Meridian is Mississippi’s Cultural Capital

Published 10:01 am Sunday, January 4, 2026

The feel-good online post from Meridian city government steered our focus to a promising 2026. “Let’s Go!! #Momentum Matters” it proclaims. And I see that as an invite for community new year’s resolutions.

My answer, my two cents, would be: Let’s stop taking our city’s remarkable cultural assets for granted, and instead build on and promote them with confidence. Sort of like Meridian High advocates started doing long ago with the school’s music program: “The Greatest Band in All the Land.”

Several months ago, during a visit by Malcolm White, former director of the Mississippi Arts Commission and Visit Mississippi, I asked him if the labeling of Meridian as our state’s “unofficial cultural capital” seemed legit. He more or less answered in the affirmative, citing the presence of The MAX arts attraction, the MSU Riley Center’s historic opera house, the Jimmie Rodgers music legacy, programs at Meridian Community College, etc.

He also could have mentioned the children’s and traditional art museums, Meridian Little Theatre, the carousel house at Highland Park, a redeveloped Threefoot Hotel (Art Deco, rooftop bar), a train station and railroad museum revisiting our rail-town roots, the massive Temple Theatre, fine restaurants and shops in a walkable downtown, and a museum focused on early local industry, something rarely found these days.

A Meridian native, son of a onetime theater instructor, I’ve been back in town for years, have interacted and seen plenty. I believe it’s past time for us to delete the “unofficial” qualifier and own the Mississippi Cultural Capital label. Anyone who disagrees can bring evidence to the contrary.

Put this up for debate with ambassadors for Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Oxford, Tupelo, Natchez, Columbus, Starkville, Jackson, Clarksdale and Columbus, all justly proud of their attractions, and I’m confident Meridian will prevail.

Here’s what I’d like to overhear in chatter at a visitor center or restaurant somewhere else in Mississippi, or beyond our borders:

“You’re into arts and culture travel? Plenty to enjoy in Mississippi, but make sure of one thing: Don’t skip over Meridian. It’s not just a gas stop. Have you walked into The MAX to see how it explores art legends? Seen the rolling cemetery with the Gypsy queen’s grave? Been to a concert at the Riley Center? Performers are wowed by this restored opera house; they say so from the stage. Walk around downtown, the Weidmann’s restaurant, Loeb’s shop and brewery are especially cool. And by all means, get a room at the Threefoot Hotel.”

I’m not talking boosterism. While we have hardscrabble qualities (and these too can attractive to some), Meridian’s assets speak for themselves. They just need to be talked up, and strengthened.

More than most places, Meridian has stories to tell, and creatives tap into that reservoir. There are real jobs (especially for young professionals) in this part of the economy. One 2023 report showed that more than 260 Lauderdale County jobs fall into the “arts, entertainment and recreation” category. And guess what? Thriving cultural attractions help attract those who are essential to running hospitals, building a new data center or staffing other industries.

Of course, there’s work to be done. Resources for arts nonprofits are often scarce, and we need more backers from outside Meridian (there’s donor fatigue here). The county jail needs to be relocated away from the heart of downtown, and that won’t be easy or inexpensive. We face big challenges in preserving architecturally important buildings.

But there’s already plenty of success evidence. Check out the packed downtown restaurants on concert nights, restoration work ongoing at Highland Park, the enthusiastic crowds at art-crawl events and Little Theatre productions. (Added detail: Our community theater has enriched Meridian for nearly a century. How many others can put this in their civic resume?)

Meridian is Mississippi’s cultural capital, case closed.

Coleman Warner is a journalist and cultural historian, and can be contacted at legacypress.warner@gmail.com.