If Walls Could Talk: 5 Remarkable Jackson Landmarks You Can't Miss

From civil rights milestones to legendary music scenes, these historic places invite you to uncover the stories that shaped Jackson and Mississippi as a whole.

Mississippi State Capitol dome interior looking up
Look up at the Mississippi State Capitol
Credit: Tate Nations

Mississippi State Capitol

At the Mississippi State Capitol, immerse yourself in the splendor of the Edwardian era. From the exquisite marble and grand staircase to the magnificent rotunda as its crowning jewel, the National Landmark has operated as the beating heart of state government since 1903. Designed by Theodore Link in the Beaux Arts style, it replaced the Old Capitol Museum as the third Capitol built in Jackson. It's a must-see for history and architecture buffs and a testament to Mississippi's heritage of hospitality and classical revival architecture.

A cluttered desk featuring books and a typewriter
Welty's desk in her former bedroom, left as she might have left it

Eudora Welty House & Garden

Dive into the life and mind of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty, who lived and wrote at 1119 Pinehurst Street for 76 years. Today, her books, artwork, and furnishings remain intact for visitors to view, down to her famously tattered set of Dickens. Initially designed by her mother in 1925, the lush Southern garden outside showcases heirloom plants and more than 30 varieties of Welty's favorite flower — the camellia. Every Spring, avid green thumbs gather for the Heirloom Plant Sale, where you can take home plants propagated from the Welty garden, plus rare and old-fashioned varieties straight from Eudora's prose and era.

Evers Home dresser with photos
The Evers children pictured on the dresser of Medgar and Myrlie Evers at their Jackson home
Credit: Lindsay McMurtray

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument

The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument was not only the former home to one of the nation's most respected civil rights leaders but also to a loving husband, father, and neighbor to his community — Medgar Evers. One of the first five sites on the Mississippi Freedom Trail, the property honors the life and legacy of the Evers family, preserving the space to look as it did when they lived there. Although he was tragically struck down in his carport in 1963, Evers' mission of equality continues through his wife, Myrlie, daughter, Reena Evers-Everette, and the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute.

Big Apple Inn exterior
Imagine the people - including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - who have walked through these doors - at Big Apple Inn
Credit: Simon Urwin

Farish Street Historic District

Hear the sounds and feel the weight of a century of African American history and culture at the Farish Street Historic District. Stroll through this 125-acre neighborhood and glimpse into the legendary Alamo Theater or catch live music at Johnny T's, where icons like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong once brought the house down at the Crystal Palace Night Club. Before you go, savor Jackson flavors at Big Apple Inn, known for its tamales and pig ear sandwiches, a favorite of Civil Rights leaders like Medgar Evers.

Apothecary cocktail toast at The Apothecary
Cheers to hand crafted cocktail at The Apothecary
Credit: Drew Dempsey

Jackson's "Gold Coast" at The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs

Jackson's bygone Gold Coast would tell tales of Prohibition-era glamour, gambling, and music. This two-square-mile hub of live blues, jazz, and soul once hosted legends like Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2. Today, you can embrace the speakeasy spirit at The Apothecary, a hidden lounge inside Fondren's Brent's Drugs. With craft cocktails, small plates, and a cozy, pre-prohibition vibe, it's the perfect spot for an evening out — secret or not.

MS Ag Museum wood splitting
Experience 1920s Mississippi Farm life at the Mississippi Ag Museum
Credit: MS Ag and Forestry Museum

Small Town, MS at The Mississippi Ag Museum

Once simple clusters of mercantile shops in the 1820s, Mississippi's small towns blossomed by the 1920s as railroads, automobiles, and agriculture converged. These hubs featured general stores, cotton gins, and blacksmith shops alongside schools, churches, and doctors' offices — some of which you can still experience at the Mississippi Ag Museum's Small Town setup with live demonstrations and tours. Enjoy candy sticks, old-fashioned rock candy, or a moon pie, and sip on an ice-cold Coca-Cola from the General Store, a replica of the old-time general stores of the 1920s.

Anne Marie Hanna

Author

Anne Marie Hanna