DESTINATION

Jackson

On Capitol Street overlooking the downtown business district is the 1841 Greek Revival Governor's Mansion. Free guided tours are given Tues.-Fri. at 9:30, 10, 10:30 and 11. The mansion may be closed for state events; phone (601) 359-6421 to confirm accessibility.

Several esteemed American writers have ties to Jackson. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Eudora Welty was a lifelong resident; her home is open to the public . Willie Morris, author of “My Dog Skip,” was born here in 1934, and African American writer Richard Wright attended classes in the mid-1920s at the Smith Robertson School, now a city museum and cultural center.

A more recent local success was the best-selling novel “The Help.” Author Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, the story was set in Jackson and the hit 2011 film was filmed both here and in Greenwood.

Adjoining museums opened in 2017 in honor of the state's Bicentennial: The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History.

Visitor Centers

Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau 111 E. Capitol St., Suite 102 Jackson, MS 39201. Phone:(601)960-1891 or (800)354-7695

Self-guiding Tours

Brochures describing tours of Jackson's historic neighborhoods and key sites associated with the Civil Rights Movement are available at the convention and visitors bureau.

Shopping

Dillard's, JCPenney and more than 100 specialty stores are at Northpark Mall, 1200 E. County Line Rd. Highland Village, 4500 I-55N, exit 100, features more than 40 specialty shops and eateries.