Columbus, Mississippi | Historic Birthplace of Tennessee Williams
Columbus
Historic birthplace of Tennessee Williams
There will be dramatic entrances in Columbus, Mississippi, where Tennessee Williams was born and where his childhood house is now the welcome center. Williams won the Pulitzer Prize for his plays there. Here, the doors open with a flourish to a stunning collection of beautiful historic homes that bring history and culture to life in a delightful way. Columbus meets you in style, from the grand rooms inside to the great outdoors: On a beautiful body of water, even the biggest, flashiest fish make a scene when they break the surface. And what about that delicious Columbus food that shows up at your table? You can expect award-winning cooking shows.
Known as the “City that Has It All” in the South, Columbus is a great place to get away because it has a wide range of comfortable lodgings, including historic bed and breakfasts. This city has always been friendly and open. Many historians say that the ladies of Columbus may have created the first Memorial Day in this country when they decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers in the days after the Civil War. You might see an “apparition” from the past today at the beautiful Friendship Cemetery—at least if you go during the Spring Pilgrimage celebrations.
Spring Pilgrimage is now in its 76th year, and people come from all over the country and the world to enjoy the 16-day celebration of history, culture, and food, which is centered around one of the most important collections of historic houses in the South. Pilgrimage’s opening event, Catfish in the Alley, with its catfish cooking and amazing blues performances, is a real show-stopper. It honors the city’s rich African American culture that thrived on “Catfish Alley” in Historic Downtown Columbus.
People don’t have to wait to enjoy great food, historic beauty, and culture, of course. There are historic homes that are open all year, and there are delicious restaurants in Columbus for everyone. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is where some of the most popular fishing events in the Southeast take place. This is where people go to catch their tasty meals. Columbus is a great place to have fun because of the Tenn-Tom and its many lakes and parks. And if you like soccer, the Burns Bottom Soccer Complex is a really fun place to be. It’s where big youth league events are held.
Burns Bottom seems like a world away because it is surrounded by trees and has a creek that winds through it. The city’s Riverwalk runs along the Waterway, right next to the soccer complex. It combines beautiful views with fun activities, and the beautifully repaired Tombigbee Bridge lets you walk through history. And just a short walk away in Historic Downtown, you can find trendy shops as well as antique and store items.
Columbus is a top tourist spot because it has both historic and modern architecture that is truly stunning. It’s said that people in “The City that Has It All” are very friendly and helpful. Yes, Columbus’s entrances are dramatic and welcoming, which makes leaving the city the hardest part. Plan for encores.