The beautiful ‘Magnolia State' is a land of great variety, with wide-open spaces, rolling hills, tall pine forests, white sand beaches, bustling cities, quaint little towns and a real feel of the Deep South. Mississippi is the state where the key battle of the American Civil War was fought (at Vicksburg in 1863) and where racial strife erupted with terrifying force in the 1960s.

It is also the state whose geographical beauty and rich atmosphere have inspired a wealth of artistic talent, from William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Tennessee Williams, to Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rodgers and BB King. The mighty Mississippi River flanks its western border, while the Gulf of Mexico coastline is a tourist playground also home to artists and nature lovers.

Mississippi was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but much of the infrastructure and attractions, especially casinos, have been repaired and are open to visitors.