Around Town Carousels Abound is an amazingly fun outdoor public art project. There are over 50 brightly decorated carousel horses created by the talented hands of local and regional artists each with their own theme and story. The horses have been sponsored by businesses and individuals and placed in prominent locations around the city. All proceeds from the project benefit Hope Village for Children.
The location and description of each horse is available at the Meridian/Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau, 212 Constitution Ave. or by calling 1-888-868-7720.

Click Here for a complete listing and photos of all Carousel Horses

City owned 3,300 acre park situated on three lakes. Includes Long Creek Reservoir and Lakeview Golf Course. Beautiful, relatively primitive park features nature trails, jogging and walking track, horseback riding, picnic facilities, paddle boats, boat ramps and fishing. Free. Open year round 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Bonita Lakes is also the future home of the
Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Center.
Click here to learn more about MAEC
Shelter Rentals
Pavilion $40.00
Island $25.00 w/electricity additional $25.00
to reserve 485-1920

Circa 1886. Frank W. Williams built this home as a wedding present for his wife, Mamie. Built in the Queen Anne style of the Victorian period, the house was moved to the present site in 1979. Colonial-style atmosphere.
WINTER HOURS (JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH) Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday
REGULAR HOURS (APRIL -THANKSGIVING)
MONDAY-SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
THANKSGIVING-NEW YEARS (Special Holiday Tours) MONDAY-SATURDAY 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Special arrangements for group tours and special events on request.
TOUR PRICES: $10 FOR BOTH HOUSES, $5 FOR ONE HOUSE SPECIAL RATES FOR GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUTS OVER   55
CHILDREN   $5 FOR TWO HOUSES,
$3 FOR ONE HOUSE
CHILDREN UNDER THREE ADMITTED FREE
www.merrehope.com     601-483-8439

In fall of 2006 and after a $25 million renovation, the curtain rose on a star attraction in downtown Meridian -- the Riley Center for Education & Performing Arts. Incorporating the historic Grand Opera House and Marks Rothenberg Building, the Riley Center will host a variety of arts and entertainment presentations, educational programs, conferences and meetings. Operated by Mississippi State University, the Riley Center will provide a special place for social interaction, to enjoy the arts and further individual growth and learning that all residents can be proud to call their own. For more information, visit www.riley.msstate.edu or
MSU Riley Center Overview (pdf format)

This beautiful theater, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1928 in the Moorish Revival style and opened as a movie house. At the time, it was one of the largest stages in the United States, second only to the Roxie Theater in New York City. Housed in the theater is one of only two pipe organs of its kind to exist today. The sound produced by this Robert Morton pipe organ is equivalent to that of a 100-piece symphony orchestra. The pipe organ is really three organs in one, with more than 778 pipes currently undergoing restoration. The Temple, used for vaudeville and movies in the past, is now used year-round for area events, live stage shows, plays and concerts. Tours are available upon request, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Free. From I 20/59, take 22nd Avenue exit to downtown Meridian; turn left on 8th Street and go two blocks to corner of 8th Street and 24th Avenue.

This historic park was built by the city in 1908 as a premier street car park. Home to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum, the Dentzel Antique Carousel, swimming pool, duck pond, recreation center, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields. Open year-round. Free. From I-20/59, take 22nd Avenue exit; turn left on 8th Street; follow signs to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum.

In operation since 1909, the carousel is a National Historic Landmark and the world's only two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie in existence. Manufactured between 1892 and 1899 by Gustav Dentzel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Original oil paintings of museum quality adorn the top crown of the Carousel. All animals are meticulously hand-carved of bass and poplar wood. Open daily 1 - 5 p.m. June - July; 1- 5 p.m. Sat. & Sun. April - May and August - October; 1 - 5 p.m. Sat. only Nov. - March. Rides are 50 cents per person. The Carousel is also available for private parties and events. From I 20/59, follow signs to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum. Located in Highland Park.
Click here for more information.

The Father of Country Music, "the Singing Brakeman," was born and reared in the Meridian area. The museum contains the original guitar of Jimmie Rodgers and other memorabilia of his life and career, as well as railroad equipment from the steam engine era. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tours can be arranged by appointment by calling 601-485-1808, 601-917-4344 or Lauderdale County Tourism at 601-482-8001. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission: $5 adults, children under 10 free.
From I-20/59 take the 22nd Avenue exit to downtown Meridian. Turn left on 8th Street and follow the signs located in Highland Park.

General library services, including excellent regional genealogy collection. Non-resident library cards are available for $15. Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

http://www.meridian.lib.ms.us

Since its opening in 1970, the Meridian Museum of Art has served the people of Meridian, East Mississippi and West Alabama as the region's premier public museum. Housed in a nationally listed landmark building, the museum offers more free programming than any other museum in the state, with over thirty exhibitions annually. These range from traditionally decorative arts to ethnographic and tribal materials, photography, crafts and artworks by contemporary Mississippi and Alabama artists. These regional artists are also featured in the growing permanent collection, along with a fine collection of 18th and 19th century English portraits, 20th century American photography, sculpture, works on paper and contemporary decorative arts. Special classes and programs encourage participation by the Meridian Community College , as well as city and county schools in Lauderdale County and the entire bi-state area. Open Tuesday - Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays. Admission is free.
From I 20/59 take the 22nd Avenue exit to downtown Meridian.
Turn left on 8th Street to 25th Avenue.
Turn left; go one block.

www.meridianmuseum.org

This stately 20-room Victorian mansion features unusual woodwork, handsome columns, mantels and stairway. It is one of fewer than six buildings left standing after Gen. Tecumseh Sherman's campaign in February 1864. Merrehope was beautifully restored and furnished in 1968 by the Meridian Restorations Foundations, Inc..
Winter Hours (January, February, March) Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday
Regular Hours (April-Thanksgiving)
Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Thanksgiving-New Years (Special Holiday Tours) Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Special arrangements for group tours and special events on request.
Tour Prices: $10 for both houses, $5 for one house, special rates for groups of 10 or more, senior citizen discount over 55, children $5 for two houses, $3 for one house, children under three admitted free.
www.merrehope.com     601-483-8439
From I 20/59 take the 22nd Avenue exit to downtown Meridian.
Turn left on 8th Street, then right on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center,
a multi million dollar development to be located on 175 acres at Bonita Lakes, will feature a Hall of Fame honoring Mississippi artists, an outdoor amphitheatre, an indoor concert hall and an artists-in-residence village. This ambitious project will celebrate the achievements of Mississipppi's many creative geniuses and provide a forum to nurture future generations of writers, musicians, actors, dancers and other artists.
http://www.msarts.org

This historic cemetery contains the monuments of John Ball and Lewis Ragsdale, founders of the City of Meridian.
It also contains the graves of the King and Queen of the Gypsies, Emil and Kelly Mitchell. Over 20,000 people were in Meridian for the funeral of the Queen. Open all year. Free. From I-59/20, take 22nd Avenue exit. Turn left on 8th street, left at 40th Avenue.