Trending Now - Alleyway Becomes Surrealist Gallery at Mississippi's Tiny Museum

WHO:

ABC News - Vicki Taylor and Rick Taylor opened the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, also known as “Mississippi’s Tiniest Museum.”

ABC News - Marlo Dorsey is the CEO of Visit Hattiesburg.

ABC News - Tony Lymon has lived in Hattiesburg since 1990 and opened eYrthBeat Coffee Company.

ABC News - Gabby Smith is a local artist who has painted several murals in the alley.

ABC News - Shaw Ingram opened Wax Fantastic Records downtown in November 2025.

WHAT:

ABC News - The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum has transformed an alley into a major community hub and tourist destination.

ABC News - The museum has attracted more than 300,000 visitors since its opening in 2020.

ABC News - Hattiesburg’s tourism economy has increased by more than 40% since the museum opened.

ABC News - The museum features tiny art installations, a movie theater, colorful murals, a keychain and DVD exchange, a rainbow bridge for departed pets, and a motion-activated dance spot.

WHERE:

ABC News - The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, specifically in an alley behind Hattiesburg's Saenger Theater.

WHEN:

ABC News - The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum opened in 2020.

ABC News - Shaw Ingram opened Wax Fantastic Records in November 2025.

WHY:

ABC News - The Taylors opened the museum to bring joy and traffic to the city’s downtown during the COVID-19 shutdown.

ABC News - Marlo Dorsey credited the growth in tourism to city leaders' efforts to develop and promote the city’s culture, recreational activities, and art scene.

HOW:

ABC News - Vicki Taylor creates miniature art installations by gluing together tiny figurines that are placed in various locations throughout the alley.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 11:18 UTC)

The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, known as Mississippi’s Tiniest Museum, has transformed an alley behind Hattiesburg's Saenger Theater into a vibrant community hub and tourist destination, attracting over 300,000 visitors since its opening in 2020. Opened by Vicki and Rick Taylor during the COVID-19 shutdown, the museum features unique installations, colorful murals, and even a motion-activated dance spot, contributing to a significant boost in Hattiesburg’s tourism economy, which has increased by more than 40%. Local leaders, including Visit Hattiesburg CEO Marlo Dorsey, have praised the museum's role in promoting the city’s culture and art scene, alongside other recent developments like Shaw Ingram's Wax Fantastic Records, which opened downtown in November 20th25.