Many people know the name Oxford, Mississippi because of the famous
University of Mississippi. It’s a classic college town in many ways and a lovely place
in which to get your education. But unlike some college towns, Oxford has a lot to offer beyond
the University. It has a large variety of art, culture, food, outdoor attractions,
and more. So if you’re looking for a place to visit while on your next southern swing,
then you’re in the right place. In this video, we’re taking a look at
the best things to do in this charming and energetic southern town. Join Viewcation,
as we present the Best Things to Do in Oxford, Mississippi!
Check Out Some Art Galleries You don’t have to be an art aficionado
to enjoy the galleries in Oxford, though if you are one, you’ll certainly appreciate what the
city offers in that regard. You have a variety of galleries from which to choose, so you can either
pick out one or two and scatter them around your trip or take a day to hop from space to
space, taking in all the incredible art Oxford has to offer. You could start at the Southside
Gallery in the town square. It has a focus on artists from the southeastern United States,
so you’ll be immediately getting some local flair. It has a steady calendar of monthly
rotating exhibits, and also offers evenings with artists presenting work. There’s also Gallery 130,
which is the campus gallery at Ole Miss. You’ll get a chance to see works by budding
artists since it features art from current Ole Miss students. But it’s not limited to
the under-21 crowd. Gallery 130 also has shows for artists visiting from out of town. It’s
only open Monday through Friday, so you won’t want to include Gallery 130 in your weekend art
plans. Next on the list is the Oxford Treehouse Gallery, which is slightly outside of Oxford,
but is worth a look. It sits inside a pine grove and features art from two dozen artists from the
region. Finally, there’s the Oxford Art Crawl. If you are in town on a Tuesday between 6 and 8pm,
you could join up on this tour that takes you on a bus ride from gallery to gallery.
Historic Oxford Town Square Oxford’s historic town square is,
in many ways, the center of the city. Because while Ole Miss dominates the town in some ways,
“The Square” is kind of its beating heart. It has everything you could ask for from a historic and
charming southern town square. That includes a bevy of great restaurants, many of which
offer down home southern food, art galleries, and stores. The center of the square is the Lafayette
County Courthouse. It was sadly burned down during the Civil War but has since been rebuilt.
Book lovers in particular will adore Historic Oxford Town Square,
because it houses Square Books, one of the best indie bookstores in the country. And there
are three other shops owned by the same folks (Off Square Books, Square Books Jr., and Rare
Square Books) that are pretty close by as well. Town Square is a great place to simply sit and
people-watch, or grab a bite to eat and then shop a bit. You can also see a red telephone
booth that was brought in from the ‘other’ Oxford – the one in England. A local resident named John
Valentine once bought the phonebooth when he was serving in the Air Force and stationed in Oxford,
England. He had it shipped to Oxford, MS, where it now stands inside the Oxford City Hall.
Ole Miss
The University Of Mississippi is its official name, but most people just refer to it as Ole
Miss. It’s probably the thing that makes Oxford famous, and it’s definitely worth visiting when
you’re in town. It’s generally considered one of the most gorgeous campuses in the country,
and more often than not makes lists of the best-looking schools in the US. It dates to 1848,
and the centerpiece of campus is the Lyceum. It was built in the Greek Revival style and
has survived through tumultuous historical times. For example, during the Civil War it was set up to
serve as a hospital for wounded soldiers. And if you look closely at the building’s façade,
you can see bullet holes. They are from 1962 when the first black student matriculated at Ole Miss,
and violence ensued. Both historical footnotes are important in remembering
the history of racial intolerance and injustice that has plagued our nation.
But it’s certainly better to preserve and study those bullet holes than to simply pave over them.
As you walk around the campus, you’ll be treated to acres and acres of gorgeous tree-lined areas,
featuring pines, magnolias, and live oaks. It truly looks like you’ve wandered into a national
park. While you’re there, you can also check out the University of Mississippi Museum. It
hosts several impressive collections that not only show off the college’s past but of the state and
country as well. They house artifacts ranging from scientific instruments to Greek and Roman coins,
to art pieces from around the country. You can check out some tools from the 1800s
that the school used to teach its students about astronomy and physics, and much more.
If you’re a sports fan, you might love catching a football or basketball game at Ole Miss. And
if you’re a partier, you should definitely come early (and stay late) for some epic tailgating.
As the saying goes, “Ole Miss doesn’t ever lose a party.” So that should give you a
sense of the revelry available on campus. Plus for football games, the players walk literally
through the tailgating area, so you can wish them luck as you eat some ribs and down a beer.
Rowan Oak There are few
American authors more highly esteemed than William Faulkner, and Rowan Oak is what this
Nobel laureate called home for about 40 years. In 1972, about a decade after Faulkner passed away,
his family decided to sell the property to Ole Miss. The one condition was that they couldn’t use
it simply for housing. It had to be turned into a museum where people could learn about Faulkner’s
life and works. So Rowan Oak became a museum for the late, great author. For $5, you can tour the
150-year-old building and see where he lived and worked. His old typewriter still sits there, so
you can imagine him typing away into the wee hours of the night. If you can’t get enough Faulkner
from Rowan Oak, you can also head to the Oxford Memorial Cemetery, which is where he’s buried
(along with his family). There’s a fun tradition, assuming you’re into bourbon, where people bring
a full bottle to Faulkner’s grave. Each person takes a shot, and then you leave the bottle as
a tribute. Of course, if you’re not a drinker, you can also leave other trinkets there, like coins.
Get your grub on As we mentioned earlier,
Oxford has no shortage of incredible southern food. These spots range from casual eateries to
fancy spots and everything in between. So if you’re into things like fried catfish,
biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, and on and on, you’ll find Oxford ideal for your palette. City
Grocery might sound like a supermarket, but’s a great restaurant to check out. We recommend
their shrimp and grits – not only is it tasty on its own, but City Grocery also loads theirs up
with bacon and mushrooms, which makes them even more decadent. Then there’s Bourne Restaurant,
which is a fancier spot. Put on some nice duds and try their crab cakes. Or check out the jambalaya,
which is particularly good. And if you aren’t craving southern food, you can stick to one of
their excellent burgers. Finally, for an easy and tasty lunch, head to Ajax Diner. It has
everything you’d want in a classic southern lunch. Just maybe schedule some nap time for afterward.
Burns-Belfry Museum & Multicultural Center The Burns-Belfry Museum & Multicultural Center
is a museum that focuses on the history of African Americans in Oxford and in Mississippi. In 1910,
freed slaves built a church called the Burns Methodist Episcopal Church. The museum once
shared the space with the church’s parishioners. In the ’70s the church moved locations, and the
building became “The Belfry” which was an office building. But fortunately, author John Grisham,
who originally hails from Oxford, decided to buy the building. He then donated it
to a couple of non-profits for the purpose of preserving it. So the Burns-Belfry, as it’s now
known, serves dual functions. It not only hosts meetings for the local community and is a general
event space, but it also hosts a museum that shows the history of the locals and the church.
As you can see, Oxford, Mississippi is a fantastic place to visit. It is soaked in history and
southern charm, but the fact that Ole Miss is the centerpiece of the town means that it will
always stay youthful, vibrant, and intellectual. Thus it’s a fun mix of the old and new worlds.
There are plenty of places to grab great southern food, plenty of outdoor space in which to wander,
and lots to take in culturally. We highly recommend a swing through Oxford then next
time you’re looking to travel through the south. Now it’s time to hear from you. Have
you ever been to Oxford, Mississippi? If so, did we miss any of your favorites? If not,
do you think you’ll ever get there? Let us know in the comments section below!