Group Tour Escort Manual - Mississippi

cAnTon
Population: 12,911
Main Industries: Automobile Manufacturing, Chicken Processing Plant, Industrial Containers
Famous Natives: Bluesman Elmore James Williams, Sister Thea Bowman
Major Festivals/Events: Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show, Mississippi Championship
Hot Air Balloon Fest, Gospel Fest, Victorian Christmas Festival
Tourism Office Phone Numbers: 800-844-3369 or 601-859-1307
l Canton is nationally and internationally known for the Canton Flea Market and Crafts Show
held the second Thursday in May and October of each year.
l Canton is the home of the Allison’s Wells School of Arts and Crafts.
l Canton is the birthplace of the famous blues artist, Elmore James.
l Canton is known as the original “City of Lights.”
Canton Courthouse
l Canton is home to the Howcott Monument. This memorial is the only one of its kind in the South. It was erected by William H.
Howcott in honor of his body servant, Willis Howcott, who accompanied him into battle during the Civil War.
l Canton is over 160 years old, has one of only three town squares of its age and architectural integrity in Mississippi and is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places.
l The museums at Wohner’s Corner, located on Canton’s Historic Square, houses The Movie Museum, The Willie Morris/My Dog Skip
Museum and the Multicultural Center and Museum.
l Canton is known as the Movie Capital of Mississippi and is the location site of the John Grisham movie, “A Time to Kill,” Mississippi
author Willie Morris’ “My Dog Skip,” and the Coen Brothers’ “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” to name a few.
For more information about Canton, visit www.cantontourism.com