Visit Meridian

Welcome to Meridian — Mississippi's Unofficial Seat of Culture: Halfway between Atlanta and Dallas, Nashville and New Orleans, sits a city that punches well above its weight in charm. Garden & Gun magazine calls Meridian "Mississippi's unofficial seat of culture," and once you spend an afternoon here, you'll understand why.

A City Built on Music: This is the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music, and home to the world's only two-row stationary Dentzel Menagerie Carousel. Meridian holds the distinction of hosting the very first Mississippi Country Music Trail marker, and you can trace that legacy across markers honoring Jimmie Rodgers, Elsie McWilliams, Moe Bandy, and Peavey Electronics scattered around town. It's also home to Mississippi's oldest live-music scene — so don't be surprised if a night out downtown turns into an impromptu jam session.

Museums, Architecture, and History Around Every Corner: Meridian's historic downtown is full of great architecture, more than a dozen locally owned boutiques and specialty shops, six museums, two stunning retro theaters, and Civil Rights and Civil War heritage trails. Nine registered historic districts tell the story of what locals call the city's "Golden Age" — Meridian was rebuilt between 1890 and 1930 after being almost entirely destroyed in the Civil War, and that rebuilding boom left behind a city of genuinely stunning buildings.

The centerpiece is the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX), a state-of-the-art museum celebrating Mississippi's creative legends — from Oprah Winfrey to Elvis Presley to William Faulkner. Just outside, the Walk of Fame connects The MAX to the MSU Riley Center, the beautifully restored 1889 Grand Opera House that now hosts national touring acts.

Green Space That Doesn't Feel Like a Secret Should: Bonita Lakes Park deserves to be renowned as one of America's great urban green spaces — trails, a peaceful reservoir loop, and enough tranquility to make you forget you're minutes from downtown. Add Dunn's Falls and Okatibbee Lake, and outdoor lovers have plenty of reasons to linger. Come find out why people fall for Meridian.