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- Gen. Ulysses S. Grant allegedly said Port Gibson was too beautiful to burn
- Port Gibson is home to roughly 1,200 people
- The town has a number of historic churches and homes
Tree-lined streets, historic buildings, and its proximity to the Mississippi River are some of the factors that play into making Port Gibson the coziest small town in Mississippi in at least one poll.
The matchmaking platform MyDatingAdviser.com also ranked Port Gibson the 48th coziest in the nation. The criteria to be ranked a cozy small town include weather, food, and activities.
Port Gibson edged out Holly Springs, which came in second, and Laurel, third, in the poll.
So what does an internet dating website know that we in Mississippi don’t? We’re not so sure Port Gibson is what we would call cozy, but it is a winner, so we thought we’d take a closer look at what makes Port Gibson stand out. Here’s what we found.
Port Gibson is home to about 1,200 residents. Legend has it Gen. Ulysses S. Grant deemed the town “too beautiful to burn” after his Union troops defeated the Confederate Army there during Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign in 1863. The defeat also gave the Union control over the Mississippi River.
It also is home to the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, the state’s first nuclear power plant, which opened in 1985.
What to see
We already mentioned the tree-lined streets and historic buildings, so let’s start there.
- Grand Gulf Military Park, 12006 Grand Gulf Road off U.S. 61, opened in 1962 to preserve the memory of the Civil War and the town’s history. In addition to a museum and a few historic buildings, the 400-acre park offers hiking trails, picnic areas and more.
- Windsor Ruins is located near Mississippi 552 and Rodney Road, about 17 miles west of Port Gibson. Touted as one of the state’s largest homes of its time, Windsor was built in 1861. The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1890. Today, only its 45-foot columns remain. The ruins, slated for restoration, are fenced off but visitors can still see the ruins.
- Rodney, a modern-day ghost town, sits about 20 miles southwest of Port Gibson where Rodney Road meets Muddy Bayou Road. The town of fewer than 10 people has a number of old buildings, most in varying states of decay or disrepair. All are on private property. Several of the town’s residents are working to restore the community, which in its heyday boasted a population of roughly 500 people.
- Church Street, part of U.S. 61, is Port Gibson’s main thoroughfare and home to a few antebellum homes and the hub for town shopping. A grassroots effort was launched in the early 2000s to preserve the small-town feel provided by Church Street after Mississippi Department of Transportation officials announced plans to widen U.S. 61 through the small town.
- Trace Theater, corner of Market and Carroll streets, opened sometime in the mid-1940s in Port Gibson, where it showed motion pictures on the big screen until it closed some time in the 1960s. The building saw a revival in the 2000s, when it was reopened as the Westside Theatre Nightclub. The building was destroyed by fire in March 2020, leaving just the shell of the former movie theater standing. The 2020 fire was not the building’s first. Library of Congress records show the theater caught fire at least two other times, in 1948 and 1968.
Houses of worship
A number of churches in Port Gibson built in the late 1800s still stand today. The church denominations ranged from Baptist to Catholic to Presbyterian. The town also is home to the state’s oldest Jewish synagogue.
- First Presbyterian Church, 605 Church St., might be one of the most iconic. Its current structure was built in 1859. Instead of a cross at the top of the spire, there is a gilded hand with a finger pointing to the sky.
- St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church, 409 Church St., was built in the 1800s. A simplified version of the High Victorian Gothic style. Original weatherboards and octagonal spires were replaced with brick facing. By appointment only.
- St. Joseph Catholic Church, 411 Coffee St., is the oldest church building in Port Gibson, built in 1849. The church is known for its hand-carved altar rail.
- Temple Gemiluth Chassed, 710 Church St., was built in 1891. It is the oldest Jewish synagogue in the state and features unique architecture that combines Moorish, Byzantine and Romanesque styles.
- St. James Episcopal Church, 809 Church St., was first built in 1826. Its current structure was built in 1884 and features a steepled belfry designed by Boston architect W.O. Wentworth.
Where to eat
Restaurants in Port Gibson may not be on every street corner, but we found a few that might provide a hearty meal to travelers.
- Royalty Lounge and Bistro, 711A Farmer St., serves up classic Southern dishes as well as Cajun and Creole fare, including fried catfish, Bourbon Street shrimp and potatoes, Cajun pasta, shrimp and grits and a variety of po’ boys.
- Mississippi’s Finest Soul Food, 313 Market St., is just what it claims to be. The restaurant’s menu changes by the day of the week so some items are not available every day. The menu includes dishes like fried chicken, smothered pork chops, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, black-eyed peas and plenty of other dishes to warm the soul.
- 61 Fish Market and Restaurant, 1113 U.S. 61 North, Suite A, is a fish market but it also serves a few plate dishes like buffalo fish and pan-seared trout. The menu is handwritten and posted on the wall along with chalkboards listing fish in stock.
- The Old Country Store Restaurant, 18801 U.S. 61 in nearby Lorman, is a popular stop for many diners. The buffet-style restaurant is primarily known for its fried chicken and sweet potato pie.
- Los Reyes de los Tacos food truck, corner of Church and Carroll streets is located in the parking lot of a gas station next to the Temple Gemiluth Chassed. The food truck serves a variety of street tacos and quesadillas.
Where to stay
Places to stay are relatively few, but there are some options in private homes and bed and breakfast inns through AirBnB in and near Port Gibson. Visitors to the area also opt to stay in Vicksburg, about 30 miles away or Natchez, about 45 miles away.
What are your favorite places in Port Gibson? Let us know. Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
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