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To honor the legacy of the late Gov. William Winter, the Two Mississippi Museums will offer free admission to the public on Friday, Feb. 21. The free admission is made possible by Jones Walker LLP, which acquired Watkins, Ludlam, Winter and Stennis, where Governor Winter worked for over 50 years.  

"We are honored to acknowledge the contributions of Governor and First Lady Winter by facilitating access to the Two Mississippi Museums," stated Bill Hines, managing partner of Jones Walker LLP. "We trust visitors will come away with an understanding of their passion for Mississippi's history and their dedication to educating future generations." 

Known for his staunch support for public education in Mississippi, Winter helped raise endowment funds to bring Mississippi’s school children to the Two Mississippi Museums—the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. 

The Two Mississippi Museums stand at the intersection of Winter’s greatest passions — history, education, and racial justice. He was a leading force behind the public/private partnerships that created the site’s conception and eventual construction. He once said the museums “were built for all of us, but most especially they were built for our children and our grandchildren and future generations.” 

Winter served on the MDAH Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and was president for nearly that long. He died Dec.18, 2020, at the age of 97. Elise Winter, his wife of 70 years who was a community activist and author, died just six months after her husband on July 17, 2021.  

The Foundation for Mississippi History established The William and Elise Winter Education Endowment to memorialize Mississippi’s former governor and first lady and their commitment to education and preservation. Funds are used to defray costs such as admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students.  

For more information, email info@mdah.ms.gov or call 601-576-6850. To learn more about school field trips to the Two Mississippi Museums or to make a field trip reservation visit https://2mm.mdah.ms.gov/learn/field-trips.

A new exhibit – Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers, Photographs by Melody Golding – opens at the Two Mississippi Museums on March 8. The exhibit opening is the first in a slate of programming marking the 20th anniversary of the devastating storm. 

The exhibit tells the story of Mississippians’ resilience in the aftermath of the catastrophic storm through photographs by Golding, a photographer, author, and artist from Vicksburg. The exhibit also features Hurricane Katrina-related artifacts from the MDAH collection. The free exhibit will be on display March 8 through Nov. 7. HORNE, a Ridgeland-based professional services firm, is the title sponsor of the exhibit. 

“At least 238 Mississippians died as Hurricane Katrina made its way through Mississippi 20 years ago, and it caused more than $125 billion in damage to the state," said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. "This exhibit explores Hurricane Katrina through the lens of Mississippians. It allows us to reflect on the immediate and long-term effects of the storm, which is the most devastating natural disaster in Mississippi history.” 

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in American history after making landfall on the Mississippi-Louisiana coastal border Aug. 29, 2005. The storm’s 125-mph winds and 30-foot storm surge left a swath of devastation – lives lost, families displaced, homes and businesses submerged or destroyed.  

Although the world was captivated by stories emerging from New Orleans and the Louisiana coastline, Mississippi’s plight was barely mentioned by national and international media. Golding, who initially traveled to the Gulf Coast as a Red Cross volunteer to deliver water and MREs to storm victims, soon recognized the urgent need to document the state’s unique and tragic story. She pulled out her cameras and began capturing not only the hurricane’s physical devastation but also the resilience of the people forced to rebuild their lives.  

“These photographs are the result of my journeys to the Mississippi Gulf Coast shortly after Hurricane Katrina came ashore in August 2005. They are my personal witness to the events of this sweeping and non-discriminating catastrophe,” said Golding. 

 
Golding’s prior documentary exhibit, Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember, was acquired by The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History Archives Center. Her book of the same name was published by the University Press of Mississippi. All royalties from book sales go to artists who were impacted by the storm.  

Golding’s accolades include the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Chair’s Award for Special Achievements in the Humanities for her contributions to the public humanities in her body of work related to Hurricane Katrina. This work was featured and published by the Royal Photographic Society Awards Journal in Bristol, England. 

Additional Hurricane Katrina-related programming at the Two Mississippi Museums includes gallery talks, school programs, special panel discussions, and personal stories of Mississippians. Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers was created by the curatorial staff at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in partnership with Melody Golding. 

HORNE has been a supporter of the Two Mississippi Museums since 2017. The firm also played an integral role in managing Katrina recovery by overseeing federal disaster relief funds and ensuring compliance with funding requirements.  

“Sponsoring this exhibit is an honor,” said Rusty Butcher, CEO and managing partner of HORNE. “Hurricane Katrina changed the landscape of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mississippi businesses, and the lives of nearly every Mississippian, including everyone at HORNE. We remain proud to be a part of the long-term recovery efforts and proud of the lessons learned and skills gained. Mississippians who were impacted are now able to help people throughout the country as they recover from natural disasters.” 

The Two Mississippi Museums opened on Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial. Museum hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. Admission to the museums is free every Sunday. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. Free parking can be found alongside North Street or in the visitor garage of the Two Mississippi Museums on Jefferson Street. 

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

Country and rock singer and “American Idol” finalist Colin Stough will headline the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest – a free music, food, and arts festival sponsored by Nissan. The annual event will take place at the Two Mississippi Museums on the Entergy Plaza in downtown Jackson on Saturday, May 10.  

Stough, whose sound is a distinctive mix of Southern rock distortion and pure-country style, will share the stage with American folk rock band HAPPY LANDING, blues artist Jamell Richardson, and bluegrass band The BTJ Trio. All four acts are Mississippi natives. 

More than 50 vendors and food trucks will set up outside the Two Mississippi Museums during the festival dedicated to celebrating Mississippi’s creativity in its finest forms. Handcrafted pottery, paintings, handmade woodwork, jewelry, and more will be sold by local vendors. At Mini Makers, located inside the Two Mississippi Museums, children will create make-and-take crafts, among other activities.   

"Nissan is a proud supporter of Mississippi Makers Fest, bringing friends and neighbors together to celebrate the immense creativity of the Magnolia state,” said Chandra Vassar, chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer for Nissan Americas and president of the Nissan Foundation. “Supporting artists and creators helps foster community, bolster innovation and encourage empathy, creating a world where everyone feels that they belong. In collaboration with the Two Mississippi Museums that share our values, we’re honored to give back to Mississippians that have given us so much during the more than 20 years we’ve been manufacturing in the state." 

“We are grateful to have Nissan as the title sponsor again for the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “Nissan’s continued support provides free admission that day and an incredible musical lineup, creating a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience mouth-watering food and original art from vendors all over the state.” 

Other sponsors include Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, AT&T, The Foundation for Mississippi History, StateStreetGroup, Mississippi Arts Commission, Visit Mississippi, and Lucid Ink Printing.  

Blankets and one collapsible lawn chair per person are allowed. Only clear bags will be allowed, including purses, fanny packs, diaper bags, and all other bags.   

Interested vendors should visit 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest for application information. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov. Follow us at @msmakersfest for updates.  

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has announced the 2025 Mississippi Historic Site Preservation Grant program (MHSPG) grantees.

In 2021, the Mississippi Legislature authorized the creation of the MHSPG program to acquire sites related to Civil War battles, Native American archaeology, and civil rights history. The funding supports the preservation of endangered and historically significant properties.

“The MHSPG program assists applicants with the acquisition of eligible properties,” said Barry White, director of the Historic Preservation division at MDAH. “Ultimately, preservation of these sites ensures our state’s history is told to future generations.”

Eligible properties must be listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or the published 1993 Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields or identified as nationally significant in a National Park Service Special Resource Study.

The 2025 grants were awarded for the following projects:

• Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, American Battlefield Trust - $278,250. There are five proposed grants for properties in the Core and Study Areas of the Chickasaw Bayou battlefield. These are the Curry, Creekmore, Dunham, Tarver, and 4 J Properties tracts.
   
• Mills Tract, Alcorn County, American Battlefield Trust - $14,500. This tract is within the Core Area of the Corinth battlefield.

Funds in the MHSPG program are used to defray costs for land acquisition to protect historic properties. A one-to-one match is required.

A receiving property may have significance in more than one area, such as a battlefield with a recorded archaeological site within its boundaries, which is considered in scoring applications.

For more information, call 601-576-6941, or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum (MCRM) has been nominated – for the second consecutive time – for the Best History Museum in the United States in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.  

Voting begins on Monday, Jan. 13, at noon EST and ends on Monday, Feb. 10, at 11:59 a.m. EST. The top 10 winners, as ranked by USA TODAY 10Best readers, will be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at noon EST. Readers can vote here. 

“We are honored that the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been nominated again in the category of Best History Museum,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums – The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. “This recognition comes from the collective efforts of staff and visitors to elevate this museum among top institutions in the country.” 

Visitors to MCRM are greeted with a timeline of African American history in Mississippi before moving to interactive exhibits that chronicle the events of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement from World War II through 1975. 

The museum also embraces complex stories of Mississippians like Medgar Evers, James Meredith, Fannie Lou Hamer, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, and Vernon Dahmer with unflinching academic rigor, engaging visitors through historic records, artifacts, impactful programming, curated exhibits, and archival photographs and footage.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened in tandem with the Museum of Mississippi History on Dec. 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial and is administered by MDAH. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum explores the period from 1945 to 1976 when Mississippi was ground zero for the Civil Rights Movement nationally. The Museum of Mississippi History explores the entire sweep of Mississippi’s territorial and state history and the inhabitants of its land. 

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

FedEx will sponsor free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums during an extended observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Jan. 18-21.

The holiday weekend events include the MLK Night of Culture on Monday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium, with a theme inspired by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Other activities during the free weekend at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History include themed crafts, student performances, museum tours on voting rights, and gallery talks from Freedom Rider Hezekiah Watkins. Additionally, staff from the Elections division of the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office will be on-site for voter registration.

“We are grateful to FedEx for their continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which administers the Two Mississippi Museums. “Welcoming the public as guests of FedEx allows more people to experience the rich, historical stories in the museum and honor this important holiday.”

Having sponsored free admission on MLK Weekend for six consecutive years, FedEx generously extended the 2025 celebration to include Tuesday, Jan. 21, a day designated as National Day of Racial Healing.

“At FedEx, we believe that every person deserves a chance to access opportunities that lead to success in work and life,” said Rose Jackson Flenorl, Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity. “Dr. King dreamed this vision and we are proud to continue supporting the Two Mississippi Museums and their efforts to help visitors connect with Dr. King’s legacy.”

The MLK Night of Culture features local artists performing original pieces. The program is hosted by Vicksburg native Alexis Noble, owner of Vibe Studio Jxn and curator of The Mash Up, an online platform for Mississippi artists. 2025 Night of Culture artists and performers include:

The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will be closed Monday, December 30, due to a power outage. It will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

How to Join this Public Meeting of the Mississippi State Records Committee Meeting (src)

The src will review, approve, disapprove, amend or modify records control schedules for all state agencies, boards, and commissions at 10 a.m. for the following dates: Thursday, January 16; Thursday, April 17; and Thursday, October 23. Once approved, schedules shall have the force of effect of law. 

Written comments must be presented no less than five (5) days before the scheduled meeting, by mail or personal delivery, to the attention of the Director of the Department of Archives and History at 200 North Street, Jackson MS 39201, in accordance with the information provided at https://www.mdah.ms.gov/sites/default/files/2020-02/State-Records-Committee-Rules-and-Procedures.pdf. 

The meeting packet for Thursday, January 16, can be found here: https://www.mdah.ms.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/July-2024-Meeting-Packet.pdf.

This public meeting may be joined via Zoom video from (PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81682848598?pwd=dOg7ju8oll9kC1bwswn9wx55oz4SaU.1#success

Meeting ID: 816 8284 8598

Passcode: 380112

Or Telephone: Dial: USA (312) 626-6799 (Chicago) Find local numbers: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdO3eF1xBF

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