MDAH offices, archives library, and Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will be closed Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
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The World of Marty Stuart

Welcome to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

By preserving Mississippi's diverse historic resources and sharing them with people around the world, MDAH inspires discovery of stories that connect our lives and shape our future.

Great Migration Initiative

Take an in-depth look at the Great Migration—the unprecedented movement of African Americans from the South in the first three-quarters of the twentieth century—through the lenses of history and art. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) and the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) are undertaking a year-long initiative in 2022 to expand understanding of the Great Migration and its impact on Mississippi and the nation.

Read More

Empowering people through Mississippi’s many stories.

That’s our vision at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. We are here to help you explore and discover your Mississippi stories.

You can use this website, and our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to:

  • Research historical records, archival collections and special publications
  • Discover historical sites and museums to visit all around the state
  • Check out upcoming events, including our History is Lunch series
  • Preserve Mississippi’s historic buildings and archaeological sites
  • Download field trip guides, lesson plans, and teaching units
  • View regulations for managing state and local government records
  • Find out how to volunteer, donate, and more
The Foundation for Mississippi

Donate to the Foundation for Mississippi and support the newest addition to the Hall of Governors—the official portrait of Phil Bryant, the sixty-fourth governor of Mississippi. Located on the first floor of the Mississippi State Capitol, the Hall of Governors features portraits of the former governors of Mississippi since the creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 and the state in 1817.

Donate

Research

Discover your story. Search the ultimate primary resource of Mississippi’s historical documents, photos, videos, and more.

You can use our online collections, and the extensive resources at our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to build your family tree, create an engaging presentation, or simply explore your Mississippi history.

Get Started

Explore

Real stories, real places. Set out on a hands-on history adventure and discover the people and places that shaped your Mississippi.

MDAH welcomes curious visitors of all ages to more than a dozen museums, historic sites and cultural attractions throughout the state.

Go Places

Preserve

Tell your story for generations to come. Mississippi is rich in architectural and archaeological history.

See How

Volunteer

Be part of history. Volunteer with MDAH and help us preserve and connect Mississippi’s rich historic resources with people around the world.

Volunteer

Teachers & Students

Stories are for sharing. Help your students explore their Mississippi history from K-12 to college.

Discover ready-to-use field trip guides, professional development opportunities, a host of classroom resources and information on Mississippi History Day, our history-themed student competition.

Education

News & Articles

6/24/2022

MDAH offices, archives library, and Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will be closed Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

6/20/2022
The Nissan Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) to support field trips to the Two Mississippi Museums.
6/6/2022
Ingalls Shipbuilding, the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, is supporting free admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, in observance of Juneteenth. Admission to the Two Mississippi Museums is free every Sunday.
6/1/2022

Mississippi Makers Fest will be back for its second year at the Two Mississippi Museums. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced today that after a successful first year, the music, food, and arts festival will return to Downtown Jackson on May 13, 2023.

5/3/2022
On May 3, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) celebrated the lives of Governor William Winter and First Lady Elise Winter at the Two Mississippi Museums. During the ceremony, Spence Flatgard, MDAH board president, announced the completion of the initial funding goal of the William and Elise Winter Education Endowment, a $5 million fund created to underwrite field trips for Mississippi’s schoolchildren.
4/12/2022
In honor of Eudora Welty’s 113th birthday on April 13, a previously restricted series of Welty’s family papers is now open to the public.

Events

Free Sundays at the Two Mississippi Museums

Admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is free every Sunday and includes 

#WeltyatHome Virtual Book Club

On Mondays at noon, the Eudora Welty House & Garden will present weekly online book discussions of Welty's short story collection The Wide

History Is Lunch: Fay Yarbrough, “Choctaw Confederates: The American Civil War in Indian Country”
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At noon on Wednesday, June 29, Fay Yarbrough will present “Choctaw Confederates: The American Civil War in Indian Countr