Museum of Mississippi History

The Museum of Mississippi History at 222 North Street in Jackson shares the Two Mississippi Museums campus with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and together the two institutions form the most significant museum complex in the state. The Museum of Mississippi History opened in December 2017 and chronicles the full sweep of Mississippi's past from the Paleo-Indian period through the 20th century, using a rich collection of artifacts, interactive displays, and multimedia installations.

The museum's galleries are organized chronologically, beginning with the earliest human habitation of the Mississippi region and moving through the Native American mound-building cultures, the European colonial period, the era of slavery and the plantation economy, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and on into the 20th century's industrial, agricultural, and cultural transformations. The collection includes ancient Native American pottery, colonial-era documents, Civil War weaponry and uniforms, 19th-century agricultural tools, and artifacts related to Mississippi's distinctive cultural contributions — including blues music, literature, and cuisine.

A hall dedicated to notable Mississippians presents figures ranging from Pushmataha, the Choctaw chief, to Elvis Presley, Tennessee Williams, and Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. The museum's final galleries address the 20th century, including the civil rights era from the perspective of state political history — a complement to the focused treatment in the adjacent Civil Rights Museum.

The $25 adult combo ticket covers both museums and represents the best approach for a thorough visit. The shared campus on North Street in downtown Jackson has free parking in the adjacent lot. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the Museum of Mississippi History; a full twin-museum visit typically occupies a complete day.