7 Must-See Historic Towns In Mississippi

Mississippi is a fun and diverse destination in the Southeastern United States. Its historical value makes it a great place to visit, and most of its historical sites have been preserved for future generations. Mississippi was pivotal in the American Civil War and is the birthplace of music legends and musical genres.

The history includes its founding in 1629 by the French, and the following two centuries saw the British ceding the Gulf Coast to the British. Thanks to the abundant cotton throughout the state, Mississippi became an agricultural powerhouse in the 19th century. Today, these historic towns can and should be traveled, and these seven towns are a terrific place to start, especially if you are a history buff.

Natchez

Natchez is the birthplace of Mississippi and has a rich legacy of French, African, British, and Spanish cultures that shaped the town. It became the capital of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 and the first state capital in 1817. Natchez is a treasure trove for history buffs and the namesake of the Natchez Trail, which runs 444 miles to Nashville, Tennessee.

Today, it is known for its preserved antebellum mansions. The octagonal-shaped Longwood and the Melrose Estate are the two most visited. The Melrose estate is part of the Natchez National Historical Park, once an important trade route. A drive through Natchez is a drive through history, making this one of the most historical towns in the state.

Vicksburg

Regarding the American Civil War, Vicksburg has the most history compared to any other town in Mississippi. Many battles were waged, but the Battle of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4, 1863, claimed the most casualties. The siege of Vicksburg is remembered at the Vicksburg National Military Park, part of the Vicksburg National Cemetary.

There are museums dedicated to the Civil War, like the Vicksburg Civil War Museum, and history buffs can tour a restored gunboat, the USS Cairo. Vicksburg has many historic homes with period-appropriate furniture, such as the McRaven Tour Home. The Old Courthouse, built in 1858, holds historical value, including where Jefferson Davis' political career started, and now remains as a museum.

Oxford

Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi, or Ol Miss for short, and has a profound literary legacy. Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner based his fictional county, Yoknapatawpha, on Oxford, and his antebellum home, Rowan Oak, has been preserved and is opened to the public. He is buried at the Saint Peter's Cemetery, right off the Square, the heart of historic downtown.

Another prominent citizen, L.Q.C. Lamar, is also buried at Saint Peter's Cemetery. The L.Q.C. Lamar House Museum celebrates the life of the Congressman, Undersecretary for President Cleveland, and US Supreme Court Justice. Cedar House is a Greek revival structure built in 1859 that survived being set ablaze by Union Troops and is today a public event hall. Oxford has long been considered the "cultural mecca of the South" because of its long list of celebrated citizens and the historic sites that exist today.

Tupelo

Tupelo is steeped in music history as the birthplace of Elvis Presley. His childhood home, complete with 1930s furniture, is open to the public, and there is also a museum dedicated to the King of Rock' n' Roll. Tupelo is also home to the final battles of the Civil War, including the famous Tupelo/Harrisburg battles.

The last Confederate soldiers' stands in Northeast Mississippi occurred here, and several historic sites along the Civil War Trail offer live reenactments. Memorial markers throughout the trail commemorate this history, like the Plank Road and Battle of King's Creek markers. Tupelo was integral during the Civil Rights movement, and the Civil Rights Trail includes six trail markers commemorating the town's legacy.

Columbus

Columbus is one of the most historic towns in Mississippi and boasts over 700 nationally significant properties. It has the second-largest collection of antebellum mansions and is the birthplace of famed playwright Tennessee Williams. His childhood home, an 1875 Victorian, is now a museum, welcome center, and National Literary Landmark.

Columbus is designated a Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area with three historic districts on the National Register. The Southside Historic District boasts 250 registered homes, including six on the Library of Congress's Historic American Building Survey. Columbus is the rare town that makes history come alive just by its sheer number of historical sites.

Clarksdale

Clarksdale gave birth to the Delta Blues, and the residents celebrate this feat with live blues artists 365 days a year. Not surprisingly, notable blues musicians have lived here over the years, including Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. There is also a Delta Blues Museum to delve into the history and mystique of this unique style of music.

Highways 61 and 49 intersect in Clarksdale, where the legendary Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil to become a guitar virtuoso and the "King of the Delta Blues." There are also several antique homes like the Clark and the White House. The Clark House, where the town founder, John Clark, lived, is now a bed and breakfast and lends an air of authenticity when staying in town.

Port Gibson

The small town of Port Gibson played a pivotal role during the Civil War. Union general Ulysses Grant won a decisive victory here on his way to the legendary Battle of Vicksburg. However, he left the town structures intact, claiming it was "too beautiful to burn." Port Gibson is saturated with American history and magnificent displays of architecture. Historic architectural sites include Windsor, Mississippi's most notable Greek Revival mansion that burned in 1890. The 23 Corinthian columns exist today as a testament to the beauty of the architecture used during this era. Other historic homes include the Collina House, an antebellum mansion built in 1830 that now serves as a bed and breakfast.

Mississippi has several historic fingerprints, most notably the Civil War, antebellum architecture, and being the birthplace of the blues. Many notable musicians, like Elvis Presley, were born here, and the state had a major role during the Civil Rights era. These seven towns are among the most historical in Mississippi and have a huge part in the United States' historical narrative.

The state's overall historical importance is significant, from the historic battles at Port Gibson and Vicksburg to the 700 historic properties in Columbus today. One cannot overlook the literary history of Oxford, which is fitting for a college town. And, of course, the Delta blues ties all of these histories into a unique concoction of music, soul, and celebration.