Your Complete Guide to Jackson's Museums

These two powerhouse museums share the same building at 222 North Street and one admission ticket. The Museum of Mississippi History covers 15,000 years of state history through immersive exhibits, while the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum chronicles the Movement that changed the nation. The Civil Rights Museum draws visitors from across the country to learn about heroes like Medgar Evers and Fannie Lou Hamer. The central gallery, "This Little Light of Mine," features a dramatic sculpture that glows brighter as visitors gather—a powerful metaphor for collective action.

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; Sunday 11 AM–5 PM; Closed Mondays

Admission: Adults $15, Youth (ages 4–22) $8, Seniors (60+) or Military $13, Children under 3 FREE. Free admission every Sunday.

This 50,000-square-foot facility is pure joy. Kids can explore Mississippi geography on a climbing map, travel through the digestive system in the Gastro Climber (yes, that slide is the exit), steer a shrimping boat, or milk a cow. The World at Work gallery lets future professionals drive real cars and operate giant cranes. Outside, the Literacy Garden and Pollinator's Playground provide fresh air adventures. The museum hosts major events year-round, including their Dr. Seuss birthday celebration and the adults-only Neon Nights.

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; Sunday 1 PM–6 PM; Closed Mondays

Admission: $13 per person (children under 1 free). Part of the LeFleur Museum District Pass.

Mississippi's Travel Attraction of the Year features 200+ living species in a 100,000-gallon aquarium network. Watch alligators lounge in "The Swamp," a 1,700-square-foot greenhouse with its own 20,000-gallon aquarium. The fossil wall showcases Zygorhiza, Mosasaurus, and a giant sloth. But the best part? Two and a half miles of nature trails wind through diverse habitats outside the museum, putting theory into practice. Currently undergoing renovations to upgrade public spaces—the museum's most significant update in 25 years.

Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM; Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; Sunday 1 PM–5 PM

Admission: Adults $9, Youth (ages 3–18) $7, Seniors (60+) $8, Children under 3 FREE. Part of the LeFleur Museum District Pass.

Walk through "Small Town, Mississippi" (circa 1920) and experience life in the crossroads communities that defined rural Mississippi. The 40,000-square-foot Heritage Center traces agriculture from Choctaw contributions to modern catfish farming, with model railroad layouts operated by volunteer clubs. Outside, the Fortenberry-Parkman Farm and Bisland Cotton Gin (both circa 1860) tell stories of early Mississippi farm life. Don't miss the enchanting Fitzgerald Collection—a museum-quality collection of Delta memorabilia tucked behind the Heritage Center. The museum also houses the National Agricultural Aviation Museum featuring actual planes that flew over Southern farms.

Hours: Monday–Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; Closed Sundays

Admission: Adults $8, Children (ages 3–17) $6, Seniors & Military $7. Train rides and carousel rides are $1 extra. Part of the LeFleur Museum District Pass.

Named one of the Top 10 "Most Amazing Baseball Museums in America" by ESPN, this museum celebrates Mississippi's incredible sports legacy. Fresh off extensive interior and exterior renovations completed for its 30th anniversary, the museum now offers an even better experience. The state has produced Jerry Rice (leading scorer and receiver in NFL history), Walter Payton (second leading rusher), and the Manning family dynasty. Touch-screen kiosks provide access to 500+ interviews with Mississippi athletes. Kids can throw baseballs in the Hall of Fame Stadium, play on the MotionMagix floor, or practice broadcasting in the Broadcast Booth. The museum honors over 300 athletes, coaches, and sports icons across baseball, football, basketball, auto racing, boxing, golf, and more.

Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–4 PM; Closed Sundays

Admission: Adults (18+) $5, Students (ages 6–17) $3.50, Seniors (60+) $3.50, Active Military $3.50, Children 5 and under FREE. Part of the LeFleur Museum District Pass.

The largest art museum in Mississippi has served the community for over 100 years. The permanent collection, "New Symphony in Time," is free to the public and features American painters including Georgia O'Keeffe, Robert Henri, and Jacob Lawrence, alongside Mississippi artists like Eudora Welty and Walter Inglis Anderson. Rotating domestic and international exhibitions bring fresh perspectives throughout the year. The Art Garden is a 1.2-acre outdoor sanctuary featuring seasonal foliage, permanent art installations, water features, and space for performances and outdoor films. The museum recently acquired Fountainhead, Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Usonian home in Jackson's Fondren neighborhood.

Hours: Tuesday–Friday 11 AM–5 PM; Saturday 11 AM–5 PM; Sunday 1 PM–5 PM; Closed Mondays

Admission: Permanent collection is FREE. Special exhibitions may require tickets. Free admission the first Saturday of every month and for active military through Labor Day 2025.

Housed in Jackson's first public school for African American children, this museum celebrates Black history and culture through art, artifacts, and photography. The building itself is part of the story—author Richard Wright, who wrote "Native Son" and "Black Boy," attended Smith Robertson School. Exhibits cover the journey from slavery to contemporary achievement, with a particularly moving display on Medgar Evers' life and assassination. The museum's Hall of Fame recognizes Mississippi pioneers who broke barriers in their fields. Located within walking distance of the State Capitol, it offers an intimate, essential perspective on the African American experience in the Deep South.

Hours: Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM; Saturday 10 AM–1 PM; Closed Sundays

Admission: Adults (18–59) $7, Seniors (60+) $5, Military $6, College Students with ID $5, Children (4–17) $4

America's first museum dedicated to Islamic history and culture is celebrating its 25th anniversary and brings global perspective to Jackson. The Legacy of Timbuktu features ancient manuscripts revealing West Africa's scholarly traditions, while rotating exhibits explore Muslim contributions to art, science, and world civilization. Recent exhibitions have covered everything from Moorish Spain's influence on Europe to contemporary interfaith dialogue through the "Muslims with Christians and Jews" exhibit. Located downtown near the Convention Center (second floor), it's an unexpected gem that promotes understanding across cultures.

Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 10 AM–5 PM; Friday 10 AM–1 PM; Saturday 10 AM–5 PM; Sunday by appointment; Closed Mondays. (Note: Galleries closed for renovations through October 30, 2025—check before visiting.)

Admission: General admission around $13 (check current pricing)

Located upstairs at The Iron Horse Grill in downtown Jackson, this free music museum celebrates Mississippi's profound influence on American music. Lifelike wax statues of legendary Mississippi musicians handcrafted by Anne Robin Luckett bring music history to life—from Elvis Presley to B.B. King, from blues pioneers to rock and roll revolutionaries. The museum features an expansive collection of memorabilia including vintage instruments, photographs, and personal artifacts. A partnership between The Iron Horse Grill and the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, this intimate space tells the story of how Mississippi musicians shaped blues, rock, country, and gospel music. Best of all, you can enjoy incredible live music downstairs at the restaurant while you're there.

Hours: Open during Iron Horse Grill restaurant hours (check website for current schedule)

Admission: FREE

This unassuming building on Jackson State University's campus was the epicenter of Mississippi's civil rights movement from 1963 to 1965. The Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) unified SNCC, CORE, SCLC, NAACP, and other activist groups under one roof—Bob Moses' brilliant strategy to coordinate the movement's most ambitious efforts. This is where Freedom Summer 1964 was organized, where the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was born, and where countless brave activists planned voter registration drives despite constant threats. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited this very room (photographs on the walls document his presence). Operated by JSU's Margaret Walker Center, COFO preserves this sacred space and continues educating visitors about the grassroots organizing that changed America. Tours available by appointment—an essential pilgrimage site for understanding the civil rights movement.

Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM (1st & 3rd Tuesdays 12 PM–5 PM). Tours by appointment—contact Margaret Walker Center at (601) 979-3935 or mwa@jsums.edu

Admission: FREE (donations accepted)

This modest 1956 home is sacred ground in American civil rights history. Here, Medgar Evers—the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi—and his wife Myrlie raised their children while leading the fight for racial equality. Despite constant threats (a Molotov cocktail was thrown at their carport just weeks before), they persevered. On June 12, 1963, Medgar was assassinated in that very carport by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith—the first murder of a nationally significant civil rights leader, which became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This National Park Service site preserves the home exactly as the Evers family knew it, making palpable their courage and the simple longings for freedom that drove the movement. Myrlie's tireless pursuit of justice finally brought the killer to conviction in 1994, 31 years later. An essential stop for understanding Mississippi's civil rights legacy.

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–12 PM, 1 PM–4 PM (closed 12 PM–1 PM for lunch)

Admission: FREE

Jackson's oldest and most historically significant building is a National Historic Landmark and one of America's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture. Built in 1839, this magnificent limestone structure with its soaring 94-foot copper dome served as Mississippi's seat of government until 1903. Walk through the restored House and Senate chambers where legislators passed the groundbreaking 1839 Married Women's Property Act (one of the first in the nation), voted for secession in 1861, and crafted post-Civil War state constitutions. Interactive multimedia exhibits bring legislative debates to life, while the restored governor's office and grand rotunda showcase the building's original grandeur. Located in the heart of downtown Jackson, it's a stunning piece of living history. Reservations preferred—email ocmscheduling@mdah.ms.gov to book your visit.

Hours: Wednesday–Friday 9 AM–1 PM (by reservation)

Admission: FREE

Step into the life and mind of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty at her beautifully preserved home in Belhaven. This 1925 Tudor Revival house is a National Historic Landmark and one of America's most intact literary residences—virtually everything remains exactly as Welty left it in 1986, from thousands of books lining every wall to original furnishings, artwork, and her beloved typewriters. For 76 years, she lived, entertained, and wrote her celebrated stories here. Guided tours reveal how this house shaped her creative genius, while the botanical garden (an official stop on the American Camellia Society Gulf Coast Trail) offers peaceful reflection. The visitor center features exhibits, a gift shop, and those iconic typewriters you can actually type on. Literary pilgrims and garden lovers alike will find magic here. Book ahead—tours fill quickly.

Hours: Guided tours Tuesday–Friday at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM; Saturday at 1 PM & 3 PM. FREE tours every Wednesday. Garden open for self-guided walks Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4 PM, Saturday 12:30 PM–4 PM. Reservations recommended.

Admission: Adults $10, Seniors (60+)/Teachers/Military $8, Students $5, Children under 6 FREE. Garden admission included with tour or free during garden hours. FREE admission on the 13th of each month (when open).