The Mississippi Writers Trail begins with the dedication of the inaugural marker honoring Eudora Welty.
“An international treasure in the literary world, Eudora Welty’s works stand the test of time, influencing generations of writers and sharing Mississippi with the world,” said Visit Mississippi Director Craig Ray. “This trail celebrates the legacy and historical contribution of Mississippi’s most acclaimed writers.”
Born in 1909 in Jackson, Welty lived in the capital city for the majority of her life. An award-winning author of short stories and novels, Welty was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the French Legion of Honor and, most notably, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel “The Optimist’s Daughter.” She also was chosen as the first living writer to be published in the “Library of America” series.
Mississippi was prevalent in all her works of fiction, which included “A Curtain of Green,” “The Wide Net,” “Delta Wedding,” The Golden Apples,” and “Losing Battles.” These story collections and novels are translated worldwide. Welty also received recognition for her photography focusing on life in rural Mississippi during the Great Depression.
The Eudora Welty Writers marker is located at the author’s home and garden, a designated National Historic Landmark, at 1119 Pinehurst Street in the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson.
The Mississippi Writers Trail is an initiative of the Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with Visit Mississippi, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, Mississippi Book Festival, Mississippi Humanities Council, Mississippi Department of Archives and History and Mississippi Library Commission. The trail will span the state and highlight notable places which helped shape some of the world’s most acclaimed authors’ lives and influenced their renowned works.
For additional information, please visit www.visitmississippi.org/writerstrail.