Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum/National Agricultural Aviation Museum

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum/National Agricultural Aviation Museum is .2 mi. e. of I-55 exit 98B, following signs, at 1150 Lakeland Dr./SR 15 (next to Smith-Wills Stadium). Four exhibit areas at this 39-acre complex trace technological and economic events that changed American life. They span three eras of transportation and tell the story of Mississippi's farmers and lumbermen through such items as presses, experimental cotton pickers, log wagons, steel-wheeled tractors and 19th-century cotton gins. The National Agricultural Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame displays crop-dusting aircraft and equipment.

The main house, smokehouse, chicken house and 11 other buildings comprising the Fortenberry-Parkman Farm illustrate 1920s farm life. A crossroads town with a general store, filling station, doctor's office, sawmill, church and school is representative of that decade. There also are three model railroad displays. Native trees and plants are identified along a wooded nature walk.

Note: A fire at the site damaged the children's barnyard, veterinary infirmary and maintenance shop, but those areas are under repair. The rest of the museum is operational.

Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.