Historic sites are plentiful in Mississippi. However, only a select few are among the oldest – and this road trip will lead you straight to them. From the state’s oldest general store and restaurant to the state’s oldest trees, this route offers a unique (and fun) peek into the past. So buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
The route spans 831 miles and will take roughly 14 hours to complete.
Of course, you can always customize the route by clicking on the link below the map.
1. Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area (Belzoni)
Home to some of the world’s oldest bald cypress trees, Sky Lake WMA is the perfect place to kick off your road trip. Not only are they old, but the trees are also enormous! Among the largest on the planet, they vary in size, with one of the biggest measuring 47 feet in circumference.
2. Neilson’s Department Store (Oxford)
Founded in 1839, Neilson's Department Store is billed as the "South's oldest store." A great stop on your route, the store is brimming with history. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s brimming with great merchandise, too!
3. Borroum’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain (Corinth)
Continue your journey back in time with a visit to Borroum’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain. It’s been open since 1865, making it the oldest operating drug store in Mississippi. And though many things have changed since 1865, Borroum’s isn’t one of them. The eatery still looks almost exactly as it did when it first opened over a century ago. If the vintage vibes aren’t enough to transport you back in time, the classic soda fountain fare should do the trick.
4. The Simmons-Wright Company (Toomsuba)
If the walls of The Simmons-Wright Company could talk…they’d have a lot to say! Taking the title of Mississippi’s oldest (still-functioning) general store, The Simmons-Wright Company operates today much like it did when it first opened its doors in 1884. Just like all those years ago, the merchandise selection is still impressively varied. However, there has been one noticeable and much-welcomed change over the years – the addition of Café 1884, an on-site eatery that serves up BBQ and other southern favorites.
5. Weidmann’s (Meridian)
Where better to get a taste of the past than Mississippi’s oldest restaurant? Opened in 1870, Weidmann’s has endured throughout the decades – a fact that the servers are all too happy to share with diners. A great place to fill up before getting back on the road, the menu is brimming with classic southern dishes. Make sure to save room for dessert. Weidmann’s is famous for its Black Bottom Pie.
6. LaPointe-Krebs House and Museum (Pascagoula)
There seems to be no shortage of historic buildings in Mississippi, but the LaPointe-Krebs House is the only one that can take the title of the oldest. Predating the American Revolutionary War by two decades, the home is an architectural gem with a fascinating past. Luckily, it’s open to the public, so you can experience this incredible piece of the past firsthand.
So, did you know about these historic gems? Have you visited any (or all) of them? Tell us in the comments section.
These aren’t the only places that’ll give you a peek into the past. Read about another here.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
