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Mississippi contains a broad range of attractions and pursuits within its borders, whether urban, cultural, or outdoor.

Art and culture aficionados will find many venues to enjoy in the Magnolia State. The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson showcases roughly 3,800 pieces in its collection of primarily mid-nineteenth and twentieth century American art, and offers educational programs throughout the year. The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson offers collections, research, and exhibits designed to promote understanding and respect for Mississippi’s natural environment, and features a 100,000 gallon aquarium system, gardens, trails, and a greenhouse. The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi showcases collections by potter-artist George Ohr in addition to several exhibitions featuring other artists throughout the year. The Manship House Museum in Jackson features the Gothic-Revival home crafted and lived in by Charles Henry Manship, a Civil War mayor of Jackson. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel is a memorial to Lauren Eastman Rogers, and through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, it aims to enhance the quality of life in Laurel as well as Mississippi and the South in general. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) in Ocean Springs celebrates the artwork of Walter Inglis Anderson, a prominent twentieth century artist, and his brothers Peter Anderson and James McConnell Anderson. At the Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum in Bay St. Louis, visitors can enjoy the delightful folk art of Alice Moseley. Fans of William Faulkner’s writing will not want to miss Rowan Oak, where the author wrote many of his famous stories.

Music aficionados can enjoy museums dedicated to famous Mississippi legends. At the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in Clinton, visitors can learn more about Mississippi’s phenomenal contribution to American music, whether through jazz, rock, country, or classical music. The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale celebrates the state’s heritage of Delta Blues via galleries, exhibits, artifacts, and music. Elvis fans will want to visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, where the famous star spent his early years; a \museum, gift shop, park, and memorial complete the experience. Sports fans will enjoy the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Museum in Jackson, which features interactive exhibits celebrating famous athletes in the Magnolia State.

Performing arts venues include the New Stage Theatre at the Jane Reid-Petty Theatre Center in Jackson, a professional regional theatre now in its 35th year, producing five main stage shows annually in addition to other features. The Mississippi Opera represents the eleventh oldest, continuously producing professional opera in the nation, and celebrates its sixty-third season.

Mississippi is steeped in history, which is commemorated by many landmarks throughout the state. At the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, visitors can view the site of the Natchez civilization which lasted hundreds of years, and showcases the reconstructed Grand Village, the main ceremonial center. The Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the battle at the fortress of Vicksburg, which gave the North control of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War, and features 1,330 monuments and markers, a refurbished Union gunboat, and a National Cemetery. At Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, visitors can witness the site of a major Confederate victory by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest. At Tupelo National Battlefield, Major General William Sherman of the Union ordered an attack to keep Forrest away from a supply line in Tennessee; the battle included some 20,000 troops and pushed back the Confederate forces. The Natchez National Historical Park features such attractions as the antebellum estate of John McMurran, the home of African-American barber and diarist William Johnson, and the French Fort Rosalie.

The Magnolia State boasts great natural attractions and scenic beauty, enjoyable whether by trail, beach, or river. Visitors can traverse the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444 mile (714.5 kilometer) parkway commemorating the ancient Natchez Trace trail that linked parts of the Mississippi River, Alabama, and salt licks in what is now Tennessee; the area offers a National Scenic Byway in addition to hiking, camping, and horseback riding opportunities. Black Creek Wilderness features 5,052 acres (20.4 square kilometers or 2,044 hectares) of the state’s largest Wilderness protected by the Forest Service. Located in the gulf coastal plains in the southern part of the state, the Wilderness features Mississippi’s only Wild and Scenic River in a hardwood floodplain mixed with oxbow lakes; ample hiking, canoeing, and wildlife viewing exist. At Gulf Islands National Seashore, which extends into Florida, visitors can enjoy beaches of barrier islands, bayous, and historic forts at the nation’s largest National Seashore.

Mississippi boasts family-friendly attractions for any age. The Jackson Zoo houses over 700 animals, serves approximately 200,000 visitors annually, and offers many interactive and educational opportunities for children. The Russell C. Davis Planetarium in Jackson offers an educational environment for learning about astronomy, and includes Sky Shows and Laser Light Concerts. At Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport, children can enjoy interactive exhibitions and programs simulating South Mississippi, to help them learn about both past and present.

The Magnolia State offers several festivals for locals and visitors to enjoy. Among these are the Choctaw Indian Fair in July, celebrating Choctaw culture and spirit with arts, crafts, dances, music, and sports; the Tupelo Elvis Festival celebrates the "King of Rock and Roll" with music, food, and festivity in Tupelo; and the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, an October tradition complete with musical performances, with two morning balloon flights featuring many balloons. The Jubilee Jam occurs in Jackson in June, and features several famous bands. The Vicksburg Riverfest in Historic Vicksburg occurs annually in April and celebrates with food, music, and arts along the banks of the Mississippi River.

With so many choices for recreation, whether outdoor or urban, Mississippi offers something for everyone to enjoy.

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