Jones: Blues History, Historic Sites and Nature

Jones can be explored through a range of interests: cultural history and music sit alongside nature experiences. In Laurel, you’ll find historic and cultural points of interest; nature attractions include an educational drive through the forest and experiences at Big Creek Reservoir. The priorities you choose can shape your plans for your stay.

Cultural History and Music in Jones

The Laurel Central Historic District in Jones County is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the Veterans Memorial Museum, you’ll encounter another side of history: its collection includes thousands of military artifacts and memorabilia. The museum is nestled among the tall pines of Jones County. Veterans and volunteers offer individual and group tours there every day. The two sites therefore offer different focal points: a historic district at one, and a collection with guided tours at the other.

The history of individual homes also offers specific topics to explore. Landrum’s Homestead & Village is a living history museum that offers an immersive experience of life in the late 19th century. The Amos Deason House in Ellisville is a Greek Revival-style building with a historical connection to the murder of Confederate Army officer Major Amos McLemore. Architecture and historical significance are intertwined here, though neither is limited to the same aspect.

Music lovers will find several different points of interest in Laurel. The Laurel Little Theatre has been based in the Arabian Theatre for more than 60 years and stages musicals throughout the year. The Jones County Blues marker documents blues musicians from the Laurel area, including Sam Myers, Albennie Jones and Blind Roosevelt Graves. The Laurel Mother’s Day Blues Festival began in 1987. Visitors can also learn about the history and contributions of African Americans in Laurel and Jones County.

Nature Experiences and Activities

The Gavin Forest Educational Tour combines nature and history: it follows an 11-mile route as a self-guided drive through the forest, with information about its history and ecology. This is a drive with explanations to read along the way, not a guided tour. If you’re interested in the connections between forest history and ecology, the route offers a concrete way to explore them.

At Big Creek Reservoir, the lake and surrounding landscape take center stage. The lake covers 200 acres and is home to bass, bream, crappie and catfish. Boat tours are available on the water. The surrounding area is characterized by rolling hills, where cedar trees stand that are considered the oldest in Mississippi. The drive through Gavin Forest and the boat tours at the reservoir offer different ways to include nature in your travel plans.

The Sportsplex offers nature trails as well as an Olympic-size swimming pool. If you plan to use these facilities, check the city’s current information before your visit. This helps keep your plans focused on the amenities you actually want to use.

Traditions and Travel Planning

The Loblolly Festival takes place every year on the first Saturday in October and celebrates Laurel’s heritage as a sawmill town. Its theme therefore differs from Laurel’s blues connections: the focus here is its history as a sawmill town. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event details for the year in question.

When looking for hotels in Jones, start with the visits that matter most to you. Decide whether you plan to spend most of your time in Laurel, visit Ellisville, or enjoy nature at Big Creek Reservoir and on the Gavin Forest Educational Tour. Then compare the address of a specific hotel with your plans. If you’re interested in musicals and events, it’s also worth checking the relevant dates before settling on your stay.

Explore more destinations: Laurel, Pontotoc County, Clay, Lowndes County, Warren, Harrison, Jefferson Davis, Union County

For the main travel overview: Mississippi.