MDAH News

The Nissan Foundation has named the Two Mississippi Museums—the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History—as a 2024 grant recipient.

The $50,000 grant will help fund field trips during the 2024-2025 school year, defraying costs for admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students. The gift will continue to help bring thousands of students each year from Title I schools to the Two Mississippi Museums.

“We are grateful to the Nissan Foundation for their continued support of our field trip program,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “Students are our most important visitors. Nissan’s support creates opportunities for them to learn and interpret history free of charge at a state-of-the art museum complex.”

“We’re honored to support the work of the Two Mississippi Museums,” said Chandra Vasser, president of the Nissan Foundation and Nissan’s first chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “The Nissan Foundation is about building community by valuing diversity, and this field trip program from the Two Mississippi Museums brings that mission to life.”

In the 32 years since its conception, the Nissan Foundation has awarded nearly $17 million to more than 150 nonprofit organizations to support innovative programs that break down societal barriers and build inclusive communities through education and outreach. Grant recipients promote cultural diversity across a variety of arts, education, social and public programs in seven U.S. communities where Nissan operates.

The Two Mississippi Museums opened 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. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. For more information, visit the MDAH Facebook page or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  To reserve or learn more about field trips at the Two Mississippi Museums, contact Candace Willliams, group tours coordinator at the Two Mississippi Museums, at cwilliams@mdah.ms.gov.

The Nissan Foundation was created in 1992 as a thoughtful response to civil unrest that occurred near Nissan North America’s then U.S. sales and marketing operations in Southern California following the Rodney King trial verdict. Nissan established a $5 million endowment to promote cultural diversity.
 

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards for 2024. The award honors businesses that consistently earn great reviews, placing them among the top 10 percent of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.

As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, firsthand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of great places to visit.

“We are honored to be included among travelers’ favorites this year,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums – the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History. “While we’re grateful to all our visitors, this recognition also reflects the commitment of our staff, donors, and members who support our work to tell Mississippi’s stories.”

“Congratulations to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2024,” said John Boris, chief growth officer at Tripadvisor. “Travelers’ Choice honors businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence. This means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took the time to go online and leave a great review about their experience. We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2024 and beyond.”

Check out all the reviews and discover more about the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum here.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened in tandem with the Museum of Mississippi History on December 9, 2017, in celebration of the state's bicentennial. 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 inhabitants of its land. 
The Mississippi State Legislature provides majority of the funding for the museums, with visitor fees and private donations supplementing the operation of the facilities. The Legislature also provided $90 million for construction; another 20 million was raised privately for exhibits and endowment.

About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

*  Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, September 2023
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files
 

Atomic Alert!: Confronting ‘The Bomb’ in the New Atomic Age, a free traveling exhibition designed by Overland Traveling Exhibits, opens Sept. 7 at the Two Mississippi Museums and will be on display through Nov. 8. The exhibition explores the history of the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) established to prepare Americans for the perils of the new Atomic Age.

In August 1945, in the waning days of World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on cities in Japan. Four years later, the Soviet Union tested its first atomic weapon, and the Cold War began. Nuclear testing made its way to Mississippi through the detonation of two nuclear devices outside of Hattiesburg. The first test, Project Salmon, occurred in October 1964 and, roughly two years later, Project Sterling followed, which used a smaller bomb in the cavity left behind by the first blast.

“The Two Mississippi Museums are excited to share this free, special exhibit,” said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “We welcome the public to explore and learn about Mississippi’s role in nuclear testing during the Atomic Age.”

The exhibition puts a special focus on the educational and volunteer programs of the FCDA, which encouraged the building of bomb shelters, the establishment of neighborhood wardens, and taught children to “duck and cover.” Atomic Alert! includes a striking artistic interpretation of the impact of a nuclear blast, featuring the silhouette of a bomb roughly the size and shape of the bombs dropped in World War II.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the era with Mississippi artifacts that tell the story of the state’s response to nuclear threat, including stocking civil defense hospital supplies. Other exhibit artifacts include a Geiger counter used to detect ionizing radiation on objects at ground level and a booklet that instructed families who did not have designated shelters on how to construct a shelter within their home.

Atomic Alert!: Confronting ‘The Bomb’ in the New Atomic Age programming includes two free History Is Lunch programs on Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 and two free gallery talks on Oct. 10 and Oct. 22.

Atomic Alert! was developed, designed, built, and toured by Overland Traveling Exhibits and independent Atomic Age scholar Michael Scheibach. Founding institutions for the exhibition include the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County in Moorhead, Minnesota.

For more information, go to https://2mm.mdah.ms.gov/atomic-alert or call 601-576-6850. 

Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, the fifth democratically elected chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). The action took place at the regular meeting of the MDAH Board of Trustees on Friday, July 12. His nomination will be submitted to the Mississippi State Senate for confirmation.

Chief Ben will be the first Native American and member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians elected to the MDAH Board of Trustees.

“Chief Ben brings an excellent background of public service and leadership experience,” said Spence Flatgard, MDAH Board of Trustees president. “MDAH will benefit greatly from his expertise and dedication.  We are thrilled to have him on our Board.”

A lifelong resident of the Pearl River community, Chief Ben has a 15-year record of public service and leadership to the Choctaw Tribal government, including eight years as the Tribal Council representative for the Pearl River community. He was elected as Tribal Chief in July 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He also served on the Mississippi State Flag Commission, which oversaw the selection of the new state flag that includes a symbol of native territory before statehood.

Chief Ben holds a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and an associate’s degree from East Central Community College. 

A member of the Mississippi USA Semiquincentennial Commission that will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, Chief Ben is also a board member of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and serves as a delegate on the Health Resources and Services Administration Tribal Advisory Council, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee.
Board nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate. Members serve six-year terms. Other members of the board of trustees are Flatgard of Ridgeland, president; Nancy Carpenter of Columbus, vice president; Reginald Buckley of Jackson; Carter Burns of Natchez; Betsey Hamilton of New Albany; Mark E. Keenum of Starkville; Lucius M. Lampton of Magnolia; and TJ Taylor of Madison. 
 

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the second-oldest state department of archives and history in the United States. The department collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state, administers various museums and historic sites, and oversees statewide programs for historic preservation, state and local government records management, and publications.  For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  
 

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is sponsoring free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums  in honor of Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19.  

“We are grateful to Ingalls Shipbuilding for making it possible for so many Mississippians to visit the Two Mississippi Museums and celebrate emancipation in the United States,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 

Juneteenth National Independence Day became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people at the end of the Civil War. 

According to the US Census, 436,631 Black men, women, and children—55 percent of Mississippi's population—were enslaved when the Civil War began. The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum illustrate how the state’s economy thrived on the global demand for cotton and how the injustice of slavery led to the war. 

The partnership between Ingalls Shipbuilding and the Two Mississippi Museums underscores the joint commitment to community and education, offering residents of Mississippi and visitors an opportunity to explore and make Mississippi’s shared history accessible to everyone.  

“By sponsoring admission to the Two Mississippi Museums, Ingalls Shipbuilding hopes this inspires reflection, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the significance of Juneteenth,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporate Stewardship and Community Relations Manager Lisa Bradley. 
In addition to free admission all day, there will be a Juneteenth Jubilee program from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums.  

Celebrating Black empowerment and community, this evening program will feature a variety of activities, including Juneteenth-themed crafts, card and yard games, and Juneteenth-themed tours at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. In addition, the program will feature a line dance workshop by Aaron Honeysuckle at 5:30 p.m., and performances by the Master’s Touch DrumLine, LLC, Jasmine JT Thomas, Cliffton Cotten, and the Anderson United Methodist Church youth dance ministry. Fratelli Italian Ice will also be on site to serve sweet treats. 

Employing more than 11,000 people, Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi. For 85 years from its location in Pascagoula, Ingalls has designed, built, and maintained amphibious ships, destroyers, and cutters for the US Navy and US Coast Guard. 

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History are in downtown Jackson at 222 North Street.  Free parking can be found alongside North Street near the Entergy Plaza or in the Two Mississippi Museums visitor garage on Jefferson Street. For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.  

Mississippi blues and Grammy award-winning artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram will headline the free 2024 Mississippi Makers Fest—a music, food, and arts festival sponsored by Nissan—at the Two Mississippi Museums from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Additional musical performers include Hud & The Hurricane and American Blonde. Concerts start at 4 p.m.

The free event will kick off the 2024 summer season with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s third annual Mississippi Makers Fest. More than 40 vendors and food trucks will gather to celebrate Mississippi’s creativity. Visitors can look forward to handcrafted pottery, paintings, charcuterie boards, jewelry, and more from local vendors. Mini Makers also returns, full of make-and-take crafts and activities for children, including face painting.  

The 2024 Makers Fest title sponsor is Nissan, with additional support from sponsors Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Nancy and Ray Neilsen, StateStreet Group, Visit Mississippi, Capital City Beverages, the Foundation for Mississippi History, Cathead Distillery, Lucid Ink, and radio stations Y101, 102.1 The Box, Blues 93.1, Your Hometown Country US96, Mix 98.7, and 93.5 The Legend. 

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

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History are in downtown Jackson at 222 North Street. Access to public parking is available at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Jefferson Street at Amite Street.

For more information on Mississippi Makers Fest, join the event at @MSMakersFest, visit msmakersfest.mdah.ms.gov, or email info@mississippimakersfest.com. Click here to see a full list of vendors. 

Higher Purpose Co. is sponsoring free admission to the Two Mississippi Museums Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 2, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer.

“We are grateful to Higher Purpose Co. for making it possible for people to visit the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum free of charge,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “Visitors will learn about the importance of Freedom Summer and its critical role in the Civil Rights Movement.”

The statewide economic opportunity nonprofit Higher Purpose Co. continues to expand access to powerful stories at the museums as part of its arts and culture strategy. This Freedom Summer Free Weekend marks the third consecutive year HPC has offered free admission to museum guests.

“Higher Purpose Co. is excited to deepen our relationship with MDAH and collaborate on this commemorative event,” said Tim Lampkin, founder and chief executive officer of Higher Purpose Co. “As we gather for a Freedom Summer Free Weekend at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, we honor the stories of resilience and triumph that have shaped our history. Through storytelling, we not only commemorate the past but also inspire a new generation of Black entrepreneurs to forge their own paths towards economic empowerment.”

Launched in June 1964, the Mississippi Summer Project was a volunteer campaign designed to help Black Mississippians register to vote and enhance their education by enlisting the help of college students. During Freedom Summer, three civil rights workers—James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner—were murdered. Nonetheless, the combined efforts of civil rights groups, college students, local people—and media coverage of the violence—led to the passage of the national legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, assisting in the dismantling of Jim Crow segregation.

Staff at the Two Mississippi Museums will offer visitors themed tours about Freedom Summer at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 2. On Sunday afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m., the Anderson United Methodist Church Choir will provide a concert.