Possum Ridge Model Train Exhibit Returns to Jackson for Holidays

Possum Ridge reopened at the Two Mississippi Museums on December 9, offering families and collectors a chance to see a beloved holiday tradition that has delighted visitors for more than 40 years. Admission is free, and the exhibit runs through December 31, making it an easy stop for seasonal outings and for educators looking to blend local history with holiday fun.

What began as a single electrified Main Street with ten buildings now fills a richly detailed landscape that depicts a typical Mississippi railroad town of the 1940s. The layout includes a depot, church, bakery, barbershop, icehouse, sawmill, cotton gin, train yard, and many businesses that once anchored small towns. Houses off Main Street, farmsteads, a small airport, and even a river baptism scene broaden the setting and give children and adults lots to explore.

This year the exhibit adds a Miss Goldy Chicken train car, reflecting the local poultry company that eventually merged into what is now Wayne Sanderson Farms, and an additional town scene to expand the narrative of Possum Ridge. The museum also assembled a display case of historic railroad artifacts, created a scavenger hunt to guide younger visitors, and set up a reading nook stocked with bilingual books about trains and railroads to support literacy and accessibility.

The return of Possum Ridge coincided with the annual Christmas by Candlelight tour, which was held Friday December 5 from 4pm to 8pm. Tour activities included crafts, live music, and treats across the Two Mississippi Museums, Old Capitol Museum, Mississippi State Capitol, and the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. Capital City Lights events took place in Smith Park and at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, with Visit Jackson and Downtown Jackson Partners sponsoring the tour.

Practical details make the visit straightforward. Free parking is available at the Two Mississippi Museums parking garage, at the Mississippi State Capitol parking lot, and along nearby streets, and shuttle buses run between tour locations. The Mississippi Museum Store offers a 10 percent discount on merchandise, and visitors seeking more information can call 601-576-6850.