If Jackson is your thing, but spending money isn't, you're in luck. Jackson offers plenty of things to do that won't cost a penny.
1. Take a walking tour of downtown
History Tour
Old Capitol Museum - 100 S. State St.
- Served as the state capitol from 1839-1903
Smith Robertson Museum - 528 Bloom St.
- Site of Jackson's first African American public school
(Richard Wright is a graduate)
Mississippi Governor's Mansion – 300 E. Capitol St.
- Built circa 1841, second oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the U.S.
Greenwood Cemetery – corner of West and Lamar streets
- Burial ground for Confederate generals, Mississippi governors and Eudora Welty
Jackson City Hall – 219 S. President St.
- Built circa 1847; used as a hospital for soldiers during the Civil War
State Capitol Building – 400 High St.
- Built in 1903, designed by German American architect Theodore Link
Alamo Theater – 333 N. Farish St.
- Classic theater, hosted numerous artists, including Nat King Cole
Big Apple Inn – 509 N. Farish St
- Once home to the NAACP state headquarters; famous for its "smokes" and pig ear sandwich.
Arts Tour
Light and Glass Studio - 523 Commerce St.
Gallery 119 – 119 S. President St.
Mississippi Museum of Art – 380 S. Lamar St.
Mississippi Arts Center-201 E. Pascagoula St.
Planetarium – 201 E. Pascagoula St.
Keep an eye for painted catfish on your way!
Revitalization Tour
King Edward Hotel - 235 W. Capitol St.
- Built in 1923 and closed in 1967. Re-opened in 2009.
Standard Life Building - 127 S. Roach St.
- Eighteen-story Art-Deco building set to re-open late 2010 as a mixed-use development.
Tombigbee Lofts - 555 Tombigbee St.
- Former warehouse and office space converted to 12 apartments in 2007.
Electric 308 - 308 E. Pearl St.
- Originally built in 1926. Renovated in 2005.
Mill Street Viaduct & Market – corner of Capitol Street and Mill streets
- Renovated to an open-air market space in 2007.
Pinnacle at Jackson Place – corner of Lamar Street and Capitol streets
- Nine-story $48 million building completed in 2008.
Eley Guild Hardy Architects – 329 E. Capitol St.
- Bank built in the neo-classical style in 1924, undergoing a $1.1 million renovation.
2. Attend a free Jackson event
Downtown at Dusk – July 22, 5:30 p.m. at Farish Street Park.
Jewelry Making Class at Dream Beads (605 Duling Ave.) every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon
All Writers Workshop at Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road, Pearl) every second and fourth Tuesday each month from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Art at the Auditorium (662 Duling Ave.) on the first Tuesday of each month, featuring a variety of local Jackson visual artists until 7:30 p.m.
Art at the Healthplex at Mississippi College (102 Clinton Parkway, Clinton), displaying a wide variety of artists. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Book Readings at Lemuria (4465 Interstate 55 North) – visit http://www.lemuriabooks.com for a schedule.
Check out gallery openings at the following local galleries:
Mimi's Family and Friends – 3139 N. State St.
Nunnery's Gallery – 426 Meadowbrook Rd.
One Blu Wall Gallery – 2906 N. State St. Suite 107
Fischer Galleries – 3100 N. State St. Suite 101
Bryant Galleries of Jackson – 3010 Lakeland Cove, Suite A, Flowood
Southern Breeze Gallery – 1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 5005, Ridgeland
More gallery openings at http://jfpevents.com.
3. Volunteer at a local non-profit
See our list of non-profits on "Budgeting 101".
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