Tupelo may be best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but did you know Tupelo also offers a wide variety of cultural experiences to visitors? Tupelo features a distinctive blend of interesting historical sites, museums, cultural centers, and musical and theatrical venues that everyone can enjoy. Hop in the car and discover some of the interesting attractions around the Tupelo area.

Tupelo's Civil War Battlefields

See where Confederate forces led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest scored a significant victory over Union troops at Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield, just 15 miles north of Tupelo near Baldwyn. The Brices Crossroad’s Visitors and Interpretive Center allows guests to learn more about the conflict through informative exhibits and recovered artifacts from the battlefield. Located nearby is the Tupelo National Battlefield, where Confederate troops under Forrest were defeated a short time later in the Battle of Tupelo. This battlefield is the last place Forrest’s famous cavalry troops would fight Union forces during the Civil War.

Tupelo’s Museums

With 120,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Tupelo Automobile Museum is one of the biggest car museums in North America. A widely diverse collection of autos, from the 1886 Benz to the 1976 Lincoln Mark IV that Elvis Presley gave to a Denver police captain, are on display here. Learn about Tupelo’s history through exhibits and artifacts at the Oren Dunn City Museum. The facility houses permanent displays illustrating early European settlement, Mississippi statehood and the Civil War. Love art and historical architecture? Visit the GumTree Museum of Art, located in a downtown Beaux Arts building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The GumTree hosts high-quality art exhibitions, workshops, lectures and many more events for the public.

Celebrating Mississippi Artists

To view works by dozens of Mississippi artists, look no further than 122 Main Street in downtown Tupelo, the location of the new Caron | Prince Art Gallery. Named for its owners, Kim Caron and Ashley Prince, the gallery showcases established and emerging artists creating all types of works, from oil and acrylic paintings and photography to pottery and handmade jewelry.

Tupelo’s Cultural Centers, Music Venues and Theaters

Tupelo’s Link Centre is a unique complex that is a home to various nonprofit organizations and cultural groups, including the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra. The Tupelo Symphony presents a variety of concerts October through April with performances by guest soloists, accomplished musicians and other performers. The symphony also brings classical music to kids participating in various cultural programs held at the Link Centre.

Seating a maximum of nearly 13,000 people, the BancorpSouth Arena hosts concerts, circuses, comedy shows and conventions throughout the year. Tupelo Community Theatre, housed in an historical downtown movie theater known as the Lyric, features a variety of regular-season performances and special events. Performing a number of full-length productions, including The Nutcracker and Don Quixote, from September through March, the Tupelo Ballet also sponsors the performances of guest artists and other professional companies throughout the year.