confederacy throughout the Civil War, making it a target of Union troops in 1863. Since the city was ruined, few antebellum structures have actually endured. Nonetheless, the Governor's Mansion, the Old Capitol, and the Jackson City Hall continue to be.

After the Civil War, economic recuperation was slow-moving. Mule-drawn streetcars became electrical in 1899. A brand-new capitol was constructed in 1903.

Born in Jackson in 1909, author Eudora Welty won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for, "The Optimist's Daughter." The Jackson Public Library was named after her, and her residence is a National Historic Site. Jackson experienced a boom in the very early 20th century, and also a new Union Station was built. The King Edward Hotel opened up in 1923 and also was a center for prestigious events. The 1919 Standard Life Building established the record for the largest reinforced concrete building at the time.

Gas fields were found in 1930 resulting in another boom that minimized the impacts of the Great Depression. This industry tailed off in 1955.

During Mississippi's extensive Prohibition, alcohol consumption and gambling thrived on the opposite side of the river in Flowood's Gold Coast. Those businesses shut down when Mississippi legalized alcohol in 1966. The state permitted riverboat gambling in 1990, and many casinos have actually opened.

Hawkins Field ended up being an essential U.S. Military airbase in World War II, housing the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School after Nazi Germany overwhelmed the Netherlands.

Jackson was an important hub of civil rights demonstrations in the '60s and also was the terminus of the James Meredith March. Meredith was the very first African American to register at the U of Mississippi. The first lung transplant took place at the U of Mississippi Medical Center in 1963. Malaco Records calls Jackson home and also is a leader in gospel, blues, and soul. Paul Simon tape-recorded at Malaco in 1973.

Harvey Johnson, Jr. became Jackson's first African-American mayor in 1997, and he was a champ for the Convention Facility. Jackson was signified as one of the 10 friendliest cities in the USA in 2013.

Jackson is in Hinds County and also some parts of Madison and Rankin counties. The eastern line is the Pearl River. It's bordered on the north by Ridgeland, on the east by Flowood and also Richland, the south by Byram and the west by Clinton. It has an overall area of 113.2 square miles and also is drained by the Big Black and also Pearl Rivers.

Jackson rests on top of a dead volcano that's 2,900 feet underground. The buried peak is under the Mississippi Coliseum. Jackson-Evers International Airport has continuous service to six cities.

Re-created 1920s town & cotton artifacts

A living-history farm, a recreated 1920s cotton-economy-era town & local historical artifacts.

Interactive galleries on local history

History museum with interactive galleries exploring the state's role in the civil rights movement.

Jackson, MS

Southern fare with a twist & original cocktails spotlighted in modern-rustic digs with a patio.

Jackson, MS

NY-style pizza & myriad ice creams are served in laid-back digs with patios & an adult-only lounge.

Jackson, MS

Contemporary dining space providing innovative, Southern-style seafood mains & craft cocktails.

Jackson, MS

Seasonal Southern meals with a Mediterranean twist in a sharp, open bar/eatery with outdoor seating.

Jackson, MS

BBQ plates with global influences & a lengthy craft beer list offered in hip, rustic surrounds.