Stars & Stripes

Step into history in Hattiesburg!

Our storied past is rooted in tales of Civil Rights and military history, illustrating pride and triumph. Spend three days uncovering the memories of old and creating new ones of your own.

Day One

Hotel: Hattiesburg hotels are comfortably open for you! Thanks to our incredible hotel partners, you’ll rest easy in any of our 30+ hotels.
Afternoon – Spend the afternoon in Downtown Hattiesburg memorializing those who lost their lives for our country. Recommended stops include the 9/11 Twin Towers memorial, a striking recreation of what was lost on that fateful day, and Veteran’s Memorial Park, a public park with a fountain and markers commemorating locals who paid the greatest sacrifice.
Dinner – Even dinner will be a historically immersive experience! Hattiesburg’s infamous steak and rib joint, Donanelle’s is located in a rustic green shack that is the last of its kind. Once one of several beer joints on Hwy 49 near Camp Shelby catering to soldiers during WWII, the humble structure has also housed a justice of the peace court and an old-school gas station complete with hand-cranked pumps. If only these walls could talk…

Day Two

Morning – Camp Shelby is the nation’s largest Army reserve training facility and home to the MS Armed Forces Museum. A visit to this world-class interactive museum means a free journey through a battle trench and a walk in an original WWII bunker, plus so much more. Pro tip: Bring a valid ID for each person in your party to enter this active military base.
Lunch – Dine inside a piece of living history. Not only is Coney Island Café in Downtown Hattiesburg the oldest restaurant in town, they hold the record for selling hot dogs longer that any establishment in the state. You’ll find the same menu items since the restaurant’s opening in 1923, like chili cheese dogs and hand-cut curly fries.
Afternoon – Step into Hattiesburg’s past as you enjoy a guided walking tour of Downtown Hattiesburg. The 2-hour trip is $15 per person and highlights the city’s architecture, public art, and vibrant history. The minimum group size is 4 people, and the entertaining tour includes a refreshment break, too.
Dinner – In case you haven’t figured it out yet, military history plays a large role in Hattiesburg’s story. During dinner, hear first-hand encounters by dining alongside soldiers at their favorite stops, Three Pigs BBQ and Louisiana Sisters – both located right outside the gates of Camp Shelby.

PicturedMississippi Armed Forces Museum

Day Three

Morning – Hattiesburg served as the largest Freedom Summer area in Mississippi, where in 1964 the city helped awaken the consciousness of the nation as American’s watched the fight for civil rights. Drive the sixteen stops found on Hattiesburg’s Freedom Summer Trail and honor those who participated in the movement by listening to first-hand accounts and eyewitness stories from the 1960’s fight for freedom.
Lunch – If keepsakes from generations past are your style, take in lunch at Movie Star Buffet for a taste of traditional southern recipes surrounded by vintage signs and décor. After trying the area’s most-awarded fried chicken, you can purchase the antiques you can't leave without!
Afternoon – The Sixth Street Museum District focuses on preserving the history of Hattiesburg’s African American downtown district. Must-see sites include the African American Military History Museum, Eureka School – a future civil rights museum, the upcoming Osceola McCarty House Museum, stops along the Freedom Summer Trail, and a Mississippi Blues Trail marker.
Dinner – The history of Hattiesburg flows all the way back to 1882 on the banks of the Leaf and Bouie Rivers, where city founder Captain William Harris Hardy landed on fertile ground. Mack’s on the River, a local fish house, sits along these same river banks and will make a perfect last meal on your history tour of Hattiesburg.

PicturedSixth Street Museum District

Stars & Stripes

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

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