Tupelo Veterans Museum

Located in the Oren Dunn City Museum is a wonderful collection of memorabilia honoring the men and women who dedicated their lives to the concept of ensuring freedom for all Americans. Founded by Tony Lute, who began collecting WWII artifacts since he was 16, he has continued to pursue his mission by opening the museum and is grateful to the many donors who have entrusted him with their treasures.

Among the collection you will find a display signed by one of the last surviving marine that raised the flag on Iwo Jima, a Nazi banner, a clock from a crashed Japanese zero made by Seiko and still runs, a German luger, .32 caliber officer’s dress pistol and a 9 mm German Radem. In addition a nice assortment of weapons representing Allied and Axis countries, a Kreigs Navy Flag, Nazi K98 Mausers used at the battle of Stalingrad, two rifles which were captured by the Russians at the end of WWII, and many exhibits that children will enjoy.

The artifact collection includes items from every country that participated in the war. There are thousands of artifacts on display with some of the most interesting objects including the flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol at the hour the D-Day invasion began and a functioning clock from a Japanese kamikaze plane.

Open Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday but will open for special groups by appointment.  

Admission is by donations. For more information call 662-844-1515 or by email veteransmuseum@bellsouth.net.

Tupelo National Battefield

Tupelo's Historic and Cultural Attractions range from scenic drives where you may see a variety of wildlife to historic museums and battlefields where you can experience the past.

The historic, 444-mile road linking Natchez to Nashville began as a trail traveled by Indians and wild animals about 8,000 years ago. Later, it was used by Spanish explorers, British troops and settlers of the southern frontier. Today, the Natchez Trace is a national scenic byway, All-American Road and one of the nation's most unique national parks. Open year-round for motorists, hikers and cyclists, it provides visitors the opportunity for an unhurried trip through time.

Maintained and administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Natchez Trace Parkway is headquartered in Tupelo. The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center, open year-round except Christmas Day, offers information for travelers, numerous displays and exhibits and an orientation program. Four miles south of the Visitors Center is the Chickasaw Village, site of an 18th century Chickasaw settlement. Interprective signs at the site describe the Chickasaws' daily life, early history, and a nature trail that features plantes used by the Indians.

During the eras of French, British and American settlement, the Trace provided an important route between the interior highlands and the lower Mississippi River Valley.  Numerous inns, or "stands" dotted its route.With the arrival of steamboats, the Trace declined in importance and eventually reverted to a patchwork of roads used by local residents. In 1938, Congress created the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Points of interest along the Parkway, which streches from Nashville to Natchez, include Twentymile Bottom Overlook, Dogwood Valley and Oldtown Overlook.  There are several campgrounds convenient to the Parkway. Three miles north of the Visitors Center is a remaining segment of the original trace leading to the graves of 13 unknown Confederate soldiers.

For more information, call 662-680-4027 or 1-800-305-7417 or visit www.nps.gov/natr/.

Oren Dunn City Museum

The Oren Dunn City Museum is home to a wonderful collection of historic buildings and Tupelo history. The late Oren F. Dunn, founder of the museum, was an avid history buff and storyteller. His goal was to chronicle the region's history; the museum continues his mission today. The museum is housed in a 1937 dairy barn.  Its collection focuses primarily on Tupelo and Northeastern Mississippi history. The museum highlights include: Chickasaw Indians, Early Pioneer Settlement, 1936 Tornado, and Tupelo Agriculture and Industry. The outside village is host to three original dwellings: an 1870's dogtrot house, a one room school and a one room chapel. The village is also home to a Frisco Caboose and replica train depot, 1940 and 1941 Tueplo Fire Trucks, the 1949 Lee County Bookmobile, and Dudie's Diner, a Memphis streetcar turned into a famous local eatery. The museum hosts several temporary exhibits and traveling exhibits each year: African American History and the Annual Holiday Toy Exhibit. Annual events include the Dudie Burger Festival, Living History Days, and Fall Festival. 

Located on West Main Street in the James L. Ballard Park, visitors have access to a lake, walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas. The museum offers handicap accessibility. Group tours are available by request on regular operating days. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday hours are 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. (March - October). Closed on Monday. For more information about admission or group rates, call 662-841-6438 or visit www.orendunnmuseum.org. 

Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery

The Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery is a scenic outdoor facility where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propagate native fish for use in restocking programs. Each year, millions of fish are hatched here.

A 1904 Victorian house which was the home to hatchery superintendents for many years is located at the site. The grounds of the hatchery are beautifully manicured with turn-of-the-century plantings. Reminisce as you walk through Grandmother's Garden and the wildlife area, which has been planted with foliage to attract nature's friends. The house is now supervised and maintained by the Tupelo Garden Club and is available for teas, weddings, luncheons, picnics and other events. Open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Tours are available upon request. For more information, call 662-842-1341 or visit http://southeast.fws.gov/Pvt_John_Allen/ .

Tupelo National Battlefield

Commemorated in a park on Tupelo's West Main Street is the Battle of Tupelo - the last major engagement of the Civil War in Mississippi.

The battle, which raged over two hot July days in 1864, was among the bloodiest in the state. Coming after the Confederate victory at the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, the Tupelo engagement pitted troops under Confederate Generals Stephen D. Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest against Union troops under the command of General A.J. Smith. At stake was Smith's ability to keep Forrest's feared cavalry corps in north Mississippi and not allow him to go to east Tennessee and disrupt Union General William T. Sherman's "march to the sea" campaign in Georgia. So important was Tupelo to Sherman that he ordered Smith in Memphis "to make up a force and go out to follow Forrest to the death, if it cost 10,000 lives and breaks the Treasury." Although the blue clad troops claimed victory, insufficient supplies caused the Union army to retreat to Memphis, leaving the field to an army half its size.

The Tupelo National Battlefield is open daily and maintained by the National Park Service. The site includes a cannon, a marker with text and maps outlining the engagement. For more information, call 662-680-4027 or 1-800-305-7417 or visit http://www.nationalparks.com/tupelo_national_battlefield.htm.

Six miles from Baldwyn on Mississippi Hwy 370 W. lies the Brice's Crossroads National Battlefield where Confederate cavalry under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated Union troops and forced their withdrawal to Memphis.

A one-acre site maintained by the National Park Service features a monument and two cannons. Adjacent to the battlefield is the Bethany Cemetery where 95 Confederate soldiers are buried. All but one are identified. An additional 1,400 acres surrounding the one-acre site has been purchased for preservation. Newly paved trails and signage explain battle lines and troop movements. Development is underway in four phases. Granite markers along Highway 370 describe the battle.

Four miles east of the battlefield site on Grisham Street, adjacent to Hwy 45 in Baldwyn, is the Brice's Crossroads Visitors and Interpretive Center. The center offers an interpretive exhibit featuring Civil War artifacts, a battlefield diorama and interactive exhibits. A 22-minute video program with an introduction by Civil War historian and author Shelby Foote is available to orient visitors to the battle. On the Center grounds, a memorial of flags highlights the sacrifice of soldiers from many states, both North and South, who fought at Brice's Crossroads.

On June 10, 1864, the Union Army initiated the Battle of Brice's Crossroads with one aobjective - to make it impossible for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest to interfere with General William T. Sherman's railroad supply line from Nashville to Chattanooga durning the Atlanta campaign.  Union troops, under General Samuel D. Sturgis, marched out of Memphis to hold Forrest in Northeast Mississippi. Outnumbered more than two to one, Forrests's men routed the Union troops.  The battle was considered a major tactical victory for the Confederacy. Events "Children's Discovery Day and " Living History" are held annually in June each year.

A living history and reenactment of the battle is held annually on the anniversary weekend. For more information, call 662-365-3969 or visit http://www.bricescrossroads.com.

Presley Heights Museum

Located in East Tupelo at the corner of East Main Street and Briar Ridge Road, Presley Heights Museum displays a collection of memorabilia including a timeline of life, displays on science, geography, Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi and world history, paintings by local artists, a “Gone With the Wind” display, Civil War and Indian relics and a space dedicated to celebrities among many other exhibits. Layout of the museum resembles the layout of the “Tupelo Fairgrounds”, where Elvis first sang when he was very young. There is a midway down the center of the building with exhibits set up on either side. The museum includes a space for weddings, birthdays and receptions. Photo opportunities are available, as well as snacks and drinks.

Open Monday - Saturday, 8:30am-6pm and Sunday 12:30pm-5:30pm. Special hours arranged for groups of 25 or more.

Admission charged. For more information call 662-620-9966 or email elvispresleymuseum@comcast.net or visit http://presleymuseum.org.