Oktibbeha County: Music, History and Nature

Oktibbeha County can be explored through a range of interests: collections on music and U.S. history sit alongside local cultural history, parks, and natural attractions. For planning, it helps to consider these topics separately and then decide what you want to make time for. This gives culture enthusiasts and visitors interested in outdoor activities concrete places to start.

Museums and Collections

At the Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum, musical instruments, sound recordings, and sheet music tell the story of the music business. The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library Museum preserves correspondence, photographs, paintings, engravings, statues, and other artifacts related to the life and presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. The two collections focus on different subjects: one highlights objects and records of music history, while the other features documents and depictions of a political biography.

The Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana includes documents, books, and ephemera, as well as philatelic and numismatic objects, paintings, and sculptures. Its subjects are Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. The John Grisham Room displays memorabilia and materials from John Grisham’s writings and achievements. The range therefore extends from a wide-ranging collection on Lincoln to a room devoted to the work and achievements of a single author.

The Cullis and Gladys Wade Clock Museum houses more than 400 timepieces dating back to the 1700s. A guided tour is offered at the museum. A tour is also available at the Extension Arthropod (Bug) Zoo. These guided visits cover different subjects: historic timepieces and arthropods.

Parks and Recreation

McKee Park has three playgrounds that meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other amenities include a splash pad, a natural-grass amphitheater, 12 pickleball courts, and separate areas for large and small dogs. The specific amenities range from play and water activities to sports and spaces for dogs. If you’re planning a visit to the park, you can choose activities that interest your travel group.

Local History and Cultural Heritage

The Chapel of Memories is a historic chapel built from bricks from the Old Main dormitory. The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum presents local history and culture in an interactive way for children and adults. The Nash Street Historic District is locally significant for Starkville’s development, from an agricultural trading center to a university-oriented city. These places and subjects offer different ways to explore the area’s history, from a single building to the transformation of a city.

Biographical connections are also part of the region’s cultural history. Big Joe Williams was born near Noxubee Swamp, at the southern edge of Oktibbeha County. Tony Hollins came from the Starkville-Osborn area. The Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail runs through Starkville to the community of Oktoc. When it launched on October 18, 2014, it featured 15 barn quilt designs; this figure refers to that event at the time.

Natural Attractions and Practical Information

A 2023 map lists the Trim Cane Wildlife Management Area at 875 acres. It also shows waterfowl ponds, deer management areas, and a dove hunting field; the acreage and management features may change. From Starkville, the listed route is north on Highway 389 for 4 miles to the headquarters and permit station. Road conditions may change, so check the route before driving.

From Starkville, the visitor center at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge can be reached via Oktoc Road and Bluff Lake Levee. Road conditions and visitor center operations may also change. Check both before driving if you’re planning a visit.

Largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish are caught at Chadwick Lake. You need both a Mississippi state fishing license and a Chadwick Lake fishing permit. Fishing rules and permit requirements may change, so check the current regulations before fishing.

Discover more destinations: Starkville, Mississippi State University, Grenada County, Neshoba County, Lee, Warren, Panola, Jackson County

For the broader travel overview: Mississippi.