MUSEUM TRAIL HISTORY
HISTORIC RAIL LINE
1930s—1997
The Historic Gulf Mobile & Ohio Rail Line served Downtown Jackson in the 1930s until it was decommissioned in 1997. The route ran over the Pearl River, through Belhaven, and Downtown behind the Old Capitol.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
2009-2020
Runners, mountain bikers, and utility companies kept the rail line clear through the early 2000s. The path was a “green tunnel,” enclosed by trees that grew up around the compacted railroad tracks. The Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation acquired the large wooded parcel.
CLEARING THE PATH
2020
In 2009, trailblazers David Pharr and Dr. Clay Hays envisioned converting the old line into a multi-use trail that could eventually stretch 40+ miles. With Melody Moody and others, they advocated for the trail’s future by maintaining the path, cutting back vegetation, and picking up trash/debris to develop groundwork for the Museum Trail.
BELHAVEN CONNECTOR
2021
In 2021, the Museum Trail established a pedestrian connection from the Belhaven Neighborhood to the Mississippi Farmers Market. This section was made possible by Jackson Heart Foundation, Community Foundation For Mississippi, BCBS Mississippi, Mississippi Department of Transportation, and City of Jackson. With AARP funding and support, new trail amenities like trash cans and benches were installed.
PUBLIC ART MOVEMENT
2022
The Art Movement began in 2022 after the first section of the trail was established. Jackson Heart Foundation, Greater Belhaven Foundation, and others helped to support multiple public art installations by local artists which began to transform the trail into an “outdoor museum.”
WATERWORKS CONNECTOR
2023
In 2023, the original vision was realized when the Waterworks Connector opened and connected Belhaven Neighborhood to LeFleur Museum District next to the Jackson Fewell Water Plant following Water Works Curve along I-55, funded by private donors.
DOWNTOWN CONNECTION
2024-Ongoing
The planned trail extension will provide a strong pedestrian corridor link between West Jackson, Downtown, and Belhaven. The Downtown portion of the trail aims to catalyze new redevelopment opportunities that can increase density, walkability, and provide downtown residents with a connected urban living experience.
The Museum Trail is a public and private effort led by multiple organizations.
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Jackson Heart Foundation
Great City Foundation
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US Department of Transportation
City of Jackson
State of Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Transportation
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
MDFA
MDAC
MDWFP
Hinds County
Hinds County EDA
CCID
Chamber of Commerce
JXN Water
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Entergy Mississippi
Ergon Foundation
Community Foundation for Mississippi
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Nancy & Ray Neilsen
Mississippi Beverage Association
Jackson Heart Clinic
Century Club Charities
AARP
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Bike-Walk Mississippi
Jackson Association of Neighborhoods
Visit Jackson
Revitalize Mississippi
Downtown Jackson Partners
Two Mississippi Museums
Mississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi Farmers Market
Mississippi Children’s Museum
Greater Belhaven Foundation
Jackson State University
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson Convention Complex
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Tree Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Studio
WBA Architecture
Neel-Schaffer Engineering
Waggoner Engineering
SoHo Landscaping
Native Habitats
Hemphill Construction
Alliant Construction
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Entergy Mississippi
Hal and Mal’s
Westin Hotel
Cathead Distillery
Iron Horse Grill
Old Capitol Inn
WLBT