Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Mississippi Tourism - The Ghosts and Legends

By Penelope SanMateo

Do you want to take a tour of Mississippi that includes the scary things to do there such as the "Candlelight Ghost Tour" during Halloween week in Vicksburg or the Ghosts and Legends tour in Columbus? If ghosts aren't your thing how about going to Noxubee and seeing the restored 1907 jail with it's operative gallows? If you want beauty rather than ghosts and scary things then maybe you should visit the Magnolia mansion which was built in 1850 with the antebellum architecture features showcasing the exquisite mahogany staircase and the stunning furnishings of the time. You can visit the mansion in Aberdeen.

So what is in Pickensville? The Tom Bevill Visitors Center and Museum. Here you can see exhibits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The replica of an antebellum plantation mansion serves as the museum and visitor center.

Racing is big in Mississippi and you can visit one of the tracks in Columbus, the Columbus Speedway where there is racing on Saturday nights from March through September. The 3/10 mile, high banked clay oval track will give you lots of thrills as the cars speed around amidst the dirt and noise! The track is just 7 miles east of Columbus on Hwy 82 so it's easy to get to and offers a great Saturday night of enjoyment.

Many areas celebrate Black History Month, but in Columbus there is a driving tour that will give you a tour of the African-American Heritage sites. You can participate in the Friday night celebration of music, food and fun at Catfish Alley. The driving tours are at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. during this annual event. The tours are free on Saturday for anyone wishing to go.

A visit to the small town of Magnolia will be something you will really enjoy. There are two National Historic Districts in town, the Myrtle Street District is representative of a typical neighborhood at the turn of the century. The Southtown Historic District has a variety of late nineteenth century residential homes to take you back in time. There are three of Mississippi's premier Queen Anne residences and an antebellum Greek revival cottage in this area that will be well worth seeing.

The City of Magnolia can be reached by Interstate 55, north or south, at exit 10, from the east on Highway 48 from Hattiesburg, Ms., and from the west on Highway 24 from Liberty, Ms. - 16732

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