Crossroads Museum & Historic Corinth Depot
There are many sites in the South that offer historical significance. Corinth, MS, offers plenty of these attractions, making it a great destination for tourists. One such site is the Crossroads Museum & Historical Corinth Depot, which allows visitors to explore some of the city’s most important aspects and influential people. Learning about the area’s history shouldn’t be boring, which is why this museum has so much to offer guests of all ages. Here, Visit Corinth takes a deep dive into the museum and why it’s such an exciting destination.
The History of the Site
Corinth was founded in 1854 by Houston Mitchell and Hamilton Mask. Its geographic location made it an important site for transportation, lying near both the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers and serving as the intersection of the Memphis and Charleston and Mobile and Ohio railroads. This positioning led to its moniker as the Crossroads of the South.
Given its strategic location, Corinth became a prime target for both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War. Controlling Corinth, and its rail lines, meant the control of a massively important transportation hub, leading to both military and commercial gain for the army that held onto it. In 1862, the Battle of Shiloh took place, resulting in the North overtaking the city and using its railroads. The Union never conceded Corinth, and the rest is history.
What Does the Crossroads Museum Have to Offer?
Aside from the awe-inspiring significance of the land and nearby rail lines, the Crossroads Museum in Corinth, MS, provides guests with an insightful and exciting experience. The site sits mere feet from the famous railroad tracks, which are still in operation to this day. Train lovers are sure to be in awe, watching freight trains pass from inside the museum. They can experience conductor-level viewing of the passing trains thanks to a second-level viewing platform that offers an experience like no other. Train enthusiasts can sit for hours atop the historic fire truck display as the locomotives move past.
If you’re looking for a photo op, take a selfie on the vintage train caboose. Visitors can climb aboard and create a fun memory to bring home. With plenty of information about the trains and their history, you’ll find something fascinating at every turn. The museum even features spaces inside and out that can be rented, allowing visitors to throw a one-of-a-kind get-together with family and friends.
More Than Just Trains
While the Corinth Crossroads Museum provides plenty of exciting train-based exhibits and attractions, it offers so much more to explore. It provides thousands of artifacts that tell of the city’s cultural and industrial history. There’s even a cannon in the front courtyard that was used during the Civil War to commemorate the site’s significance to the Battle of Shiloh.
Corinth’s history is largely associated with it being a transportation hub and a critical location during the Civil War. However, there are plenty of other interesting things you can learn about at the Crossroads Museum and Historical Corinth Depot, including:
● Aviation pioneer Roscoe Turner
● NFL great Jackie Simpson
● Baseball legend Don Blasingame
● Hot tamales
● The Rotary Club
● Pre-Corinth and Early Corinth
● Henry Moore
● Rubel & Co.
● Wurlitzer
● Etheridge Knight
● The Waldron Hotel
The museum provides additional resources at the Margaret Greene Rogers Library, allowing patrons to read up on topics of interest. A gift shop lets you find a souvenir to commemorate your trip.
Book Your Trip to Corinth Today
With so much to see, it’s no surprise that the Crossroads Museum & Historical Corinth Depot is a staple for those visiting the Corinth area. Between its impressive artifacts of all things trains and Civil War, to its prime location right next to the active intersecting railroads, the museum can help train enthusiasts live out their dreams and create a love of locomotives for little ones. The sites invite visitors to take photos to make fond memories of their trip to Corinth.
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:oo p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free to members and children 10 years and under, and only $5 for adults, making it a bargain for families. They even offer group admission to offer a discounted price for larger groups.
Learn more about Corinth to help plan your visit. With exquisite dining options, exciting events year-round, and other things to do, there’s always a reason to come back again and again. Whether you’re looking to make a day trip, spend the weekend, or make a whole vacation out of it, Corinth and its Crossroads Museum need to make your list. Let Visit Corinth help you plan your trip today.