Guide to the LeFleur Museum District

Formed during National Travel & Tourism Week in 2012, the nearly 500-acre campus includes the Mississippi Natural Science Museum, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, bordering LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.

A blue and red tractor sits behinds green plants
The Mississippi Ag Museum

A QUICK HISTORY

Late 18th-century explorer Louis LeFleur was on to something. On a bluff high above the Pearl River in the city that a few decades later would be named Jackson, LeFleur set up an outpost, trading goods and services.

Today, on that same bluff, the exchange of culture and ideas and that same spirit of exploration and adventure make up the LeFleur Museum District.

This nearly 500-acre campus includes the Mississippi Natural Science Museum, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, bordering LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.

The LeFleur Museum District formed in 2012 shortly after a grant from Visit Jackson (then the Jackson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) birthed an “attractions pass” that allowed visitors to purchase one ticket for multiple museum experiences.

The LMD is a consortium, each member playing different roles, each serving as what Susan Garrard, Mississippi Children’s Museum president and CEO, calls “a community center."

“There were four terrific, award-winning museums with tremendous collections, great staff and employees, so it made sense to share what we knew and work together to improve way-finding and infrastructure,” Garrard remembered. “We’re not just a collection of archival things. Though collections are important and tell the story of who we are and what we were, being engaged and in the community is important for the evolution of museums.”

MS Sports Hall of Fame olympics case
Credit: Drew Dempsey/Tell Agency

WHAT TO DO

Educational, Inspiring & Entertaining For Kids

Mississippi Children’s Museum

The award-winning Mississippi Children’s Museum provides hands-on and engaging exhibits and programs for all children and their families. Visitors can explore the cultural arts, literacy, health, nutrition, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and…

Learn More

73,000 Sq Ft of Animal and Outdoors

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi's Travel Attraction of the Year, offers an intimate way for visitors from all fifty states and foreign countries to become acquainted with the inhabitants of…

Learn More

State’s Largest Playground, ADA Accessible

LeFleur’s Bluff Education and Tourism Complex

The southeast's largest playground, featuring a 21st century, 30,000-square-foot playground, separated into different play areas based on age, for children ages 6 months to 12 years old.All structures on the playground promote…

Learn More

Museum & Small Town Devoted to Ag Life

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum

This 40-acre complex, located in the heart of the city, brings to life Mississippi’s rich agricultural heritage. A 40,000-square-foot Heritage Center traces the history of agriculture and forestry through an extensive collection…

Learn More

Celebrating Mississippi’s Sports Legends

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Mississippi's first museum for the 21st century contains an array of interactive exhibits. Touch-screen television kiosks allow museum visitors to access archival footage, achievement data, biographical information, and more than 500 interviews…

Learn More

HOURS AND ADMISSIONS

Mississippi Children's Museum

Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 - 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. General admission: $13 (under age 1 free).

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

Open Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm, Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 1 pm-5 pm. General admission: adults: $9 | youth (Ages 3-18): $7 | Senior Citizens 60 and Over: $8 | Children Under 3: FREE

LeFleur's Bluff Education Complex

Monday-Friday: 8 am - 5 pm, Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm, and Sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm. The playground will be closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve.

Admission is free.

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry and National Aviation Museum

Open Monday - Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for ages 3-17, and $7 for military personnel, seniors.

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum

Open Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed Sundays. General Admission for adults: $7 | Seniors and active military: $6 | Children six to 17: $5 | Under age five: free | Groups 12 or more: $3 per person

A child and adult play chess
MS Children's Museum
Credit: MS Children's Museum