Columbus,
Mississippi
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Destination Guide |
North America > United States >
Mississippi
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Originally called
"Possum Town" this quintessentially Southern
town is well known to history lovers, for
history literally lives here. The streets of
Columbus are lined with magnificent pre-Civil
War mansions. Columbus is a place where the
historic architecture of old Greek columns and
cupolas maintains a place of prominence among
modern buildings. And inside this amicable
blending of buildings is a rare combination of
people who respect the best of the past, yet
dedicate themselves to fostering a secure
business environment that's poised for the
future. The grand old homes found outlying the
streets of Columbus are privately owned and
beautifully restored. Two homes that are a must
see when visiting Columbus are Liberty Hall and
Amzi Love, both these homes have remained in the
same family since they were built in the 1800's.
Some of those homes are now bed and breakfast
inns, complete with period antiques and Southern
hospitality. From Mardi Gras-like "krewes" that
carry on during the annual spring Pilgrimage, to
an annual barbecue cook-off contest called the
Pigfest, Columbus is a festive town where annual
events and celebrations flourish year round.
With such a strong commitment to business and
industry, Columbus is not short on culture and
recreation, either. Columbus is the birthplace
of award-winning playwright Tennessee Williams,
who won Pulitzers for A Streetcar Named Desire,
and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Williams's first
home, a lovely Victorian structure, is now the
Mississippi Welcome Center for the region. The
Welcome Center hostesses greet guests and tell
about such things as a local observance back in
1866 that became the nation's first Memorial
Day. The event inspired the poignant poem, "The
Blue and the Gray."
The adjoining terrain is lush and green, with
tall timbers and rolling hills to the north and
east, while vast, rich prairie land flows out to
the south and west encompassing a region known
as the "Golden Triangle," and those who know and
love the region say that absolutely, the living'
is easy here. While visiting, sport fans can
enjoy the plentiful sporting events in the area,
among the things to see and do: Southeastern
Conference college sports, fishing and hunting
along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway,
year-round golf and tennis opportunities and
more. Sophisticated shopping, culture, history,
arts, delectable cuisine and championship golf
courses, Columbus has it all and everything in
between.
Columbus offers the best of both worlds: an
old-fashioned sense of community and a very
progressive attitude.
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