Adjacent to the campus town of Mississippi State, in Oktibbeha County, Starkville, Mississippi, is a college town. Approximately 120 miles northeast of Jackson, the state capital, Starkville offers visitors a variety of things to do, both educational and recreational. A number of museums and historic sites are available as well as ample cultural events and outdoor activities to occupy, educate and entertain visitors.
Cultural Activities
Mississippi State University (MSU) holds a number of cultural events including professional theatrical and musical performances, as well as performances by staff and students of the institution. The university campus is also home to a number of art galleries open to the public on a regular schedule. Starkville's downtown Arts Walk is a self-guided tour of businesses and historical sites displaying the works of local artists. Visitors to Starkville can also access the Mississippi Blues Trail nearby; the blues style of music claims its roots in the region and many museums, shops and stops along the Trail are devoted to this rich history, including Muddy Waters' cabin and B.B. King's birthplace.
Museums
The Oktibbeha Heritage Museum, on Fellowship Street in Starkville, includes exhibits of Native American artifacts and those from the Civil War Era in Mississippi. On the campus of MSU, a number of museums are available to the public including those focusing on geology, archaeology and music, along with a museum featuring clocks and one devoted to BMW motorcycles. The entomological museum is home to a collection of around one million insects.
Outdoors
For outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, the Starkville, Mississippi area offers beautiful lakes and waterways for fishing, boating and skiing, campgrounds for overnight stays, and managed forests for hiking, hunting and bird watching. Just a few miles south of Starkville, the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge Complex, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), offers visitors several places to observe and photograph wildlife and natural scenery at its finest. According to the USFWS, 254 species of birds have been spotted in the refuge.
Sports
In addition to the diverse number of cultural and educational activities the university offers, Mississippi State's athletic teams draw a large following. Competing in the Southeastern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the university dresses Division I teams in baseball, football, softball, and men's and women's basketball. The Starkville area is home to several golf courses, both public and private, and a highly regarded 18-hole course owned and maintained by the university. The Mississippi Horse Park and Agricenter holds a number of equestrian events and livestock shows.
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