Events

At noon Wednesday, October 22, Jay Wesley, author of Choctaw Traditions: Stories of the Life and Customs of the Mississippi Choctaw, and Eddie Johnson, a tribal member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, will discuss a collection of stories from all nine Choctaw communities that captures the rich detail and complexity of Choctaw life as part of the History Is Lunch series.

Join us for Archaeology Day at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians on Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy hands-on activities such as a pottery puzzle and “excavate a cookie,” along with ground-penetrating radar demonstrations, an artifact identification station, and guest lectures. The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians is located at 400 Jefferson Davis Boulevard, Natchez, Mississippi. For more information, email info@natchezgrandvillage.com or call 601-446-6502.

At noon Wednesday, October 1, Ellen Ann Fentress, author of The Steps We Take: A Memoir of Southern Reckoning and founder of Admissions and The Academy Stories websites, and Rita Watts Boone, a writer for Admissions, will discuss a powerful online collection of interviews, articles, and oral histories that document the experiences of individuals through the early years of public school integration, known as Admissions and Academy Stories, as part of the History Is Lunch series. These stories share personal experiences of those who attended private segregation academies as well as those who remained within the public school system during integration. This program will take place in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums and will also stream live on the MDAH Facebook page and YouTube channel. Copies of The Steps We Take will be available for sale with a book signing to follow. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

Join us at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians on Thursday, September 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where Amy Bluemel of the Chickasaw Nation will teach the fine art of twining, a decorative stitch used in handweaving. Participants will make a small bag during the demo. All materials and light refreshments will be provided. The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians is located at 400 Jefferson Davis Boulevard, Natchez, Mississippi, 39120. For more information, email info@natchezgrandvillage.com, or call 601-446-6502.

At noon Wednesday, October 15, Melody Golding, author, photographer, and artist, will share personal insights and firsthand accounts from Mississippians who survived Hurricane Katrina as part of the History Is Lunch Series. Golding’s portraits capture not only the storm’s damage but also the resilience of the people forced to rebuild their lives.

At noon Wednesday, October 8, Sally Wolff-King will discuss her book, William Faulkner in Holly Springs, which uncovers new information about Faulkner’s sources and examines how the people and culture in Holly Springs influenced the Nobel Laureate and the literature he produced as part of the History Is Lunch series.

Join us on Saturday, September 20, for Discovery Day: Mississippi Storytellers, a family-friendly event highlighting Mississippi storytellers and their contribution to the arts through a multimedia presentation, writing activity, readings, and crafts. Starting at 11 a.m., this exciting day is specially designed for fourth through eighth grade students and their families at the Two Mississippi Museums. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

Join us for a free History Happy Hour on Thursday, September 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums. Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers guided tours by photographer, Melody Golding, and volunteer, Alison Steiner, will be at 5:30 and 6:15. Enjoy live music with Carmen Washington, food from Catering by George's, and a cash bar. Two Mississippi Museums members and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi employees will receive a complimentary drink. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

Join us for a screening of The Last American House Party at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27, in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums. This sixty-minute film follows the Neshoba County Fair, an eight day hundred-year-old tradition where families and communities come together for food and entertainment. Following the screening, a panel discussion will take place with director Bryan Carpenter. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

At noon Wednesday, September 24, NancyKay Wessman, author and founder of WessComm, LLC, will explore the vivid firsthand accounts of frontline heroes sustaining local communities by showing courage, leadership, and moral determination as part of the History Is Lunch series. Wessman is the author of Katrina, Mississippi: Voices from Ground Zero which focuses on the stories of first responders who risked their lives to lead rescue, recovery, and relief efforts during and after Hurricane Katrina. This program will take place in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums and will also stream live on the MDAH Facebook page and YouTube channel. Copies of Katrina, Mississippi will be available for sale with a book signing to follow. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.