Discover Oxford: Culture, Campus and Hotels

If you’re looking for a hotel in Oxford, you can plan your trip around your cultural interests: local history and blues, the university campus, or literature, film and theater. These different themes can help you decide which sides of the city you’d like to discover during your stay.

Oxford’s History and Blues

Since Oxford was incorporated in 1837, The Square has been the city’s cultural and economic center. A Mississippi Blues Trail marker on the central Square commemorates the rich blues activity in Lafayette County. Another perspective on the blues is offered by the “Documenting the Blues” marker at the University of Mississippi. It covers, among other things, the Blues Archive, the magazine Living Blues, and other forms of blues research. The two markers focus on different aspects: one on the region’s musical heritage, the other on its documentation and study.

Square Books is also part of Oxford’s cultural history. The independent bookstore was founded by Richard and Lisa Howorth in 1979 and hosts more than 150 author events each year. If readings are part of your travel plans, check the schedule for your stay.

Campus, Museum and Civil Rights History

The Ole Miss campus is characterized by red-brick buildings and tree-lined paths. The Lyceum was completed in 1848 and is the only surviving one of the University of Mississippi’s five original buildings. The Civil Rights Monument stands between the Lyceum and the John D. Williams Library. The monument includes a life-size statue of James Meredith and a 17-foot limestone portal.

The University of Mississippi Museum’s collections range from 19th-century scientific instruments and American art to Southern folk art and Greek and Roman antiquities. Temporary exhibitions showcase art, history and culture from Mississippi and beyond. Alongside its permanent collection areas, the museum also highlights changing cultural topics. The Grove adds another dimension to the campus: this shady, 10-acre park is in the center of campus and is associated with the university’s tailgating culture.

Rowan Oak, Trails and Parks

Rowan Oak is the historic home of Nobel Prize-winning writer William Faulkner. The house was built in 1844 and acquired by Faulkner in 1930. The Bailey Woods Trail connects Rowan Oak and the University of Mississippi Museum along a route about 3,000 feet long and is designated a National Recreation Trail. The trail is temporarily closed while bridge repairs are underway. Check before your trip to see whether it has reopened.

For a different kind of exercise, there’s the South Campus Rail Trail: a network of singletrack trails beside the Ole Miss campus that’s easily accessible by bike from downtown Oxford. The entrance is at the rail embankment at the end of Chuck Mullins Drive or Front Street. Lamar Park offers a more tranquil natural setting. This outdoor arboretum features landscaped grounds, walking paths, garden features and a peaceful lake.

Theater, Events and Film

The Lyric Oxford combines architectural history with a present-day events program. The building was originally a horse stable and belonged to William Faulkner’s family in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, it was converted into a theater for live performances and silent films. Today, it hosts concerts, fundraisers, private events and wedding receptions. Check the event calendar if you’d like to plan your stay around a particular program.

Film is also part of the city’s cultural offerings: OxFilm holds film workshops and screenings in Oxford year-round to promote filmmaking in Oxford and northern Mississippi. Along with exhibitions, readings and stage performances, this offers a range of ways to make your stay a cultural one. Check the event listings for specific dates.

For a broader travel overview: Lafayette.