Wealthy in historical past and surrounded by among the most spectacular pure landscapes in Mississippi, Hattiesburg is an enthralling Southern metropolis located within the Magnolia State’s southwest area. The town is nicknamed “Hub Metropolis” since its positioned proper on the crossroads of six main Southern highways which offers Hattiesburg with a vibrant arts and leisure scene.
The town is residence to the primary campus of the College of Southern Mississippi and is among the birthplaces of Blues Music in America. Hattiesburg can be the gateway to Mississippi’s thick pine forests and rolling farmlands, making it an thrilling place to go to in Mississippi that actually has one thing for everybody to get pleasure from.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
20 Issues To Do In Hattiesburg
1- All American Rose Backyard
Located proper on the entrance of the Southern Mississippi College campus, the All-American Rose Backyard, additionally generally known as the Southern Miss Rose Backyard, is a surprising botanical backyard residence to greater than 36 rose varieties.
The venue was opened in 1974 and options over 800 rose bushes for guests to tour.
It’s a scenic and peaceable spot on the Southern Miss campus, the rose backyard is at all times a well-liked vacationer attraction in Hattiesburg and one which’s properly price visiting the subsequent time you’re in southeast Mississippi.
The All-American Rose Backyard is at 118 School Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.
2- Mississippi Blues Path
Whisking music lovers alongside among the most important spots and moments all through the historical past of Blues music, the Mississippi Blues Path recounts the origins and fast progress of this native Mississippian music style that’s widespread at this time the world over.
The path was formally established in 2006 by the Mississippi Blues Fee and treats travellers to interpretive plaques at important stops that includes attention-grabbing details about Blues music.
From the golf equipment and church buildings the place Blues music first took off to the cotton fields and metropolis corners the place Blues music originated, the Mississippi Blues Path is a memorable music expertise/
It’s one of many high Hattiesburg sights, even for those who’re not conversant in Blues music.
The Mississippi Blues Path begins at 614 Cell St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
3- College of Southern Mississippi Campus
West of downtown Hattiesburg, close to the Hattiesburg Zoo, the College of Southern Mississippi campus is among the many metropolis’s greatest and most visited locations.
It’s residence to fairly a couple of notable landmarks.
The campus is probably greatest generally known as the house to the famend All-American Rose Backyard, nevertheless, the incredible gardens aren’t the one attraction price visiting on this flagship Mississippi campus.
Southern Miss’s 300-acre (121 ha) campus is residence to leafy trails, lovely buildings and the always-buzzing M.M. Roberts Stadium and the Reed Inexperienced Coliseum, residence to the college’s Golden Eagles varsity sports activities groups.
The College of Southern Mississippi Campus is at 118 School Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.
4- Hattiesburg Pocket Museum
Formally Mississippi’s smallest museum, the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, is a novel Hattiesburg attraction that’s purposefully onerous to find within the metropolis’s downtown space.
The museum’s grand opening was deliberately saved off the radar by the Hattiesburg Conference Fee in order that would-be guests can uncover Hattiesburg’s metropolis centre as a part of the museum expertise.
Whereas unconventional, it definitely labored.
The museum rapidly turned one in every of downtown Hattiesburg’s must-visit locations and is residence to all kinds of displays, similar to an intensive Swiss Military knife assortment and miniature collectible figurines of well-known folks.
The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is at 119 W Entrance St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
5- M.M. Roberts Stadium
The M.M. Roberts Stadium, additionally colloquially identified by locals and college students merely as “The Rock”, is a 36,000-seat stadium that’s the full-time residence of Southern Miss College’s Golden Eagles soccer crew.
Opened in 1932 as Faulkner Area, the stadium has undergone a number of main renovations and expansions all through its historical past to maintain it fashionable and enjoyable to catch a soccer match on recreation day.
One of many liveliest venues in all of Hattiesburg each time the Golden Eagles play at residence, the M.M. Roberts Stadium is a incredible place to cease by for those who’re within the temper for aggressive collegiate sports activities and probably the most energetic atmospheres in Mississippi.
M.M. Roberts Stadium is at 118 School Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.
6- Longleaf Hint Path
Slicing via the De Soto Nationwide Forest simply southeast of Hattiesburg, the Longleaf Hint Path is a well-liked 41-mile-long (66 km) leisure path open to joggers and hikers, cyclists, skaters and even horseback riders.
The path was opened in 2000 and connects Hattiesburg with the close by city of Prentiss simply northwest of downtown Hattiesburg.
The path runs proper via Hattiesburg and is a wonderful manner of discovering the town and its scenic environment, permitting travellers to expertise the magnificent De Soto Nationwide Forest and the smaller cities dotted round Hattiesburg.
7- Sarah Gillespie Museum of Artwork
Showcasing over 600 splendid artworks by distinguished native and worldwide artists, the Sarah Gillespie Museum of Artwork and its in depth artwork assortment is considered probably the most complete amassed by Mississippians through the twentieth century.
The museum is on the campus of William Carey College and shows numerous oil work, lithographs, block prints and extra donated to the college by native artwork collector Sarah Gillespie.
With works on show by Kate Freeman Clark, Walter Anderson and Karle Wolfe, the museum is among the many greatest artwork establishments in Mississippi and is at all times price touring everytime you’re stopping by Hattiesburg.
The Sarah Gillespie Museum of Artwork is at 498 Tuscan Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
8- African American Navy Historical past Museum
The informative and inspirational African American Navy Historical past Museum celebrates and honours the hundreds of African American troopers from Hattiesburg and past who’ve served the US Navy from the Spanish-American Battle to the current day.
Opened in 2009 and housed inside a former 1942 USO constructing for African American troopers at Camp Shelby, the museum is listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
This expansive centre function displays recounting the lives of pioneering African American troopers similar to Jesse Leroy Brown and nurse Ruth Bailey Earl, in addition to a number of conflict artefacts and intriguing snippets of historical past.
The African American Navy Historical past Museum is at 305 E sixth St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
9- Hattiesburg Zoo
Located in Hattiesburg’s Kamper Park, the 12-acre (5 ha) Hattiesburg Zoo is a enjoyable out of doors attraction in southeast Mississippi that’s a refuge for roughly 80 animal species from each continent on Earth.
The Hattiesburg Zoo was opened again in 1902 and is residence to a number of enjoyable sights, such because the edZOOcation Heart, the Parris Jewelers Mining Sluice, a present store, a petting zoo, and even a carrousel.
Surrounded by the pure magnificence, thick forests, tennis courts, picnic spots and nature trails of Kamper Park, the zoo is one in every of Hattiesburg’s high vacationer sights and an awesome vacation spot in Mississippi.
The Hattiesburg Zoo is at 107 S seventeenth Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
10- Paul B. Johnson State Park
The scenic Paul B. Johnson State Park is an 805-acre (326 ha) out of doors recreation dream vacation spot straddling the shores of Geiger Lake close to downtown Hattiesburg.
The park was named in honour of Paul B. Johnson, the forty sixth Governor of Mississippi, and is located simply 10 miles (16 km) south of Hattiesburg.
That includes over 25 tenting websites, numerous picnic spots and tons of lush greenery, the park is a favorite amongst Mississippi’s outdoorsy varieties because of its plentiful fishing alternatives and boating accessibility.
Open year-round and residential to numerous mountain climbing paths and even a splash pad, the park is one in every of Hattiesburg’s must-visit sights and probably the most picturesque locations in Mississippi.
The Paul B. Johnson State Park is at 319 Geiger Lake Rd, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
11- Hattiesburg Saenger Theater
The centrepiece landmark in Hattiesburg’s historic downtown space, the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater is a powerful Neoclassical Revival and Artwork Deco type theatre opened to the general public in 1929.
Designed by Emile Weil, a widely known architect from New Orleans, the theatre was constructed to showcase the favored silent movies of the early twentieth century.
Renovated a number of instances all through its storied historical past, the theatre hosts every part from Hollywood Blockbusters to reside music performances, making it one of many main cultural establishments in Hattiesburg and one which at all times treats guests to a royal night time out.
The Hattiesburg Saenger Theater is at 201 Forrest St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
12- Mississippi Armed Forces Museum
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is an enormous centre devoted to honouring the lives and contributions of the hundreds of navy veterans throughout Mississippi who proudly served their nation and state throughout wartime.
Positioned on Camp Shelby’s premises and close to the African American Navy Historical past Museum, the centre was formally opened in 1984 with artefacts donated by two Mississippi veterans housed inside a small room.
Right now, the museum is residence to eight separate galleries and greater than 16,000 sq. ft (1,486 m2) of exhibition area and is residence to among the most vital World Battle, Korean Battle and Vietnam Battle artefacts in America.
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is at Constructing 850, Forrest Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39407.
13- Grand Paradise Water Park
Grand Paradise Water Park is a enjoyable, family-friendly Hattiesburg attraction widespread amongst locals each summer time.
The 7-acre (3 ha) waterpark is located roughly half-hour drive north of downtown Hattiesburg and is residence to numerous adrenaline-pumping rides to check out.
A number of the park’s favorite sights embrace the Aqua Twist with its near-vertical drop, the zero-gravity Free Fall and the Grand Falls Racer with its four-story drop.
Among the best locations to chill down through the sizzling Southern summers, the waterpark is one in every of Hattiesburg’s high vacationer sights and an awesome place to go to with one thing in retailer for all ages to get pleasure from.
The Grand Paradise Water Park is at 50 Grandview Dr, Collins, MS 39428.
14- The Fortunate Rabbit
One among Hattiesburg’s most unconventional but thrilling locations to go to is The Fortunate Rabbit, an vintage and old-school-themed store promoting among the rarest historic objects anyplace in america.
The store options over 15,000 sq. ft (1,394 m2) of retail area and was first opened in 2013.
All the pieces from retro arcade machines and outdated soda dispensers to functioning telephone cubicles and old-school video consoles may be discovered within the retailer, making it a must-visit vacation spot for those who’re feeling nostalgic.
The store’s additionally a significant vacationer attraction because of its TV-show-themed shows and iconic 1978 Westfalia Volkswagen Bus, so make certain to not miss out on visiting this charming Hattiesburg venue the subsequent time you’re in Mississippi.
The Fortunate Rabbit is at 217 Cell St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
15- Hattiesburg Space Historic Society Museum
First opened in 1970, the Hattiesburg Space Historic Society Museum is devoted to preserving and recounting Hattiesburg’s historical past for all who wish to be taught extra about this fascinating Mississippi metropolis.
The centre displays Hattiesburg’s previous when the Choctaw nonetheless inhabited the realm to the present-day Hattiesburg, recounting vital moments within the metropolis’s historical past, similar to when Hattiesburg was an vital timber producer.
With hundreds of attention-grabbing shows and displays to tour, add a cease to the Hattiesburg Space Historic Society Museum to your Mississippi itinerary.
The Hattiesburg Space Historic Society Museum is at 723 Foremost St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
16- Hattiesburg Public Artwork Path
One among Hattiesburg’s more moderen sights, the Hattiesburg Public Artwork Path, was formally launched in 2021 and has grown to grow to be one of many metropolis’s main downtown vacationer sights.
The path options dozens of public artwork murals created by main artists from Hattiesburg and past, whisking travellers on a self-guided tour of greater than 30 murals throughout Hattiesburg.
A good way of experiencing Hattiesburg and a should for those who’re within the arts, the path is among the many greatest out of doors sights in Hattiesburg and a incredible expertise to get pleasure from with household and mates.
17- Turtle Creek Mall
The Turtle Creek Mall has been Hattiesburg’s main procuring vacation spot, the town’s go-to vacation spot for style, meals and leisure because the mall opened in 1994.
Over 80 shops and eating places may be discovered contained in the mall, making it an awesome place to cease if you wish to purchase a present or one thing to take again residence.
Located simply west of downtown Hattiesburg, the mall is at all times an attention-grabbing place to go to. It hosts annual particular occasions, making it extra than simply your common shopping center.
The Turtle Creek Mall is at 1000 Turtle Creek Dr, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.
18- De Soto Nationwide Forest
Nestled within the largest ranger district in Mississippi, the De Soto Nationwide Forest and its infinite rolling hills, peaceable streams, and thick pine ridges are one of many best out of doors sights within the Magnolia State.
The forest lies 12 miles (19 km) south of downtown Hattiesburg.
It options glorious mountain climbing, fishing, biking, searching and tenting alternatives all through its expansive and scenic 378,538 acres (153,189 ha) of untouched Mississippi nature.
Open year-round and residential to the Black Leaf and Black Creek wilderness areas, the forest is a must-visit attraction in Hattiesburg for those who’re a fan of the nice outdoor and a incredible vacation spot for a day journey tour from downtown Hattiesburg.
19- Lucile Parker Gallery
The Lucile Parker Gallery is one other incredible artwork gallery on Hattiesburg’s William Carey College campus.
It’s only a stone’s throw away from the equally spectacular Sarah Gillespie Museum of Artwork.
Opened in 1990 and named after native artist and former trainer Lucile Parker, the gallery is residence to 4 everlasting displays: The 190-piece Larry H. Day Assortment, the 159-piece William Carey Assortment, the 142-piece Lucile Parker Assortment, and the Brian Blair Assortment.
There are additionally quite a few rotating displays on show all through the summer time yearly. Make sure you head to the gallery to expertise the very best native artwork Hattiesburg has in retailer.
The Lucile Parker Gallery is at 512 Tuscan Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
20- Chain Park at Twin Forks
Comprising over 37 acres (15 ha) of prime Mississippi land alongside the banks of the Leaf River, Chain Parks at Twin Forks is among the many hottest out of doors leisure areas in Hattiesburg.
The park lies roughly midway between Hattiesburg and Petal and is residence to a litany of actions to partake in.
The park options a number of devoted picnic spots, two playgrounds, out of doors train gear, scenic mountain climbing paths and among the most spectacular riverfront views anyplace in Hattiesburg.
Successful ever because the park first opened in 2010, it’s rapidly grow to be the go-to spot on the town for watching the annual 4th of July celebrations and is among the greatest free-to-visit sights in Hattiesburg.
Chain Park at Twin Forks is at 5619 Hwy 42, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
