Eden MississippiATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Eden, Mississippi.
1. Natchez Trace Parkway
HISTORIC SCENIC DRIVE
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic drive through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee that follows a historic travel corridor used by Native Americans and early European settlers. Visitors can enjoy beautiful landscapes, hiking trails, and numerous historic sites along the route. The parkway offers opportunities for outdoor recreation including camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.
2. Elvis Presley Birthplace
MUSIC LEGEND'S ORIGIN
Elvis Presley Birthplace is the humble two-room house where the King of Rock and Roll was born on January 8, 1935. The site has been preserved and expanded to include a museum, chapel, and events center celebrating the life and legacy of Elvis. Visitors can tour the original home, explore exhibits featuring memorabilia, and learn about the early influences that shaped Elvis's musical career.
3. U.S.S. Cairo Museum
CIVIL WAR IRONCLAD
The U.S.S. Cairo Museum showcases a restored Civil War ironclad gunboat that was sunk in the Yazoo River in 1862 and recovered nearly a century later. Visitors can view the remarkably preserved vessel and thousands of artifacts recovered from inside the ship. The museum provides a fascinating glimpse into naval warfare during the Civil War and the daily life of sailors aboard these early armored vessels.
4. St. Mary Basilica
HISTORIC GOTHIC CHURCH
St. Mary Basilica is a stunning Gothic Revival church completed in 1886 and designated as a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998. The basilica features magnificent stained glass windows, ornate woodwork, and an impressive pipe organ in a beautifully preserved interior. Visitors are drawn to its architectural splendor and religious significance as one of the oldest Catholic buildings in Mississippi.
5. Windsor Ruins
PLANTATION COLUMNS LANDMARK
Windsor Ruins consists of 23 dramatic Corinthian columns that are the remaining elements of what was once the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion in the state. The original Windsor mansion, completed in 1861, was destroyed by fire in 1890, leaving only these haunting columns as a testament to its former grandeur. The site offers a powerful visual reminder of the pre-Civil War plantation era and has become an iconic Mississippi landmark frequently used in photography and film.
6. Rosalie Mansion
ANTEBELLUM RIVER ESTATE
Rosalie Mansion is a beautifully preserved antebellum home built in 1823 on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The Federal-style mansion features period furnishings, historic artifacts, and offers guided tours that showcase the elegant lifestyle of wealthy 19th-century Mississippi planters. Rosalie served as headquarters for Union troops during the Civil War and today stands as one of the finest examples of historic preservation in the South.
7. INFINITY Science Center
NASA VISITOR CENTER
INFINITY Science Center serves as the official visitor center for NASA's Stennis Space Center, offering interactive exhibits focused on space, earth science, and oceanography. Visitors can explore full-size space artifacts, experience simulators, and learn about NASA's rocket testing programs conducted in Mississippi. The center provides educational programming for all ages and offers behind-the-scenes tours of restricted areas at Stennis Space Center.
8. Jackson Zoological Park
URBAN WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
Jackson Zoological Park houses 250 animals representing 150 species from around the world in naturalistic habitats. The zoo is home to several endangered species including the red-ruffled lemur, Sumatran tiger, and southern white rhinoceros. Visitors can enjoy educational activities, special events throughout the year, and close encounters with exotic animals in this family-friendly attraction.
9. Mississippi Petrified Forest
ANCIENT FOSSILIZED TREES
The Mississippi Petrified Forest features the fossilized remains of an ancient forest that turned to stone over millions of years. Visitors can explore nature trails to view these massive petrified logs while the Earth Science Museum explains the geological processes that created them. The site also includes exhibits of other fossils, dinosaur footprints, and a gem mining flume where children can search for treasures.
10. Mississippi Aquarium
GULF COAST MARINE SHOWCASE
The Mississippi Aquarium is a state-of-the-art facility on the Gulf Coast featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits of marine and freshwater species native to Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can observe dolphins, rays, sharks, and numerous fish species in immersive habitats designed to mimic natural environments. The aquarium offers educational programs about marine conservation and the unique ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound and Gulf region.
11. Vicksburg National Military Park
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD
Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the decisive Civil War battle that gave Union forces control of the Mississippi River. Visitors can drive or hike through the 1,800-acre battlefield featuring over 1,300 monuments, markers, and tablets commemorating the 47-day siege of Vicksburg in 1863. The park includes restored Union gunboat USS Cairo, historic Shirley House, and numerous artillery pieces positioned as they were during the battle.
12. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
LUXURY COASTAL ENTERTAINMENT
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is a premier entertainment destination on the Mississippi Gulf Coast featuring gaming, dining, shopping, and live performances. The resort offers luxurious accommodations with views of the Gulf of Mexico and amenities including a spa, pool, and championship golf course. Visitors can enjoy multiple restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, high-end retail shops, and regular appearances by national entertainment acts.
13. Tupelo Automobile Museum
VINTAGE CAR COLLECTION
The Tupelo Automobile Museum houses one of the most significant automobile collections in North America, with over 100 antique, classic, and collectible vehicles arranged in chronological order. Visitors can see rare cars spanning from an 1886 Benz to a 1994 Dodge Viper, with many unique and one-of-a-kind vehicles displayed. The museum provides insight into the evolution of automobile design and technology throughout the past century.
14. Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
MOVEMENT HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum documents the struggle for civil rights and equality in one of the movement's most significant battlegrounds. Through interactive exhibits, personal stories, and powerful artifacts, visitors gain understanding of the systematic oppression faced by Black Mississippians and their fight for basic rights. The museum presents an unflinching look at difficult history while celebrating the courage of those who risked everything for equality.
15. Biloxi Lighthouse
HISTORIC COASTAL BEACON
The Biloxi Lighthouse, built in 1848, stands as one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South and has survived numerous hurricanes including Katrina. The 64-foot white structure has been operated by female lightkeepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States. Visitors can take guided tours of this iconic Gulf Coast landmark that has become the official symbol of the city of Biloxi.