Visitor Center wraps up “wonderful summer”

By Randy Bell

It’s been a busy first four months for the new director of the Clinton Visitor Center. And even though she’s a life-long resident of the city, Randi Jarnagin is learning some things about Clinton which she’s passing along to the people who stop by.

“I didn’t even know we had a German POW camp,” Jarnagin admitted at the September 15 Board of Aldermen meeting. But now, she’s displaying a drawing some German soldiers made while they were being held at Camp Clinton during World War II as part of her effort to give visitors a detailed look at the city’s history.

For a hands-on blast from the past, the Clinton Calaboose now stands behind the Visitor Center, providing a glimpse of late 19th century law and order. Jarnagin says she understands that the city acquired the jail cell “for temporary incarceration for fighting and drunkenness.”

She says the Visitor Center enjoyed “a wonderful summer,” welcoming more than six hundred people who came inside to cool off during June, July, August and early September. Many were taking a break from their travels along the Natchez Trace, some from as far away as Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Australia.

“They’re trying to travel the South because they’ve always heard of the South,” Jarnagin says. “They come to our Visitor Center, and, when they leave, they’re always so excited because they say it’s the nicest one they’ve ever been to and that they’ve definitely learned something.”

High fuel prices may have curtailed a lot of family vacations this summer, with some people opting to stay closer to home. Jarnagin says that may have actually boosted visitorship in Clinton.

“What I have seen from the families that have come in is that they changed their plans,” she says. “And, instead of going to exotic places or Disney World, they were doing nature trips or historical trips. I saw a lot of that this summer, families stopping at towns along the Trace so they could learn things but still be together on a budget.”

Jarnagin tries to get those visitors to experience more of what Clinton has to offer.

“I give them a map of Olde Towne, and I strongly encourage them to drive through and check out the antique stores, boutiques, restaurants, get some ice cream and then they can get back on the Trace.”

New vendors and artists have been added to the Visitor Center’s retail section. There’s an expanded collection from local watercolorist Wyatt Waters and a children’s book section now.

The Visitor Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., but Jarnagin says some of the most exciting times happen after-hours. Four musical events are scheduled each month, highlighted by Friday Nights at Milepost 89. Jarnagin says, instead of ending that free concert series in October, she plans to extend it through December, wrapping up with a Christmas special.

When she began her job in June, the new director made enlisting more volunteers a top priority. Jarnagin says she has had some success, signing up ten new recruits to help at the Visitor Center. But she needs “as many as we can get,” and is hoping that Clintonians who love the city and the history of Clinton will be willing to share that with travelers from other places.

“It’s one day a month for four hours,” she says. “That’s what we ask people to commit. If you’re able to do more, that’s great.”

Those who might be interested in becoming a volunteer can stop by the Visitor Center at 1300 Pinehaven Drive or give Jarnagin a call at 601-924-2221.