Military, Memorials, and Museums
If military history interests you, grab this list and visit these locations in #MyTupelo that tell the story of some of our city's earliest battles, are home to unique military collections, and honor those that have served our country.
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Battle of Ackia Marker
Intersection of President Avenue and Pierce Street
The Chickasaw victory over the French at the 1736 Battle of Ackia prevented the further expansion of the French and eventually led to their defeat during the French and Indian War. This single battle changed the course of history and laid the foundation for what would eventually become the United States of America.
Confederate Gravesites
Milepost 296.4 Natchez Trace Parkway
Soldiers marched, camped, and fought along portions of this historic road. A five-minute walk on the Old Trace leads to the gravesites of 13 unknown Confederate soldiers.
Gold Star Families Memorial Monument
800 North Veterans Boulevard
Located in Veterans Memorial Park, the monument is a two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side bears the words: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.
Mississippi's Final Stands Interpretive Center and Brice's Crossroads National Battlefield
607 Grisham Street Baldwyn | 662.365.3969
The center offers a complete look at the Civil War, the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, fought June 10, 1864, and the Battle of Harrisburg/Old Town Creek, fought July 13-15, 1864.
Old Town Creek
4154 Mount Vernon Road
This site interprets the second day of fighting during the Battle of Tupelo and is located on 12 acres at Old Town Creek. This fight ended the Battle of Tupelo and is considered one of the last stands of the Confederate cavalry in northeast Mississippi in the summer of 1864.
Tupelo Civil War Heritage Trail
The final battles of the Civil War in Mississippi were fought in and around Tupelo. Visit seven locations on the Civil War trail that tell Tupelo's story during this tumultuous time in our history. For a Civil War Heritage Trail map, click here.
Tupelo National Battlefield
Corner of Monument Drive and Main Street
More than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought here between the morning of July 14 and the evening of July 15,1864. Neither side could claim a clear victory, but Union troops succeeded in their main goal of keeping the Confederates away from Union railroads in Tennessee. The National Park Service administers the Tupelo National Battlefield through the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Tupelo Veterans Museum
689 Rutherford Road | 662.844.1515
Located in the Tupelo City Museum, the collection includes thousands of military artifacts dating from the Civil War to the Afghanistan War with some of the most interesting being the flag that flew over the U.S. Capital at the hour the D-Day invasion began and a working clock from a Japanese kamikaze plane.
World War ll Marker
Corner of North Spring and Court Streets, Lee County Courthouse
Dedicated to the memory of those from Lee County who gave their lives in the service of our country during WWI and WWII, as well as the Korean, Vietnam, and Iraq wars.
Veterans Memorial Park
800 North Veterans Boulevard
The park is a tribute to Mississippi veterans and all men and women who have served our country. The park includes a walking trail with memorial trees, a sunken memorial area with a U.S. Flag and a POW/ MIA Flag displayed in the center, an F-105 Thunderchief aircraft, and a military flag display area representing the five branches of the U.S. Armed Services.
Vietnam Veterans Replica Wall Memorial
800 North Veterans Boulevard
Located in Veterans Memorial Park, this is a permanent 300' granite replica of the wall in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 58,267 KIAs and MIAs of the Vietnam War.