Brookhaven offers several distinct ways to explore: a train station in a former power plant, a historic college campus, museums with their own thematic focus, and a self-guided tour of mansions. When planning, it helps to consider whether you want to focus on architectural and institutional history, collections, or the mansions of Old Towne.
Arrive by Amtrak and see the building’s history
Amtrak serves Brookhaven at the Godbold Transportation Center. The station is located in a former power plant and opened in 2011. The preserved brickwork and smokestack point to its former industrial use. In this way, the building’s adaptive reuse is part of the arrival experience, not just a chapter in the city’s history.
If you travel by train, you can combine your journey with this specific look at the building’s history. Check current Amtrak schedules for your route before planning your stay around them.
Campus and museums: different chapters
Historic Whitworth College was founded in 1858. Its campus has now been restored as the Mississippi School of the Arts, designated a Mississippi Landmark, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The college’s founding history and the campus’s present-day institutional use come together here.
The museum at B'nai Sholom Temple focuses both on the building and on Brookhaven’s Jewish community. A permanent installation explains the temple’s religious architecture; the museum presents the history of the city’s Jewish community.
The Military Memorial Museum is housed in Brookhaven’s former railroad depot. Exhibits include photographs, artifacts, and personal belongings of local veterans, as well as military equipment dating from the First World War onward. The collection therefore ranges from personal keepsakes to equipment with historical significance.
Explore the city’s history your own way
Old Towne Brookhaven can be explored on a self-guided tour of the mansions along South Jackson Street and in the surrounding area—on foot or by car. The mansions are the clear focus of this exploration; you can choose to walk or drive.
Another historic address is the Foster-Smith Log Cabin. John Foster built it in 1825 on an old postal route in Copiah County. It is located in Railroad Park, across from the Chamber of Commerce. Its construction date and present-day location give the cabin two specific historical connections.
The Homeseeker’s Paradise Sign stands downtown at the intersection of West Cherokee Street and South Whitworth Avenue. The Brookhaven Little Theatre is located at 126 W. Cherokee Street and presents three productions per year. If you want to include a performance in your stay, check the specific show dates.
For an overview of the wider trip: Lincoln County.
