Meridian, MS

Meridian’s history is inextricably linked with the railroads. Established in 1860 at the intersection of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and the Southern Railway of Mississippi, the city and its economy relied on the transport of goods by rail. During the Civil War, much of the village was burned to the ground by General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Battle of Meridian. After the war, residents rebuilt and the town prospered: between 1890 and 1930 Meridian emerged as the state’s largest city and a major manufacturing center. Profits from industry helped finance the construction of beloved buildings, such as the Grand Opera House, two Carnegie libraries, and the Art Deco Threefoot Building, Meridian’s tallest.

The original Union Station, completed in 1907, cost $250,000 and was designed in the popular Mission Revival style. It included a central tower and east and west wings along Front Street. During the decline of American passenger railroading in the mid-20^th century, the tower and the west wing were demolished. The remaining east wing served as the Amtrak station until the 1990s when a major rebuilding and rehabilitation project was completed under the administration of Mayor John Robert Smith.

Following a series of town meetings, architectural plans were drawn up to reconstruct the Union Station tower to house Amtrak, Greyhound, the Meridian Transit system, and taxi service to the Meridian Regional Airport. Known as the Meridian Multi-Modal Transportation Center, the new facility was dedicated on December 11, 1997. The existing east wing was renovated to house Meridian’s economic development agency and the mezzanine includes popular meeting rooms that are available for community activities.

According to city officials, the improved station has leveraged more than $8 million in private investment in the immediate area, including office space, retail shops, apartments, and restaurants. Meridian’s tremendous success story has provided ample inspiration for other small towns and cities wishing to renovate passenger rail stations and revitalize historic downtowns.

In May, country music fills the streets of Meridian during the annual Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival. Named after a hometown son acknowledged as the “father of country music,” the event has been an important showcase for talent for more than 50 years.