Meridian

Meridian is a city in eastern Mississippi that was once a titan of commerce during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression. Situated at the junction of five major rail lines, Meridian was a manufacturing and transportation hub that was torched by General Sherman during the Civil War, only to rebuild stronger in the decades that followed. The city's golden age left behind an impressive collection of preserved architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Art Deco masterpieces and Victorian landmarks.

Meridian is also historically significant as the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County — an event portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning. Today, Meridian is a treasure trove of historic architecture and the birthplace of country and blues star Jimmie Rogers. The city's Riley Center (Grand Opera House from 1889) hosts performing arts, and the Dentzel carousel at Highland Park is a beloved local attraction.

The climate features hot, humid summers with highs in the 90s°F (32°C) and mild winters with highs in the 50s–60s°F (10–15°C). Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons. Meridian sits in the Pine Belt region with rolling, forested terrain.

By Plane

Meridian Regional Airport offers nonstop service on Silver Airways to Atlanta. The airport is a short drive from downtown.

By Train

Amtrak serves the city via the once-daily Crescent service between New York City and New Orleans. Meridian Union Station is centrally located at 1901 Front St.

By Car / Road

Meridian sits at the junction of Interstate 20 (east-west) and Interstate 59 (north-south). US Route 80 also passes through the city. Jackson is about 90 miles west on I-20 (~1 hour 15 minutes). Birmingham, Alabama, is about 150 miles east on I-20/59 (~2 hours). Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is about 90 miles east on I-20/59 (~1 hour 30 minutes).

A car is the most practical way to explore Meridian. The historic downtown area is walkable, and several of the architectural landmarks are clustered together. For longer distances, the interstate highways provide quick connections.

Historic Architecture and Landmarks

• Threefoot Building (601 22nd Ave): A 16-story Art Deco building from 1929. The financiers behind it were ironically put out of business by the Great Depression. The annual Threefoot Arts Festival commemorates the building.
• Riley Center (2200 5th St): Also known as the Grand Opera House from 1889, built in late Victorian/Empire Romanesque style with a distinctive proscenium.
• Meridian Museum of Art (628 25th Ave): Housed in a former Carnegie library from 1913, featuring an intriguing array of art exhibits.
• Wechsler School (1430 30th Ave): The first school built for African Americans with public funds in Mississippi. Now a shell with broken windows.
• E.F. Young Hotel (2422 5th St): The only hotel where African Americans could stay prior to the Civil Rights movement.
• Grave of the Gypsy Queen (701 40th Ave, Rose Hill Cemetery): The peculiar grave of a Romany leader whose nomadic community settled in Meridian in the late 19th century.

Parks and Museums

• Highland Park (1720 Jimmie Rogers Memorial Dr): Features the Dentzel antique carousel — the only one of its kind with a double row of horses. Also has a plaque and museum about Meridian-born country/blues star Jimmie Rogers. Note: environs can be sketchy.

• Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum (1808 4th St, +1 601-693-9905): Th, F, Sa 10AM–3PM. Steam engines and implements housed in a former foundry.

• Bonita Lakes Park (Bonita Reservoir Road): Daily 5AM–10PM. Trail looping around a lake through the Piney Woods — great for walking off Southern food indulgences. You may see deer.

• Walking Tours: The historic downtown district features well-preserved late 19th and early 20th century architecture.

• Threefoot Arts Festival: Annual celebration of arts and culture.

• Harvest Grill (618 22nd Ave, +1 601-282-5069): Serving both lunch and dinner with Southern cuisine.
• Weidmann's (210 22nd Ave, +1 601-581-5770): A Meridian institution since 1870. Southern restaurant serving traditional Mississippi fare.

• Budget: Motel 6 (2309 S Frontage Rd): Approximately $50/night. Basic but functional.
• Mid-range: Hilton Garden Inn Meridian (109 US-11, +1 601-485-3506): Comfortable rooms near the interstate.
• Upscale: There are no hotels in the city center; most hotels are clustered around the Interstate highway south of Meridian. Branded hotels along I-20/I-59 offer the most consistent quality.

• Jackson (90 miles west on I-20, ~1 hour 15 minutes): State capital with museums and civil rights landmarks.
• Hattiesburg (90 miles south on I-59, ~1 hour 30 minutes): University of Southern Mississippi and Longleaf Trace trail.
• Tuscaloosa, Alabama (90 miles east on I-20/59, ~1 hour 30 minutes): University of Alabama campus and Tuscaloosa Museum of Art.
• Birmingham, Alabama (150 miles east on I-20/59, ~2 hours): Civil Rights District, Vulcan statue, and Birmingham Museum of Art.
• Tupelo (185 miles northwest on I-22/US-78, ~3 hours): Birthplace of Elvis Presley.