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.

Oren Dunn Museum/TripAdvisor

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.

Oren Dunn Museum/TripAdvisor

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…

janet shook/Google

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

Oren Dunn City Museum/Google

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

Bora Eugui/Google

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

Oren Dunn City Museum/Google

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

Oren Dunn City Museum/Google

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

Oren Dunn City Museum/TripAdvisor

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

Jacqueline B/TripAdvisor

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

City of Tupelo – Mayor’s Office/Facebook

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

Oren Dunn City Museum/Facebook

…Dudie burgers, of course.

Oren Dunn City Museum/Facebook

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.

Oren Dunn Museum/TripAdvisor

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Oren Dunn City Museum/Google

Bora Eugui/Google

Oren Dunn City Museum/TripAdvisor

Jacqueline B/TripAdvisor

City of Tupelo – Mayor’s Office/Facebook

Oren Dunn City Museum/Facebook

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

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