10 Mississippi Museums & Galleries for Art Lovers
Art lovers and history buffs, this one's for you. From a Taylor Swift Eras Tour set to impressive modern art collections, add these 10 Mississippi museums and galleries to your list!
Mississippi is the home of Elvis, William Faulkner, the Delta Blues, and crucial moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the state’s evolving cultural scene is welcoming more and more renowned visual artists, makers, and explorers of curiosity. These 10 museums and art galleries in Mississippi examine the state’s complex history, fine art, musical heritage, and Southern crafting tradition.
The Lucky Rabbit | Hattiesburg, MS
The Lucky Rabbit is a 40,000-square-foot pop-culture wonderland in Hattiesburg, MS, featured on HGTV’s “Hometown.” More than just a store, The Lucky Rabbit is a whole nostalgic experience with photo ops at every turn. In addition to its eclectic mix of vintage, antique, and handmade items by various vendors, the atmosphere is a party, and each interior and exterior space is creatively designed.
Plus, Taylor Swift fans can now Live or relive the magic of the Eras Tour by exploring and taking photos in the Folklore set. You can even visit the brand-new set recreation of the Folklore Cabin. (Yep, the one that Taylor almost fell off of during a recent show in Tokyo.) The cabin is a gentle nod to the Swifties, but all visitors can enjoy the set’s earthy, springtime vibe.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art | Ocean Springs, MS
A keystone of the region’s cultural life, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art is dedicated to preserving and celebrating renowned artist-philosopher-painter-writer-naturalist Walter Anderson (1903 to 1965). His work is deeply influenced by the flora, fauna, and landscapes of the Gulf Coast, and he is particularly celebrated for his detailed watercolors of animals and plants, his murals depicting scenes from the Old Testament, and his prolific output of drawings and prints.
One highlight is a room Anderson decorated with murals during his lifetime that was moved in its entirety from his cottage to the Museum. You can also see works by his brothers, Peter Anderson, a master potter and founder of Shearwater Pottery, and James McConnell Anderson, another notable painter.
GumTree Museum of Art | Tupelo, MS
The GumTree Museum of Art serves as a cultural resource for Tupelo area artists, featuring exhibits, workshops, lectures, and special events and programming. It is known for its commitment to promoting the arts in the Northern Mississippi region. Located in a 1905 bank building, the museum’s distinctive stained-glass window depicting a red and green wreath is said to be a symbol of goodwill and welcome. The museum plays a vital role in supporting Mississippi and national artists as well as the local community by offering a variety of art exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events throughout the year.
Rowan Oak | Oxford, MS
Southern lit lovers, this one’s for you! Built by Robert Sheegog in 1848, Rowan Oak became home to Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner in 1930. He restored the home himself, creating a fitting backdrop for his writing and family life until his death in 1962. The house and its surroundings inspired many of Faulkner’s novels and stories drawn from the history and natural environment of the South.
Faulkner christened the house “Rowan Oak” after the legend of the Rowan tree, believed by Celtic people to harbor magic powers of safety and protection. On the grounds, you can see multiple gardens, former slave and servant dwellings, stables, a barn, and the Bailey Woods Walking Trail.
Conde Contemporary | Natchez, MS
Conde Contemporary is a fine art gallery in the heart of artsy Natchez. The gallery focuses on representational works, concentrating on narrative realism, photorealistic portraiture, surrealism, new media, and contemporary art. Born in Miami, Conde Contemporary opened its gallery in Natchez as an opportunity to invest in a close-knit community and assist in its revitalization by utilizing the power of art as a socio-economic driver.
The gallery’s director, Stacy Conde, is also responsible for organizing Natchez’s beloved annual Allumer Natchez event, a thematically curated light-based art exhibition and festival featuring cutting-edge contemporary art installations in an exploration of illumination.
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art | Laurel, MS
Established in 1923 as a memorial to Lauren Eastman Rogers, the eponymous museum is dedicated to enriching the public welfare and arts education of the town of Laurel. New Orleans architect Rathbone deBuys designed the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art and locally constructed it with slender, attenuated metal columns.
The museum is a breathtaking example of the Georgian Revival structure within a serene, leafy neighborhood. Guests can spend hours ogling the extensive art collections, including Native American art, European art, American art, Japanese Woodblock prints, British Georgian silver, and seasonal exhibitions.
H.C. Porter Gallery | Vicksburg, MS
The H.C. Porter Gallery is owned and operated by H.C. Porter, an acclaimed American artist known for her vibrant and distinctive style that blends painting, photography, and printmaking. Her works capture the essence and spirit of her subjects, which range from Mississippi’s landscapes and people to scenes reflecting the broader American experience.
Porter’s gallery showcases her beloved Blues musicians series and pieces reflecting life in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These works have garnered national attention for their depth, storytelling, and unique artistic insight into the culture and challenges of the South.
Two Mississippi Museums | Jackson, MS
Known as Two Mississippi Museums, the interconnected Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum take visitors through the sweep of Mississippi history and the state’s role as ground zero in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Showcasing 15,000 years of culture, the history portion allows guests to lift a mound builder’s basket, sit in a historic church pew, and step into a jukejoint. The Civil Rights side offers a pensive and poignant uncovering of the grueling era’s shackles, marches, speeches, and more.
Mississippi Children’s Museum | Meridian, MS
Mississippi Children’s Museum is chock-full of hands-on, engaging exhibits and programming that focuses on literacy, STEM, health, and nutrition — many keys to helping children mature into healthy and productive lifelong adult learners. Highlights include the nation’s first permanent Goodnight Moon exhibit, a two-story brainiac climber, a library inspired by William Joyce’s The Fantastic Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, a WonderBox tinkering lab, and a whimsical 25,000 square foot garden inspired by Mississippi writer and illustrator, Edgar Parker.
Hattiesburg Pocket Museum | Hattiesburg, MS
Part of the fun of Mississippi’s tiniest and most unique museum is finding it. Perched in a charming alley behind the Saenger Theatre in downtown Hattiesburg, the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is a 36-by-48-inch window featuring a frequently updated display of fanciful miniature scenes. The four display shelves emphasize what an impactful presence art of any size can have. The alley is filled with murals, street art, twinkling lights, and many seasonal events throughout the year.
Happy exploring! This article was made possible by Visit Mississippi. All photos courtesy of Visit Mississippi unless otherwise noted.
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Zoe Yarborough
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.