“The Two Mississippi Museums preserve the painful stories and truths of our ancestors and are a testament to the deep resolve we have to heal our communities.”
The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened in 2017. They are identified as the Two Mississippi Museums. The two buildings are joined and share a lobby, auditorium, and one or two other areas. Much planning has gone into gathering and curating Mississippi’s story. In partnership with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the collection of artifacts, photographs, videos, interactive exhibits, and displays are arrayed in a way that brings our state’s history to life.
The Museum of Mississippi History has thousands of years of history. The galleries reference the timelines as The First Peoples (13,000 BC-AD 1518); Cultural Crossroads (1519-1798); Joining the United States (1799-1832); Cotton Kingdom (1833-1865); The World Remade (1866-1902); Promise and Peril (1903-1927); Bridging Hardship (1928-1945); Forging Ahead (1946-Present), and Reflections.
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum looks at the circumstances, activism, and evolution of a nation divided, trying to find its way. Eight galleries focus on 1945 to 1976, “when Mississippi was Ground Zero for the National Civil Rights Movement.” The design of this museum draws your attention as you realize the galleries encircle a central space called “This Little Light of Mine.” There is a colorful sculpture that glows with music relating to the Movement. There is something emotional about standing in this gallery space, looking around and above, seeing the display, and hearing the music. The layout throughout the space is thematically designed as follows:
Gallery 1 – Mississippi Freedom Struggle: What it was all about
Gallery 2 – Mississippi in Black and White: 1865-1941
Gallery 3 – This Little Light of Mine: Activists honored, incredible lighted centerpiece
Gallery 4 – A Closed Society: 1941-1960
Gallery 5 – A Tremor in the Iceberg: 1960-1961
Gallery 6 – I Question America: 1963-1964
Gallery 7 – Black Empowerment: 1965-mid-1970s
Gallery 8 – Where Do We Go From Here: Reflect and Dialogue
Congratulations!
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been nominated for Best History Museum of USA TODAY‘s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024! This award program highlights top-notch attractions and businesses and provides readers with trusted recommendations.
USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2024
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, located in Jackson, provides an interactive and engaging presentation of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. Through exhibits and programs, the museum seeks to educate and encourage reflection on the bravery, resilience, and sacrifices of Civil Rights activists, acknowledging their pivotal role in challenging systemic racism and striving for equality.