Local Museums

Mississippi Museum of Art:  Its newest exhibit, opening in early April, is Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Their Times: The Mellon Collection of French Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Offering 74 works by 19th-and 20th-century masters, the exhibit showcases French Impressionist paintings, along with masterpieces from every important school of French art—from Romanticism through to the School of Paris. The exhibition includes works by Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Henri Rousseau, and Vincent van Gogh.

Museum of Mississippi History: Explore 15,000 years of history and learn how our shared past influences our future together.  The latest temporary exhibit to open, Mississippi Distilled, explores the state’s tumultuous relationship with alcohol from the colonial period to today.

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum:  Explore the movement that changed the nation. Discover stories of Mississippians like Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer and Vernon Dahmer—as well as those who traveled many miles to stand beside them, come what may, in the name of equal rights for all.

Smith Robertson Museum:  The Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center is dedicated to increasing public understanding and awareness of the historical experience and cultural expressions of people of African descent.  Artifacts highlight the contributions of black Mississippians through struggle and achievement, as seen in exhibits such as From Slavery to America, 1670-1864 and in the Hall of Fame, which includes personalities from the state who are pioneers in their respective positions.

Old Capitol Museum:  Mississippi's most historic building, the Old Capitol was the site of some of the state's most significant legislative actions, such as the passage of the 1839 Married Women's Property Act, Mississippi's secession from the Union in 1861, and the crafting of the 1868 and 1890 state constitutions. The Old Capitol has been restored to its original grandeur and reopened by the state as a free museum focusing on the distinguished history of the building and the events that have taken place in it.

Eudora Welty House and Garden: In addition to its permanent exhibit, the Welty House currently has the temporary display For the Record: Music, Storytelling and Eudora Welty.  Eudora Welty was surrounded by music from a young age. When she died in 2001, she had a collection of over 300 records, which spanned many decades of her life.  Music presented in For the Record showcases the way one form of art can inspire others. The artifacts on display include songs, artists, and albums appearing in Welty's work alongside programs, cassettes, and CDs of artists who were influenced by Welty's storytelling.

International Museum of Muslim Cultures: The Museum's current exhibit is Muslims with Christians and Jews: An Exhibition of Covenants and Coexistence. One of the goals of the Exhibit is to help visitors discover what Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have in common and build bridges of understanding. Taking visitors back to a time when people of many faiths lived side by side and worshipped in peace, the exhibition presents historical covenants and treaties that Islam’s Prophet Muhammad made with Christians and Jews living amongst each other in the city of Medina.

Local Bars

Martin's Downtown: Local mainstay offering basic American pub grub, a big beer list & diverse live music performances.

Fenian's Pub: Locally owned and operated, Fenian's is dedicated to the celebration of Irish and Celtic heritage and history. The name originates from the legendary band of warriors led by Finn McCool. Legend has it that Finn McCool was a giant of a man who possessed all the knowledge of the world. It is said that he lies sleeping beneath Dublin and will awake in Ireland’s most dire hour of need. 

The Bulldog: With Jackson's largest selection of 62 mainly local and craft beers on tap and 75+ in bottles, the Bulldog's friendly staff will take you on a beer-venture to find your favorites. It offers a fully stocked bar and an extensive food selection that includes salads, juicy burgers, Tex-Mex appetizers, and Cajun signatures.

The Apothecary at Brent's Drugs: With specialty and seasonal drinks, classic cocktails, small plates, and an ambiance you won’t find anywhere else in Jackson, The Apothecary is perfect for a drink after work, after-dinner drinks, or a relaxing evening on the town. The Apothecary's speakeasy-type lounge is set up like a pre-Prohibition bar, with nods to the days of old with their craft cocktails and dim, quaint vibe. For classic drinks in a chill setting, Apothecary should definitely be on your list.

F. Jones Corner: Intimate, no-frills cocktail joint featuring late-night performances by regional blues musicians.

Fondren Public: Walking into Fondren Public, it’s hard to miss their extensive beer and liquor selection. Several draft beers are available on tap or in a bottle, along with individual glasses of wine and a liquor selection large enough that every customer is sure to find something to quench their thirst. While you sip on something cold, be sure to order a snack or two off the menu.

The Library Lounge: The original library of the Fairview Mansion, built in 1908, has been transformed into a lounge, themed around celebrated Mississippi authors. The Library is adorned with a Civil War book collection; contemporary fiction and non-fiction works of famous writers like Eudora Welty, John Grisham, William Faulkner, Willie Morris and Tennessee Williams; and a taste of all things Mississippi– art, culture, music, etc.

4th Avenue Lounge: 4th Avenue is a hybrid Cocktail Lounge and event venue conveniently located on the corner of Lamar and Pearl Streets in Downtown Jackson. It offers a mixture of experiences from after 4 networking, to late night VIP Reservations, private Corporate Events, and social celebrations. 

Ole Tavern: Old Tavern has captured the essences of the South’s unique culinary flair and good Ole Fashioned Home Cooking inspired by the tantalizing flavors from Jackson, MS to New Orleans, LA.