Its exact location is a secret and has no address, but it’s relatively easy to find the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum if you know where to look. Situated in an alley behind the Saenger Theater, this tiny gem has surprised and delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors since it opened in August 2020.
As for the lack of the museum’s specific whereabouts, that’s deliberate, on the part of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which dreamed up the project. They wanted to encourage visitors to explore this historic Mississippi city’s walkable downtown core and stumble upon this attraction.
The history of the Pocket Museum starts back in March of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg to close. As the lockdown continued in the ensuing months, the staff of the theater and its managing agency, the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, brainstormed ways to help people escape the isolation of all the health-related restrictions and “enjoy surprise and delight just as they might at a theater performance.”
The team came up with a plan to convert a boarded-up window (which had been hidden for almost forty years) in a storeroom of the theater into a tiny museum. Security glass was added along with a display cabinet to fit the window. Then came lighting and an outside speaker…and the Pocket Museum became reality.
The first exhibit dealt with Swiss Army pocket knives, of which there were one hundred. Since then, they’ve showcased everything from rubber ducks and Disney memorabilia to serial killers. The only real requirement is that the items fit in the window. Sometimes the exhibits are suggested and often supplied by the community.
Each month brings a new exhibit, which is complemented by a related mini-film in the nearby Pocket Theater. When I visited, the theme focused on Frieda Kahlo: The Art of Resilience. An informational placard explained that Frieda Kahlo celebrated her identity and embraced her heritage, and was a symbol of strength and creativity.
Peering into the museum, I saw an assortment of the artist’s memorabilia collected by Elvira Deyamport, a first generation Mexican American from Chicago, who has lived in Hattiesburg for twenty years. Among the items were elements of traditional, colorful Mexican clothing and jewelry, demonstrating Kahlo’s deep connection to her roots. Additionally, there were photos of the artist, including a few with the animals she found comfort in after suffering a severe accident.
I moved over to check out the Pocket Theater and via a modified ViewMaster implanted into the wall, I watched a reel of pictures of the artist in different settings.
There’s also the Pocket Art Gallery, described as the “tiniest Art Gallery in Mississippi.” It’s located in a renovated newspaper stand and contains a miniature gallery, complete with tiny patrons and easels. The rules of the gallery state that you can add a piece of art or take an existing piece with you. Simply scan the QR code provided to let the museum know what you are leaving or a photo of what you are taking home so the artist can see where it goes. The artwork can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a professional artist. And you can use whatever medium you desire, as long as the piece fits into the parameters of the gallery, less than 4×6 inches.
In addition to this Pocket trio are numerous colorful murals and art installations, including a few op-art sidewalk paintings (i.e. “Abbey Road – in 3D”), that dot the entire alley, along with ever-changing mini model dioramas, vignettes and figurines. You’ll find these atop electrical boxes, ledges, window sills, fire escapes and countless nooks and crannies within the passageway. Everything from the ground up is fair game so keep your eyes open! Even the bridge connecting the parking garage across the alley has been transformed into an amazing LEGO structure, featuring LEGO climbers, climbing spotters and observers.
A list posts the different items and encourages visitors to search for them. For example, there are about a dozen cats of various sizes, some simply painted on the wall, others so miniscule you might miss them on your first or second passthrough. And plenty of images of the museum’s mascot – a pint-sized mouse named Milo. The hunt is equally as fun as the discovery! It’s important to note you are not allowed to take these items with you and there are cameras around and warning signs posted.
The Pocket Museum has energized downtown Hattiesburg and become a major economic catalyst for the city’s tourism industry. It has motivated visitors to get out and about and to be curious as to what’s around the next corner. This is truly a genius idea to stimulate interest in all things Hattiesburg.
