Port Gibson



Port Gibson is located in the western region of Mississippi. It is the county seat of Claiborne County and named for its founder, Samuel Gibson. It is located approximately 61.5 miles west of Mississippi's capitol city, Jackson.

Port Gibson is known as the city "too beautiful to burn", as proclaimed by U.S. Major General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, according to local legend.

Port Gibson is the third oldest city in Mississippi and was founded in 1802.

Understand
Port Gibson is a pretty but quiet and small city-- from its size, some people may think of it as more of a town. It has a couple of grocery stores, service stations, a drug store, and a few restaurants to fill basic needs but nothing exotic nor fancy. For more excitement or variety, the cities of Vicksburg and Natchez are both an easy drive on well maintained Highway 61. The historic architecture is well worth a look if driving through this area. It is also a convenient base for exploring this section of Mississippi.

Get in

 * Car: You will find Port Gibson at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 (N-S) and the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Do

 * Annual Heritage Festival is held on the last weekend in March
 * Port Gibson Christmas Parade is typically scheduled for the first Saturday in December
 * Port Gibson Christmas Caroling is a night of caroling on the first Thursday in December
 * Annual Blues & Cruise Thru History Motorcycle Rally and Show

Buy

 * Cultural Crossroads on Main/Market Street at Fair Street. Community center for quilt making. Also has a display of quilts and artifacts from the Rabbits Foot Minstrel Show Troupe which was headquartered in Port Gibson in the early 20th century. Used books for sale and irregular rummage sales.
 * Cultural Crossroads on Main/Market Street at Fair Street. Community center for quilt making. Also has a display of quilts and artifacts from the Rabbits Foot Minstrel Show Troupe which was headquartered in Port Gibson in the early 20th century. Used books for sale and irregular rummage sales.

Eat



 * Grant's Place Highway 61 a short distance north of the intersection of Highway 18, north of the old part of town. "Home Cookin'".  Chicken, catfish, and burgers, breakfast time to 3pm.
 * Georgia's Old Depot Main/Market Street, south of the Piggly Wiggly. Menu includes items such as steak and duck. If you want anything fancy to eat within town, this is the option.
 * Georgia's Old Depot Main/Market Street, south of the Piggly Wiggly. Menu includes items such as steak and duck. If you want anything fancy to eat within town, this is the option.

Go next

 * Windsor Ruins -- impressive ruins of large plantation house that burned down in the 19th century, about 20 minute drive South of town-- off the main highway but the route is well marked.
 * Plantation Houses -- several pre-Civil War plantation houses can be seen in Claiborne and nearby Jefferson Counties.
 * Vicksburg -- Larger historic city about a 25 minute drive north on Highway 61. Shopping or eating desires you can't fill in Port Gibson you can probably find in Vicksburg.
 * Natchez-- Another beautiful larger historic city, about 45 minutes south on Highway 61.
 * Jackson, Mississippi --State Capital.