Brookhaven: Discover Local History and Culture

Brookhaven offers several points of interest for travelers who want to include history and culture in their travel plans: an Amtrak station in a former power plant, a historic college campus, museums, and a self-guided tour. If you’re looking for a hotel in Brookhaven, it may help to decide first whether your priorities are getting there, historic architecture, or the museums’ exhibits. These places show different sides of the city’s history and offer specific themes for your stay.

Getting here and a former power plant

Brookhaven is served by Amtrak at the Godbold Transportation Center. The center is located in a former power plant and opened in 2011. The building features preserved brickwork and the chimney of the former power plant. The station thus combines an arrival point with an example of an industrial building repurposed for a new use.

If you’re arriving by Amtrak, check the train schedule for your travel date. The Godbold Transportation Center is therefore relevant both for planning your arrival and as part of the local architectural history. Those interested in historic buildings can connect this site with Brookhaven’s other cultural and historical attractions.

Campus and early architectural history

Historic Whitworth College was founded in 1858. Its campus is designated a Mississippi Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Following restoration, the campus is now used by the Mississippi School of the Arts. Its founding year, historic designations, and current use provide several ways to understand the college’s history.

The Foster-Smith Log Cabin was built much earlier: John Foster constructed it in 1825 along an old post road in Copiah County. It is located in Railroad Park, across from the Chamber of Commerce. The cabin and the Whitworth campus thus represent different historical points of reference: one is a building from the early 19th century and its location along an old post road; the other reflects the founding and present-day use of a college campus.

Museums with different areas of focus

A permanent exhibit at the museum in B'nai Sholom Temple explains the building’s religious architecture. The museum also presents the history of Brookhaven’s Jewish community. The temple’s history also includes an agreement with the Lincoln County Historical Society: following the closure of the congregation and synagogue on August 30, 2009, the temple was intended to be used as a local history museum.

The Military Memorial Museum is located in Brookhaven’s former railroad depot. Its exhibits include photographs, artifacts, and personal belongings of local veterans, as well as military equipment dating from the First World War onward. The two museums have different focuses: B'nai Sholom Temple centers on religious architecture and the history of the Jewish community, while the Military Memorial Museum focuses on veterans’ keepsakes and military equipment.

Old Towne Brookhaven and other places

Explore Old Towne Brookhaven on a self-guided tour of the mansions on South Jackson Street and in the surrounding area. The tour can be done on foot or by car. You can choose between these two ways of getting around, with the mansions and their surroundings as the focus.

The Homeseeker’s Paradise Sign is located in downtown Brookhaven at the intersection of West Cherokee Street and South Whitworth Avenue. The Brookhaven Little Theatre is at 126 W. Cherokee Street. These two places add further specific landmarks in Brookhaven to its historic buildings and museums. Together with the tour, they offer different ways to discover the city through its architecture, culture, and history.

For the broader travel overview: Lincoln County.