Beauty and charm squared.

Beautifully restored buildings set the scene for delightful day of shopping and dining in Kosciusko’s Downtown Square. The Square’s centerpiece, the Attala County Courthouse, celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2008. This majestic Greek Revival masterpiece, along with the Mary Ricks Thornton Cultural Center, an elegant gothic gem once a Presbyterian sanctuary, are both Mississippi Landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From downtown, take the walking/driving tour of the town’s more than 25 historic homes, all built before the turn of the century. Soon you’ll understand why painters and artists have named Kosciusko one of the “Prettiest Painted Places in America.”

“Pretty unusual” might be a way to describe L.V. Hull’s Ethnic Yard Art. Be sure your tour includes a turn through this one-of-a-kind collection. While Ms. Hull’s approach to creating art from found objects has not made her famous, it definitely qualifies her as a trail blazer in her own right for a vision that is singular and altogether charming.

From the cultural and social trail blazers, it’s time to take a step backward to yesterday and forward to tomorrow. Sound impossible? Not at French Camp, a meticulously preserved piece of history that is in the business of creating brighter futures.