About this city
Also known as: Chimneyville, The City with Soul
As the capital and most populous city of Mississippi, Jackson is centrally positioned along the Pearl River, built directly atop an ancient extinct volcanic structure buried deep beneath the earth. Established in 1821 as LeFleur's Bluff, a historic French trading post, the city was renamed in honor of General Andrew Jackson and carefully laid out according to a grid system featuring alternating public park squares. Virtually burned to the ground by Union forces during the American Civil War, earning it the nickname 'Chimneyville', Jackson rose from its ashes to become the undisputed political, economic, and medical powerhouse of the state. The contemporary cityscape perfectly pairs stately historic capitol domes and world-class civil rights museums with a creative southern culinary and indie musical culture.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–3 days
Explore the poignant history, historic artifacts, and powerful multi-media galleries at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Admire the stunning Beaux-Arts design and majestic interior of the Mississippi State Capitol. View premium regional visual masterpieces at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
Museums & Culture
6Museums5
Eudora Welty House & Garden
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
Mississippi Children's Museum
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
