These 8 Mississippi Towns Have The Best Historic Districts

The best way to experience Mississippi’s past is to walk the streets where history still lingers in the air. From weathered brick facades to carefully restored storefronts, the state’s historic districts carry the stories of boomtown days, railroads, riverboats, and resilience. Each town has its own rhythm; sometimes it’s the grandeur of antebellum homes, sometimes it’s the soulful echo of the blues, and sometimes it’s simply a shaded square where people have gathered for generations. Whether you’re chasing architecture, local lore, or the pleasure of a stroll, these eight historic districts in Mississippi invite you to step back in time while enjoying the life that still thrives within them.

Columbus

Columbus sits in northeastern Mississippi with a historic district that showcases antebellum homes, elegant churches, and preserved streetscapes that whisper of its Civil War-era significance. Because Union forces spared the town, so much of its original architecture remains intact, from Greek Revival mansions to Victorian cottages and balconies laced with iron railings. Each spring, the district shines during the Spring Pilgrimage, when homeowners open their doors for tours that blend blooming gardens with stories of the past. Wandering the district feels like stepping into an open-air museum, with every block offering something new to admire.

At its heart stands the Tennessee Williams Home & Welcome Center, the playwright’s birthplace, where period furnishings reveal 19th-century domestic life. After exploring, you can unwind along the Columbus Riverwalk or slip into a downtown café, such as Coffee House on Fifth, a local favorite housed in a century-old storefront. With boutiques, galleries, and eateries tucked into historic brick buildings, Columbus proves that preservation allows a town to live comfortably with one foot in the past and the other in the present.

Natchez

If ever there was a town built on history, it’s Natchez. The Natchez Historic Downtown District is one of the most remarkable in the South, blending restored storefronts, shaded streets, and a riverfront view that seems unchanged from the days of steamboats. Walking downtown, you’ll notice a mix of Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian buildings, each one a reminder of a time when Natchez was one of the wealthiest towns in America due to cotton and river trade.

A must-see is Stanton Hall, a mansion that feels more like a palace, offering tours that showcase its marble fireplaces and soaring ballrooms. For a different perspective, the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture tells essential, though often-overlooked, stories of resilience and contribution. Just steps away, the Natchez Bluff Trail delivers an unforgettable view of the Mississippi River, where sunsets still glow across the wide water as they did for traders centuries ago. With its careful preservation and layers of stories—encompassing wealth, tragedy, and endurance—Natchez’s district is a living monument to the complexities of Southern history.

Vicksburg

Few towns wear their history as boldly as Vicksburg. Founded along a strategic bend of the Mississippi River, the city became both a thriving river port and a Civil War stronghold. The Historic Downtown District still reflects those layers of triumph and struggle. While its rows of 19th-century brick homes and warehouses were once filled with cotton and other trade goods, today, those same buildings have been reborn as galleries, antique shops, and eateries, blending the commerce of the past with the culture of the present.

Anchoring downtown, the Old Courthouse Museum rises proudly, with exhibits and artifacts from Civil War relics to pioneer life. Just a few blocks away, the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum tells a different kind of history, with the story of how Coke was first bottled in Vicksburg, complete with vintage displays and soda fountains that connect you to a sweet piece of Americana.

Walking the district’s sidewalks, you’ll notice ghost signs—faded advertisements still painted on brick walls—that give the town’s character a lived-in authenticity, while the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals bring the past to life with sweeping illustrations of commerce, music, and survival. And of course, no visit is complete without time spent at the Vicksburg National Military Park, where rolling hills and towering monuments honor the city’s pivotal role in the Civil War.

Bay St. Louis

Bay St. Louis blends Gulf breezes with an artistic soul, and its Historic District is among the most colorful on the Mississippi coast. Once a summer retreat for wealthy travelers from New Orleans, the town grew around elegant seaside homes, cozy cottages, and the railroad that carried visitors to its breezy beaches. Though hurricanes have tested it time and again, the district endures, with many 19th- and early 20th-century buildings carefully restored to preserve its coastal heritage.

Today, those pastel cottages and weathered storefronts have found new life as art galleries, studios, and boutiques, creating a walkable district where creativity flows as softly as the ocean tide. The town’s artistic flair shines brightest during the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk, when musicians fill the streets and shop doors swing open wide for visitors. If you want to explore the Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum, you will find it in the old depot near the heart of downtown. This free museum honors the life and work of Alice Moseley, a folk artist whose humorous and heartfelt paintings capture Southern life with wit and charm.

Just steps away, the harbor and the Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier stretch into the Gulf of Mexico, offering sweeping views of the shoreline. With its layers of history, art, and coastal beauty, Bay St. Louis moves at an easy rhythm, and that’s exactly how its locals like it.

Corinth

Corinth may be smaller than some of Mississippi’s historic heavyweights, but its Downtown Historic District is worth exploring. Set at the junction of two major railroads, this small community became the “Crossroads of the South,” fiercely contested during the Civil War and central to pivotal battles and troop movements.

That history still lingers downtown, where rows of brick storefronts showcase 19th-century architecture. Nearby, the Verandah-Curlee House stands as one of Mississippi’s finest examples of Greek Revival style, its stately presence a reminder of Corinth’s antebellum past. The Crossroads Museum, with exhibits and artifacts tied to the town’s rail and wartime history, deepens the story. To see it on a broader scale, the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, part of Shiloh National Military Park, offers films, exhibits, and walking trails that highlight the town’s strategic geography and the Battle of Corinth.

Antique shops and boutiques invite browsing, and local diners keep alive the quirky tradition of the slugburger, a Depression-era specialty that still draws a following. Each summer, the Slugburger Festival transforms this humble dish into the centerpiece of a weekend celebration, complete with music, food, and heaps of community spirit.

Aberdeen

Rising along the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen tells its story through one of Mississippi’s richest collections of antebellum architecture. Its Downtown Historic District reflects the town’s 19th-century prosperity as a cotton port, where elegant Greek Revival mansions, Victorian cottages, and brick storefronts still shape the character of downtown.

The district shines each spring during the Aberdeen Pilgrimage Tour of Homes, when private residences open to the public, similar to those in Columbus and Natchez, showcasing period furnishings, blooming gardens, and family histories passed down through generations. To dig deeper, the Monroe County Heritage Museum, located in the old sheriff’s office and jail, interprets everything from Native American artifacts and the rise of river trade to Civil War conflicts and local culture.

Downtown also offers plenty of places to linger. Shoppers will enjoy Bird’s Nest Antiques, a treasure trove of vintage finds and regional curiosities tucked into a historic storefront. Alongside it, boutiques and specialty shops give the district a vibrant, welcoming feel.

Wiggins

In Mississippi’s Pine Belt, Wiggins grew from timber and trade, and its historic district still reflects that heritage. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district took shape in the early 20th century when sawmills and turpentine camps fueled growth. Brick storefronts rose along Pine Avenue during the 1910s and 1920s, many of which still stand today. Though fire and storms left their marks over the years, the town always rebuilds, leaving behind a streetscape that speaks to resilience as much as prosperity.

At the center of downtown stands the Stone County Courthouse, rebuilt in 1918 after fire destroyed the original. A short walk away, the Old Firehouse Museum traces the community’s past with exhibits ranging from Native American artifacts to the once-thriving lumber trade. Antique shops, boutiques, and cafés now fill many of those early commercial buildings, blending historic charm with modern use.

The district also remains a gathering place. Each April, the Pine Hill Festival transforms downtown into a vibrant street fair featuring music, crafts, food, and family-friendly activities. A stop at the Whistle Stop Café, set in a former train depot, adds another layer of history, serving hearty Southern meals in a space tied to the town’s railroad roots.

Tupelo

Best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo's historic district emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by the growth of railroads and the cotton trade. Many of those brick buildings still stand, now restored as shops, restaurants, and offices. The district’s survival after the devastating 1936 tornado is a testament to the city’s spirit of rebuilding.

The Tupelo Hardware Company is one of the district’s most iconic stops. Family-owned since 1926, it’s where a young Elvis bought his first guitar, making it both a working hardware store and a cultural landmark. Just steps away, the Tupelo Veterans Museum preserves stories of local service with interesting displays and guided tours.

Naturally, a visit to Tupelo means wandering through the Elvis Presley Birthplace. This simple home and museum is just a short drive away from the historic district and is a testament to the power of possibility.

Explore Mississippi's Historic Districts Today

Exploring Mississippi’s historic districts isn’t just about admiring old buildings; it’s about stepping into stories that continue to shape the present. From the river bluffs of Natchez to the crossroads of Corinth, each town reveals a different facet of the state’s soul. Some districts dazzle with architectural splendor, while others stir the heart with music and memory, but all invite you to linger, listen, and learn. So take your time wandering these streets. They’ll remind you that history isn’t just something that happened; it’s still alive and waiting for you to discover it with every step.