Civil Rights

Mississippi was a crucial "battleground" in the American Civil Rights Movement. Even today, there are plenty of reminders of the important role that Mississippi played in African-American history. A Civil Rights driving tour of Jackson, the state capital, will take you past the home of slain NAACP leader Medgar Evers as well as Freedom Corner.

Jackson

The house that Medgar Evers, NAACP Field Secretary, and his wife owned is not grand. It is evidence of little wealth but a great deal of power. The small house and site of his assassination and the neighbourhood of similar houses that surround it make palpable the very simple longings for freedom and opportunity that drove the Civil Rights Movement. As a museum and a house in a historic district, the renovated structure informs those who visit of the many sacrifices that took place in Jackson and in Mississippi and presents a more modern link in the succession of Mississippi landmarks that communicate the history of the state.

A Civil Rights self-guided driving tour showcases key buildings, churches and other sites significant to the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson,Mississippi. The tour divides the sites in Jackson into four sections, with each section taking approximately 1 hour. For further information visit www.visitjackson.com.

Hattiesburg

The Freedom Summer Trail is a compilation of historic sites of Freedom Summer 1964 and the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg. The Trail is a driving tour of 16 sites permanently marked to educate Hattiesburg's citizens and visitors about this important time in history. The tour begins at the Hattiesburg Visitors Center. Maps and audio tours are available to guide you with narratives describing the significance of each site.