Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Jackson, Mississippi
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm
The Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum preserves how Mississippians farmed, cut timber and built their towns, and inside its Heritage Center a team of volunteer modelers has recreated historic Jackson and its railroads in miniature.
- Model railroad of historic Jackson
- Rail exhibit over 3,000 square feet
- 40 acres of exhibits
- Collecting began in 1969
- Open Monday to Saturday
- Blue Star Museum
Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm (General Store 9 am to 4 pm)
- Admission
- Adults $8, ages 3 to 17 $6, seniors and military $7
- Train rides
- Hayrides during Pumpkin Adventure; no regular train ride is posted
- Seasonal events
- Spring Farm Days, Easter at the Ag Museum, Pickle Fest, Mississippi Science Fest, Pumpkin Adventure, Harvest Fest, Homestead for the Holidays
- Plan for
- About 2 to 3 hours
- Best for
- Families with young children
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(601) 432-4500
- Emailmsagmuseum@mdac.ms.gov
- Websitemsagmuseum.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Jackson.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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From a commissioner's collection to a 40-acre museum
The museum began with one man's sense that Mississippi's farm and forest heritage was slipping away. In 1969, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Jim Buck Ross started gathering artifacts, organizing scholars and laying the groundwork for a museum that would preserve that heritage in a way people could see and touch.
In 1978 the City of Jackson donated a 39-acre site on Lakeland Drive at Interstate 55, land the state had originally owned and that could only be used for recreation under the state's conditions. That same year the Mississippi Legislature set aside $1.5 million toward building the museum. Over the years it grew into a campus of about 40 acres, including Small Town Mississippi, a collection of authentic historic buildings moved here from around the state.
The railroad side of the story was built largely by volunteers. Model railroaders from the Jackson Society of Model Engineers, whose builders now go by the Red Caboose Crew, took on an exhibit of more than 3,000 square feet inside the museum and created Jackson Station, a scale layout of historic Jackson and the rail lines that served it. The same group had earlier built Metro Station and a replica of the 1949 Lionel Showroom Layout to raise money for charities, and their work here gives a farm museum a real reason for train-loving families to make the trip.
Jackson Station, Small Town Mississippi and the barnyard
For train fans, the main stop is the Heritage Center, where the model railroad layouts are housed. Jackson Station recreates the capital city and its railroads as they once were, and it ties the railroad to the farm and timber economy the rest of the museum explains.
Out on the grounds, Small Town Mississippi brings together historic buildings relocated from across the state, along with the Doctor's Herb Garden and a General Store selling old-fashioned candy and sodas. Kids can meet farm animals at the Children's Barnyard, and during Harvest Fest the museum runs what it calls the oldest operating cotton gin in America, plus a saw mill, cane mill, print shop and blacksmith shop. Staff lead regular programs such as Farm Facts with the Farm Manager and Gallery Chats with the Director of Collections.
Don’t miss
- Jackson Station model railroadA large scale layout of historic Jackson, built and cared for by the volunteer Red Caboose Crew.
- Small Town MississippiReal historic buildings brought in from around the state, arranged as a town you can walk through.
- The cotton ginThe museum says it has the oldest operating cotton gin in America, and it runs during Harvest Fest each November.
- Children's BarnyardFarm animals up close, usually a favorite stop for younger children after the trains.
- The General StoreOld-fashioned candy and soda, open 9 am to 4 pm, and a good place to end the visit.
A full day for little farmers and train fans
Between the model railroad, the Children's Barnyard, the General Store and room to roam outdoors, this is one of the easier train-themed outings in Mississippi for preschoolers. On the second Tuesday of each month, Storytime with Uncle Story in the Museum Learning Center offers a book and a hands-on activity for children in K3 to K5, included with admission.
Seasonal events are built for kids: Pumpkin Adventure in October adds a hayride, a snack and a pumpkin to take home, and Easter at the Ag Museum sets up a bunny trail with candy and toy eggs. Much of the campus is outdoors, so plan for Mississippi heat in summer.
Plan your visit: tips for Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum
- Special events have their own prices, so check the events page before you go.
- Visit on the first Saturday of the month for the Domestic Demo, 9 am to noon, included with admission.
- The General Store closes an hour before the museum, at 4 pm.
- An Ag Museum Foundation membership covers some events, such as Saturday Pumpkin Adventure and Homestead for the Holidays.
The museum's calendar fills up in the fall. Pumpkin Adventure runs on select October days with a hayride around the grounds and a pumpkin patch, Harvest Fest in November brings Small Town Mississippi to life with working demonstrations, and Homestead for the Holidays in December offers breakfast for supper, story time with Mrs. Claus and photos with Santa and Rudolph. None of these are train rides, so if your family wants to ride the rails this season, look at our list of Christmas train rides in Mississippi.
Staff, a foundation and volunteer modelers
The museum's staff run its programs and events, the Ag Museum Foundation supports it through memberships, and volunteer model railroaders built the Jackson Station layout. Visitors help by buying admission, joining the foundation, shopping at the General Store or renting one of the museum's halls and pavilions for an event.
Other rail stops from Jackson
The McComb Railroad Depot Museum is about 77 miles south, the Meridian Railroad Museum about 85 miles east, and the Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot about 86 miles southeast. You can find more on our page of Mississippi train museums.
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 77 mi
- Meridian Railroad MuseumMeridian, MS · about 85 mi
- Historic Hattiesburg Train DepotHattiesburg, MS · about 86 mi
- Mississippi Delta Railroad history exhibitsCleveland area, MS · about 103 mi
- Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad MuseumWater Valley, MS · about 129 mi
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 143 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A big model railroad is the kind of thing my kids would want to see from the very front, up on their tiptoes. That makes me think of Rally in our book, whose little corgi legs cannot make it up the tall train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. Sometimes the best view of a train needs a little help from someone who loves you. Our list of train books for toddlers is a good follow-up.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Mississippi: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Mississippi
- Halloween train rides in Mississippi
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Mississippi Ag Museum: 20 questions for train-loving families
Does the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum have model trains?
Yes. Jackson Station, a large scale model railroad of historic Jackson, is housed at the museum, and its Heritage Center includes model railroad layouts. Volunteer modelers from the Red Caboose Crew, formerly part of the Jackson Society of Model Engineers, built the railroad exhibit in a space of more than 3,000 square feet.
What is Jackson Station at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
Jackson Station is the model railroad exhibit at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum. It depicts historic Jackson and its rail lines in miniature, and Visit Mississippi describes it as a vast scale-model layout that doubles as a lesson in the state's agricultural history. The Red Caboose Crew built it.
What are the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and the General Store is open 9 am to 4 pm. It is closed Sundays. Special events such as Homestead for the Holidays have their own evening hours, so check the events page for those.
How much is admission to the Mississippi Ag Museum?
As of October 2026, general admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 17, and $7 for seniors and military personnel. The museum is a Blue Star Museum. Special events are priced separately; for example, Pumpkin Adventure is $12 for ages 1 and up, and Harvest Fest is $10 for ages 3 and up.
Where is the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
The museum is at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, Mississippi 39216, near Interstate 55. The City of Jackson donated the original 39-acre site on Lakeland Drive in 1978, and the campus now covers about 40 acres. Call 601-432-4500 if you need directions.
Can you ride a train at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
The museum does not list a regular train ride. The rail draw is the Jackson Station model railroad, and the main ride on offer is the hayride around the grounds during Pumpkin Adventure in October. Some past special events have included low-cost train rides, so check the events page or call 601-432-4500.
Is the Mississippi Ag Museum good for toddlers?
Yes. Toddlers and preschoolers usually enjoy the model trains, the farm animals at the Children's Barnyard and the old-fashioned candy at the General Store. Storytime with Uncle Story is aimed at children in K3 to K5 and is held at 10 am on the second Tuesday of each month, included with admission.
What is Small Town Mississippi at the Ag Museum?
Small Town Mississippi is a collection of authentic historic buildings relocated to the museum from across the state and set up as a town you can walk through. During Harvest Fest, it comes alive with demonstrations at the cotton gin, saw mill, cane mill, print shop and blacksmith shop.
What is Pumpkin Adventure at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
Pumpkin Adventure is the museum's October family event. In 2026 it runs October 7 to 10, 14 to 17 and 21 to 24, from 9 am to noon on weekdays and 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. Admission is $12 for ages 1 and up and includes a hayride, a snack and a pumpkin to take home.
Does the Mississippi Ag Museum have a Christmas event?
Yes. Homestead for the Holidays runs December 10 and 11, 2026, from 5 pm to 8 pm, with breakfast for supper, story time with Mrs. Claus, and photos with Santa and Rudolph. Admission is $10 for ages 3 and up, and the event is included with Ag Museum Foundation membership.
When is Harvest Fest at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
Harvest Fest 2026 runs November 10 to 14, from 9 am to 2 pm. Admission is $10 for ages 3 and up. Small Town Mississippi comes alive with live demonstrations each day, including the cotton gin the museum calls the oldest operating one in America, plus the saw mill, cane mill, print shop and blacksmith shop.
Who founded the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
The museum grew out of work begun in 1969 by Jim Buck Ross, Mississippi's Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, who began collecting artifacts and organizing scholars to plan it. In 1978 the City of Jackson donated land on Lakeland Drive, and the Legislature set aside $1.5 million toward construction.
Who built the model railroad at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
Volunteer model railroaders built it. The group now known as the Red Caboose Crew, formerly with the Jackson Society of Model Engineers, built Jackson Station at the museum. The same builders earlier created Metro Station and a replica of the 1949 Lionel Showroom Layout to benefit charities.
How long should I spend at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
Plan on two to three hours to see the model railroad, walk Small Town Mississippi, visit the barnyard and stop at the General Store. On festival days you may want longer. Families focused only on the trains could see the Heritage Center layouts in under an hour.
Are there school field trips at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
Yes. The museum calls itself central Mississippi's educational destination and runs programs such as Farm Facts with the Farm Manager, Gallery Chats and Storytime with Uncle Story. Teachers can also download free Uncle Story lesson plans from the website. Call 601-432-4500 to book a school visit.
Can you rent space at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum?
Yes. Rental spaces include the Forestry Auditorium for up to 300 people, the Sparkman Auditorium for up to 325, the Ethnic Heritage Center for up to 175, the Large Pavilion for up to 150, plus the Museum Gardens, Masonic Lodge, Education Center, Small Pavilion and a multipurpose building. Contact the museum for rates.
Is there a gift shop at the Mississippi Ag Museum?
The General Store serves as the museum's shop, with old-fashioned candy and sodas, and it is open 9 am to 4 pm. During events, the Filling Station also sells snacks and souvenirs. Both are popular last stops with kids before heading home.
Does the Mississippi Ag Museum have a membership?
Yes. Ag Museum Foundation membership covers some programs, such as the First Saturday Domestic Demo and Storytime with Uncle Story, plus certain events like Homestead for the Holidays and Saturday Pumpkin Adventure. Members also get a discount on Folk Art Friday classes. See the museum's website for details.
What other events does the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum hold?
Besides the fall events, the 2026 calendar included Spring Farm Days in March, Easter at the Ag Museum in April with a bunny trail, Pickle Fest in June, and the Mississippi Science Fest in September with a field trip day and a STEM festival. Check the events page for next year's dates.
What train museums are near the Mississippi Ag Museum in Jackson?
The McComb Railroad Depot Museum is about 77 miles south, the Meridian Railroad Museum about 85 miles east, and the Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot about 86 miles southeast. The Cleveland railroad museum in the Delta is about 103 miles north if you are heading that way.
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