Overview
Port Gibson is located in the western region of Mississippi. It is the county seat of Claiborne County and named for its founder, Samuel Gibson. It is located approximately 61.5 miles west of Mississippi's capitol city, Jackson.
Port Gibson is known as the city "too beautiful to burn", as proclaimed by U.S. Major General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, according to local legend.
Port Gibson is the third oldest city in Mississippi and was founded in 1802.
8 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Port Gibson
Grand Gulf Military Park
A Civil War battle site, museum and original fortifications where General U.S. Grant tried to land his troops for the Vicksburg Campaign.
Windsor Ruins
Circa 1861. Only the columns remain of what once was a plantation home destroyed by a fire. There were 29 45-foot columns supporting the roof line. The first floor housed a commissary, doctor's office, school & dairy…
No Easy Journey
a small exhibit of photographs, text, and material objects of the Civil Rights Movement.
Port Gibson City Hall
(circa 1840) a restored Greek Revival building that was the first building erected for the Port Gibson Female College, which operated until 1928. In 1933 the property was deeded to the City of Port Gibson becoming the Ci…
Claiborne County Courthouse
one of the first buildings constructed in the city. It has burned and been restored several times.
Lightfoot Park
a small park across from the Courthouse, named for Mr. Horace Lightfoot the first African-American elected to the Claiborne County Board of Education. Mr. Lightfoot was a tradesman, businessman, and public servant who ow…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baton Rouge)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- JAN Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, Jackson — 58 mi away. Directions
- MLU Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe — 73 mi away. Directions
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 142 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Port Gibson City Hall, Wintergreen Cemetery, Harriette Person Library
- Lunch Antonio's Pizza
- Afternoon Claiborne County Courthouse, Lightfoot Park
- Dinner Old Country Store
Day 2
- Morning Grand Gulf Military Park, Windsor Ruins
- Afternoon No Easy Journey, Port Gibson Battlefield
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Port Gibson is a pretty but quiet and small city-- from its size, some people may think of it as more of a town. It has a couple of grocery stores, service stations, a drug store, and a few restaurants to fill basic needs but nothing exotic nor fancy. For more excitement or variety, the cities of Vicksburg and Natchez are both an easy drive on well maintained Highway 61. The historic architecture is well worth a look if driving through this area. It is also a convenient base for exploring this section of Mississippi.
Get in
- Car: You will find Port Gibson at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 (N-S) and the Natchez Trace Parkway.
See
See Windsor Ruins
Circa 1861. Only the columns remain of what once was a plantation home destroyed by a fire. There were 29 45-foot columns supporting the roof line. The first floor housed a commissary, doctor's office, school & dairy; along with the kitchen and storage areas. The house was host to many cultural events, served as an observation post for Confederates during the war, and a Union hospital after the Battle of Port Gibson.
See No Easy Journey
a small exhibit of photographs, text, and material objects of the Civil Rights Movement.
See Port Gibson City Hall
(circa 1840) a restored Greek Revival building that was the first building erected for the Port Gibson Female College, which operated until 1928. In 1933 the property was deeded to the City of Port Gibson becoming the City Hall. In 1991-1992, under the leadership of then Mayor James Beesley the building underwent a complete renovation. This Greek Revival building now also houses The Allen Collection, a group of 53 framed black and white photographs of Port Gibson and Claiborne County taken between 1906 and 1915.
See Claiborne County Courthouse
one of the first buildings constructed in the city. It has burned and been restored several times.
See Lightfoot Park
a small park across from the Courthouse, named for Mr. Horace Lightfoot the first African-American elected to the Claiborne County Board of Education. Mr. Lightfoot was a tradesman, businessman, and public servant who owned an electrical and plumbing business at this site.
See Wintergreen Cemetery
a historic cemetery in Mississippi and originally the family cemetery of Samuel Gibson, founder of Port Gibson.
See Port Gibson Battlefield
the Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson.
Do
- Annual Heritage Festival is held on the last weekend in March
- Port Gibson Christmas Parade is typically scheduled for the first Saturday in December
- Port Gibson Christmas Caroling is a night of caroling on the first Thursday in December
- Annual Blues & Cruise Thru History Motorcycle Rally and Show
Buy
Shop Port Gibson Antiques Market
- Cultural Crossroads on Main/Market Street at Fair Street. Community center for quilt making. Also has a display of quilts and artifacts from the Rabbits Foot Minstrel Show Troupe which was headquartered in Port Gibson in the early 20th century. Used books for sale and irregular rummage sales.
Eat
- Grant's Place Highway 61 a short distance north of the intersection of Highway 18, north of the old part of town. "Home Cookin'". Chicken, catfish, and burgers, breakfast time to 3pm.
- Georgia's Old Depot Main/Market Street, south of the Piggly Wiggly. Menu includes items such as steak and duck. If you want anything fancy to eat within town, this is the option.
Eat Old Country Store
Good fried chicken.
Sleep
Stay Collina Plantation Bed and Breakfast
Elegant antebellum home on National Register. Two beautiful guest rooms with antiques and private entrances. Tea upon arrival. Full breakfast on fine china. No pets or children under 12. Non smoking facility.
Go next
- Windsor Ruins -- impressive ruins of large plantation house that burned down in the 19th century, about 20 minute drive South of town-- off the main highway but the route is well marked.
- Plantation Houses -- several pre-Civil War plantation houses can be seen in Claiborne and nearby Jefferson Counties.
- Vicksburg -- Larger historic city about a 25 minute drive north on Highway 61. Shopping or eating desires you can't fill in Port Gibson you can probably find in Vicksburg.
- Natchez-- Another beautiful larger historic city, about 45 minutes south on Highway 61.
- Jackson, Mississippi --State Capital.
Nearby
Vicksburg
City / town · 18 listings · 28 mi away
Natchez
City / town · 30 listings · 37 mi away
Vidalia
City / town · 6 listings · 38 mi away
Brookhaven
City / town · 6 listings · 41 mi away
Winnsboro
City / town · 3 listings · 46 mi away
Clinton
City / town · 4 listings · 47 mi away
Jackson
City / town · 72 listings · 52 mi away
Pearl
City / town · 1 listings · 56 mi away
My experience
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