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Posted in Mississippi Museums January 18, 2020 by Daniella DiRienzo

Hidden In A Converted Dairy Barn, Oren Dunn City Museum Is One Of Mississippi’s Best Kept Secrets

Hidden gems aren’t limited to the state’s smaller, lesser-known towns and cities. Take Tupelo, for example. The popular city is home to one of Mississippi’s best kept secrets – Oren Dunn City Museum. A must-visit for all ages, the museum includes tons of memorabilia as well as a historic village with authentic buildings from the past. Take a look:

Founded in 1984, Oren Dunn City Museum has been delighting visitors of all ages for more than three decades.

From the outside, it looks like any other museum; however, it’s anything but. First off, it’s housed in a former dairy barn, which was part of the internationally known Forest Lake Farms.

The museum’s uniqueness doesn’t end there, though. There’s also the fact that it’s basically three museums in one, since the grounds also include the Tupelo Veterans Museum and…

… an outside village, which includes several buildings from yesteryear.

An original dogtrot cabin, one-room church, and school are all part of the village and open for visitors to explore.

The outdoor exhibits don’t end with the village, though. There are several other pieces of the past on-site.

Incredibly informative, the Oren Dunn City Museum tells the story of Tupelo from its birth to the present day.

In addition to temporary exhibits, the museum houses a permanent collection, which includes everything from a model railroad to fossils.

Another thing the museum has going for it is location – it’s in Ballard Park, which features playgrounds, picnic areas, and lakeside nature trails.

The park also provides the perfect backdrop for train rides, which the museum offers during its annual Dudie Burger Festival.

Held every summer in honor of the iconic Tupelo eatery, Dudie’s Diner, the event includes music, contests, kids activities, and...

...Dudie burgers, of course.

So, are you ready to pay a visit to Oren Dunn City Museum? If so, it’s open Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call (662) 841-6438. You can also visit the museum’s website or Facebook page.

This isn’t the state’s only amazing museum. Read about another here.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: 689 Rutherford Rd, Tupelo, MS 38801, USA

Daniella DiRienzo

Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.