Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Two Mississippi Museums on Saturday, December 10, with free admission, trackless train rides for children, family activities, live music, food trucks, and guided tours.
Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Two Mississippi Museums on Friday, December 9, with free admission to the museums.
1 Mississippi. 2 Museums. 5 Years.
Since opening on December 9, 2017, more than half a million people have visited the Two Mississippi Museums – Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Join us December 9–11 for a free, fun party weekend to celebrate our fifth anniversary.
“In celebrating this fifth anniversary, we acknowledge the wealth of opportunity and wisdom these museums give us,” said Pamela D.C. Junior, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. “More than 500,000 people have come together to listen, investigate, learn, and reflect on our Mississippi history. We look forward to continuing this journey with all of you, for many more years to come!"
The celebration begins on Friday, December 9, with free admission and continues Saturday, December 10, with free admission, trackless train rides for children, live music, food trucks, and guided tours. Admission will also be free on Sunday, December 11, with a showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The Mississippi Legislature funded construction of the $100 million Two Mississippi Museums along with generous support from private donors. A significant early contribution from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation was critical to attracting additional support from others.
“The Two Mississippi Museums preserve the painful stories and truths of our ancestors and are a testament to the deep resolve we have to healing our communities,” said Rhea Williams-Bishop, director of Mississippi and New Orleans programming for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. “We are excited to celebrate the museums’ anniversary and help ensure everyone can learn our rich and complex history.”
The anniversary celebration also will give visitors an opportunity to see the special exhibit The World of Marty Stuart before it closes on December 31. This exhibit includes hundreds of items never shown before in the state, including Marty's first guitar, original handwritten manuscripts by Hank Williams, guitars from Merle Haggard and Pops Staples, costumes from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, personal items from Johnny Cash, including his first black performance suit, and much more.
The free weekend is sponsored by the Community Foundation for Mississippi through funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
The Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are partnering with the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mississippi Veterans Affairs, and Mississippi War Veterans Memorial Commission to honor Mississippians who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, on the Entergy Mississippi Plaza in front of the Two Mississippi Museums.
“Mississippi’s extraordinary record of military service is one of the most inspiring stories that we share in the Two Mississippi Museums,” said MDAH director Katie Blount. “We are pleased to join with our military service organizations to pay special tribute to all the many Mississippians who have served our country.”
The program will include a performance by the 41st Army Band, recognition of Veterans Day by Sergeant First Class (Retired) Max Fenn—Chairman of Mississippi Veterans Affairs and tribute to fallen heroes by Major General Janson D. Boyles—the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard. A memorial volley and wreath laying will follow. The museums are offering free admission to those currently serving in the military, Veterans, and a family member of a Veteran on November 10.
The museums are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The museums open free of charge on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available in the Two Mississippi Museums parking garage, located behind the museums on Jefferson Street.
The 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, on the Entergy Plaza in front of the Two Mississippi Museums. The program will include a performance by the 41st Army Band, a moment of silence, recognition of the veterans in attendance and of fallen heroes by Major General Janson D. Boyles—the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard. A memorial volley and wreath laying will follow.
Join us at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 16, for the annual MLK Night of Culture at the Two Mississippi Museums. This year's theme is inspired by the Black Empowerment gallery of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum which highlights the unity and determination of Black Mississippians demanding their civil rights in the late 1960s. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, email info@mdah.ms.gov.
You're invited to come and view The Green Book: Guide to Freedom documentary, showing August 14th at the Two Mississippi Museums. The hour long Smithsonian Channel documentary details the history of The Green Book and works in partnership with the traveling exhibit, The Negro Motorist Green Book, hosted at the Two Mississippi Museums from July 2 through September 25.
Join us on Thursday, July 21, at 11 a.m. for a gallery talk on the Mississippi stories within The Negro Motorist Green Book special exhibit featuring MDAH exhibits curator Barbara McClendon and MDAH collections curator Megan Bankston at the Two Mississippi Museums. This event is free and open to the public.
Join us for an evening of history and fun on Tuesday, July 19, at the Two Mississippi Museums! The evening theme for this edition of History Happy Hour is "On the Road" in collaboration with The Negro Motorist Green Book special exhibit. Museum staff will lead interactive fifteen-minute flash tours through the exhibit, as well as through the Two Mississippi Museums featuring stories about travel and transportation in our state. Enjoy refreshments, a cash bar and live music from jazz saxophonist Tiger Rogers. Museum members will receive a complimentary drink.