William F. Winter Building

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.

Moms Morning at the Museums - Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Community Curation Day: Donating Family Artifacts and Papers - Saturday, October 18, 2025

Trick or Treat and Day of the Dead - October 25, 2025 - 10 AM - 3 PM

Historic Objects Collections Tour - Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 11 A.M.

Moms Morning at the Museums - Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Trick or Treat and Day of the Dead - October 25, 2025 - 10 AM - 3 PM

Historic Objects Collections Tour - Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 11 A.M.

William F. Winter Building

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.

Community Curation Day: Donating Family Artifacts and Papers - Saturday, October 18, 2025

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
News & Events

Find the latest news, upcoming programs, and special exhibitions at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

News & Events

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 Search the ultimate primary resource of Mississippi’s historical documents, photos, videos, and more.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

Teachers and 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

Religion Initiative

Learn about the role of religion in Mississippi history and culture. Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment’s Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative, MDAH offers programs through its religion initiative that range from free group tours of the Two Mississippi Museums to research fellowships in the archives.

Learn More

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

News & Articles

The family of Fannie Lou Hamer has donated the civil rights leader’s Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to ensure her legacy of activism is shared with future generations.
Roland Weeks, longtime publisher of Gulf Coast newspapers The Daily Herald and the Sun Herald and a former member of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, died October 4, aged 89.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is accepting applications for four 2026 fellowships: the Eudora Welty Research Fellowship, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Research Fellowship, the Religion in Mississippi History Research Fellowship, and the Robert “Bob” Moses Civil Rights Research Fellowship.
America250 Mississippi is excited to announce the October 2025 dates for the national America250 initiative, Our American Story — a national oral and visual storytelling project designed to gather and preserve the voices that shape our nation.
The board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will convene next month in Jackson, hosting a public reception at the Old Capitol Museum ahead of its regular board meeting.
Multiple sponsors will provide free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums during the Mississippi State Fair, giving families and visitors an opportunity to explore the state’s history at no cost.

Events

Ghosts in the Garden Scavenger Hunt
October 16, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join a monthlong scavenger hunt in the Eudora Welty House & Garden. Kids and kids-at-heart are invited to go on a Ghosts in the Garden Scavenger Hunt throughout the month of October. Visitors can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet from the Little Free Library.

MDAH Board of Trustees to Hold Annual Public Reception
October 16, 2025, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will convene for an annual public reception. The public reception is set for Oct. 16, at 5 p.m. at the Old Capitol Museum, 100 State St. The board meeting, which is also public, will be Oct. 17, at 9 a.m., on the second floor of the Two Mississippi Museums, 222 North State St.

Ghosts in the Garden Scavenger Hunt
October 17, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join a monthlong scavenger hunt in the Eudora Welty House & Garden. Kids and kids-at-heart are invited to go on a Ghosts in the Garden Scavenger Hunt throughout the month of October. Visitors can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet from the Little Free Library.