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History came alive for area youth participating in the 2026 History Exploration Camp held at the Two Mississippi Museums. Eighteen campers showed off their talents with a variety show on Friday, June 12.

The summer camp transported campers back to the 1960s to explore how Mississippi helped shape the Space Race, music, and major cultural change. Campers enjoyed hands-on activities, stories, and creative projects that brought history to life.

The children entertained with dance numbers, singing, acrobatics, percussion, and even balloon animals.

“Our theme for this camp is '60s, so we started off teaching about (American) Bandstand and Motown,” said camp coordinator, Courtney Derricks. “We introduced the variety show as a lesson. They've been practicing and now are showing some of their talents.”

Derricks added the campers learned about “House Heroes,” such as businesswoman and activist Clarie Collins Harvey, investigative journalist Ida B. Wells, astronaut Fred Haise, U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce and Sister Thea Bowman, a Catholic nun, teacher and musician who spoke against racism.

“We are hearing a lot from the parents,” Derricks said. “One of my favorite things to hear is when the campers get home, and they're just talking their parent’s ears off about what they've been learning.”

The summer camp continues at Two Mississippi Museums this week through June 18. This camp is offered each year so register early.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s curatorial staff recently led a public workshop, showing attendees how a museum exhibit is developed.

The workshop, “Legacy in Action: Practical Exhibit Planning & Installation,” was sponsored by the Southeastern Museum Conference as part of the conference’s 75th Anniversary Legacy Forward Learning Series.

The daylong event featured individual workshops offering practical guidance on developing exhibits from concept to installation, including ADA considerations, artifact handling and working within historic spaces. 

Three of these sessions included hands-on exercises, led by MDAH exhibit designer Hannah Battey, and director of conservation Kathryn Etre. Attendees learned how to apply stickers to Gator Board, vinyl to walls, and padding to mannequins. 

Attendees had the opportunity to ask MDAH’s curatorial team questions, as well as get help troubleshooting scenarios at their own museums. 

The workshop highlighted the process used to develop exhibits on display at the Two Mississippi Museums, including the temporary exhibit Mississippi Made. To learn more about this free exhibit, visit here. 

Smithsonian Institution Historian Eric Hintz recently delivered a presentation on innovation in Mississippi and around the country as part of the History Is Lunch series at the Two Mississippi Museums. 

Hintz’ presentation is among the activities sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in observance of America250. This program is a part of the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series that is organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian's Our Shared Future: 250.

Hintz’ Mississippi discussion focused on the special temporary exhibit, Mississippi Made, which highlights entrepreneurs, innovators, performers, and craftspeople who made—and make—Mississippi.

Hintz, a former resident of Clinton, Mississippi, shares that many of the nation's first discoveries were made in the Magnolia State. 

“I was really amazed to learn that some of the first lung and heart transplants were conducted right down the street at University of Mississippi Medical Center,” Hintz said. 

From guitar amplifiers created in Meridian to root beer made on the Gulf Coast, Mississippi has much to offer in the celebration of innovation in the nation, he added.

“If I leave you with anything today, it's the idea that ... innovation and industry in Mississippi is not just a thing of the past, but that it's continually reinventing itself in Mississippi.” he said. 

Hintz opened his discussion by sharing some of his work as director of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Innovation and Invention at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.

“One of the things that I had the privilege of working on was an exhibition ... called Places of Invention,” said Hintz.

Places of Invention opened its doors in 2015. At about 3,300 square feet, the exhibit offered a glance into certain times in American history that were hot spots for innovation. The exhibit offered a bird's eye-look into six case studies exploring innovation in major cities such as Silicon Valley and The Bronx, New York.

The exhibit published about nine hundred stories exploring the topic of innovation beyond the major innovating cities and inspired another exhibit: Spark! Places of Innovation.

"The Spark! exhibit highlighted smaller places of innovation. The exhibit is a part of the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and is on display at the Hinds Community

College campus in Utica. It will highlight exhibitions in Mississippi through 2027 in Meridian, Greenville, Oxford, Hattiesburg and Gulfport. 

The history of gospel music was shared through songs and stories during a recent performance by the Grassroots Gospel Project at the Two Mississippi Museums.

In celebration of America250, the 250 Voice Community Sing program highlighted music, freedom and hope. The event also was part of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Religion Initiative, funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The Grassroots Gospel Project, led by Chandra Wise, celebrates gospel music, culture, and history. The project focuses on bringing the community together through song.

“We come together to celebrate the gift of gospel music because you can’t talk about American music without talking about gospel music,” said Wise.

Throughout the evening, the audience learned more about the history of the genre and its influence on generations of artists. The program offered details on some of the first gospel writers, such as Charles Albert Timmons and Thomas A. Dorsey, and current artists, Kirk Franklin and Mary and Mary. Mississippi artists – The Williams Brothers and the Mississippi Mass Choir – were also highlighted.

“As it has been said multiple times tonight, gospel music has its roots deep in the American soul, especially here in the state of Mississippi.” Wise said. “Gospel music has influenced every other genre. But for us, it is the sound and expression of our faith.”

Through storytelling and music, the evening brought together the community, highlighting one of the goals of MDAH Religion Initiative by creating an opportunity for the community to explore faith and traditions that shape Mississippi today. 

For more information, visit https://www.mdah.ms.gov/religion.

On Tuesday, June 9, Nissan representatives visited the Two Mississippi Museums for “Mississippi Made Gallery Talk: Innovation” in its Medgar and Myrlie Evers Exhibition Hall. 

Jake Garner, senior manager, purchasing, talked about the Canton Nissan Vehicle Assembly Plant. The location has the capacity to produce about 410,000 vehicles a year and employ over 3,000 Mississippians. Nissan is a longstanding partner of the Two Mississippi Museums.

Garner discussed how the plant is looking to the future, with hybrid cars and updated assembly techniques. Despite the production industry’s incline towards automation, Garner said, "it's important that our vehicles are touched by people at some point in manufacturing." 

The Canton plant plays a large role in the local community and economy. 

The next two Mississippi Made gallery talks will cover industry and entertainment. Click here to follow the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Weekly Update to keep up with events at the Two Mississippi Museums. 

MHT recognized retiring MDAH Director Katie Blount, longtime architectural historian Jennifer Baughn and the state agency’s work at Windsor Ruins

Founded in 1992, the Mississippi Heritage Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to  preserving Mississippi's historic places through education, advocacy, and direct action. Through advocacy, technical assistance, and partnerships, MHT works to protect the buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes, and cultural resources that tell Mississippi's story. 

For more information about the awards, visit the Mississippi Heritage Trust.

 

The 93rd Miss Mississippi pageant begins this weekend in Vicksburg, with the winner crowned on June 13. Dig deeper into the pageant’s history with a visit to the Two Mississippi Museums, where the special, temporary Mississippi Made exhibit highlights how Miss Mississippi has catapulted contestants to the national stage of Miss America.

Miss Mississippi is a scholarship pageant and a preliminary competition of Miss America. Since 1934, the pageant has been a platform for young women across the state to promote community and service, and the winner represents the state in the Miss America competition. Many Miss Mississippi contestants have gone on to have successful careers as businesswomen, actresses, and educators.

Mississippi has had four Miss Mississippi contestants to win the national crown. In 1959, Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon was the first Miss Mississippi to be crowned Miss America. Mobley later starred in films alongside Elvis Presley and sitcoms such as Diff’rent Strokes.

Several pieces of Miss Mississippi history are showcased in the Forging Ahead gallery of the Museum of Mississippi History and in the Mississippi Made exhibit, which is presented in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibit features 250 artifacts that reflect Mississippi's contributions to the American story and celebrates innovators, entrepreneurs, and performers who made –and make – Mississippi.

Among the artifacts on display are the sash Mobley wore when she was crowned and the gown she wore the night she crowned her successor, Lynda Lee Mead of Natchez. Mead was crowned Miss Mississippi in 1959, and Miss America in 1960. 

The artifacts offer a glimpse of Mississippi’s connection to Miss America. The women who have participated in the pageants have brought national recognition to their state through their service.

Mississippi Made will be on exhibit through Nov. 6, 2026. It is open Tuesday through Sunday at the Two Mississippi Museums. 

The Two Mississippi Museums will host a Juneteenth celebration with free admission, from June 19-21, sponsored by Ingalls Shipbuilding, the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi. 

The three-day celebration also includes Juneteenth Jubilee, a free, family-friendly event celebrating community and culture. The Jubilee is Friday, June 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The activities include specialized flash tours at 5 p.m. at the Museum of Mississippi History, and 6 p.m. at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The focus will be on themes of emancipation and liberation in Mississippi.

Local food trucks will be on-site as visitors enjoy line-dancing workshops, games, crafts, and facepainting. There will be an adults-only lounge and a kids’ zone.  

The Jubilee celebration will feature spoken-word performances by JT the Poet and Sadie, at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively. Live music will be performed throughout the event. There will also be a live art raffle, offering a painting by Tony Davenport or a wood-burned piece by Kira Cummings.

“Ingalls is proud to once again support the Two Mississippi Museums’ Juneteenth celebration,” said Lisa Bradley, Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporate Stewardship and Community Relations Manager. “This annual event brings families and communities together to learn more about Mississippi’s history. We are honored to help provide free admission and support the museums’ enduring legacy of education and innovation.”

Ingalls Shipbuilding has sponsored this event for five years.

“This annual event draws hundreds of people to the museums each year. It’s a chance to celebrate history and family,” said Two Mississippi Museums Director Michael Morris. “Ingalls has been a great corporate partner to the museums. Their sponsorship is the reason we’re able to offer free admission during this holiday weekend.”

Signed into law on June 17, 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, or Juneteenth, is a federal holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States at the end of the Civil War.

Celebration of Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with some 2,000 troops, and decreed the Emancipation Proclamation freed all enslaved people, officially enforcing emancipation in the Confederate-controlled state.

For more information, call 601-576-6850, or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

The Eudora Welty House & Garden (EWHG) will host its annual Storytime on the Side Porch each Thursday in June beginning June 4.

This summer’s theme is “Small Wonders, Big World.” Families will gather for picture book readings, hands-on activities, crafts and special guests.

The tradition of gathering on the side porch to share stories began with Eudora Welty herself. For years, EWHG has honored this tradition by using the space to foster community. 

Storytime on the Side Porch is a time-trusted program that brings fun and learning together in the heart of the Belhaven neighborhood.

EWHG education specialist Shalynn Turner leads this program.

“This summer, our Storytime series is all about celebrating the small wonders we can find all around us! Children and their caregivers can come out to the Welty side porch, and through reading, play, and arts and crafts, learn to find inspiration in the ordinary and get creative, just as Welty did,” Turner said. 

“This is a fun and engaging program for kids to enjoy during summer break!”

Each week will cover a new “small wonder”:

• June 4: Katie Tupy, Education Coordinator at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, will bring a few critters and discuss “Backyard Treasures.” 
• June 11: Local artist Christi Doucet will lead a hands-on paper bird craft and foster creativity with the topic, “Art All Around Us.” 
• June 18: Brian Lamb of Bubba’s Bees will share his knowledge of “Nature’s Tiny Helpers” by bringing an observation beehive, beekeeping gear and honey sticks. 
• June 25: Museum educator from the Two Mississippi Museums, Emma Ellard, will bring puppets and discuss how stories bring people together with “Stories We Share.” 

No registration is required for these free events. To find a full schedule for this summer’s Storytime on the Side Porch, visit EWHG’s website.

An antique cameo and porcelain fruit bowl connected to the Windsor Mansion in Claiborne County are now part of the Historic Object Collection at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Sarah Daniell Coleman-Craig donated the latest artifacts among MDAH’s Windsor acquisitions. Coleman-Craig’s ancestors owned the Windsor Mansion, once the heart of an extensive slave plantation of 2,500 acres, with a workforce of over 300 enslaved people. Destroyed by fire in 1890, what now remains of the mansion is known as Windsor Ruins, a site donated to MDAH by the Magruder family in 1974.

Coleman-Craig, grandniece of the Magruder brothers who transferred the property, said the artifacts were passed down from her grandmother. She said her donation is an expression of appreciation.

“It is a way of showing my gratitude for the important work MDAH is doing telling the full history of Mississippi, in addition to the recent improvements at Windsor,” she said.

In 2025, MDAH completed a preservation and stabilization project at Windsor Ruins, where 23 Corinthian columns and capitals are all that remain of the mansion.  The improvement project included a walking trail and new signs that tell the stories of the plantation owners and the people who were enslaved there.

 “Windsor is representative of an economic era that was fully unsustainable, precarious and immoral,” Coleman-Craig said. “I would like to think the ruins are a reminder of this reality that provides an opportunity to reflect on ways to reimagine what progress can look like.”

Coleman-Craig said she’s inspired by the work MDAH is doing to tell “the full story and the possibilities that might hold.” She is now renovating an older home in Claiborne County with the intention of transitioning there full-time in the future. 

Nan Prince, director of collections at MDAH, said much of the Historic Object Collection comes from public donations. Prince said the agency also holds in its collection a demitasse cup that was found in the ruins of Windsor and a family Bible donated by Samuel B. Magruder and Linden Langberg.

“We are grateful for these items,” Prince said. “These kinds of gifts allow us to enrich the department’s holdings for researchers and enthusiasts as we fulfill our mission to preserve Mississippi’s history for future generations.”

Windsor Ruins, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a Mississippi Landmark that annually draws visitors from across the nation.