Two Mississippi Museums Present State's History for America 250

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History, collectively known as the Two Mississippi Museums, are presenting exhibits on the state's history as part of Mississippi's official America 250 celebration. The museums, which opened in 2017 in Jackson near the state Capitol, include displays on topics such as the removal of Native Americans, slavery, and the Civil Rights era.

Officials involved in the museums' development have stated their approach was to present history without omission.

Museum Exhibits and Content

The museums feature several permanent and temporary exhibits.

Lynching Victims Monolith

This installation displays glass panels etched with the names of more than 600 documented victims of racial killings in Mississippi, along with the attackers' stated motives. One listed victim is Malcolm Wright, who was beaten to death in 1949; records indicate the attackers' stated motive was that his mule-drawn wagon was moving too slowly.

Civil Rights Museum Exhibits

The museum includes an audio exhibit at its entrance featuring phrases like "We don't serve your kind," which were used during segregation. A specific exhibit details the 1955 killing of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old whose death became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit includes the .45-caliber pistol reported to have been used in the killing.

Museum of Mississippi History

This museum opens with a gallery on Native Americans, dominated by a 500-year-old canoe, and addresses the removal of Native Americans from the land.

"Mississippi Made" Temporary Exhibit

Created for the America 250 commemoration, this exhibit highlights state products and achievements, including household items like Pine-Sol, Nissan and Toyota vehicles, and contributions to space and medical programs. It also includes a story quilt by Hystercine Rankin depicting her father's killing in 1939.

Statements on Museum Philosophy

Officials and planners involved with the museums have commented on their approach to historical presentation.

• Nan Prince, director of collections for the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, stated that the instruction during the museums' conception from scholars, politicians, staff, and civic groups was: "Don't brush over anything, don't whitewash anything. Just tell the absolute truth."
• Former Governor Haley Barbour said the approach was: "We said at the beginning we weren't going to hide anything. We weren't gonna try to justify what was done... we're not proud of this, but we're not going to deny it."
• Jackson Mayor John Horhn, who pushed for the Civil Rights Museum starting in 1999, said the museums demonstrate "progress has been made," while acknowledging the state still has challenges.
• Jessica Walzer, curator of the "Mississippi Made" exhibit, stated the Rankin quilt was included to remind visitors that Mississippi has a difficult history.

Visitor Reactions

Several visitors shared their perspectives after touring the museums.

• Kiama Johnson, a visitor from Louisiana, commented on the victim panels: "That's just the people that we know about. Just imagine the ones that we don't."
• Lindsay Ward, a visitor from Denver, stated: "We're not talking about hundreds and hundreds of years ago. We're talking 60 years... It's important we understand what happened in the past."
• Connor Lynch, a history teacher from Chicago, commented: "All we have is human narrative and that comes with bias... we know the stories. We know the truth."

State and National Context

The state's official "America 250 MS" platform states that Mississippi's history mirrors the American story, including the removal of Native Americans, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow era.

Multiple sources note that Mississippi's approach contrasts with reported federal actions since January 2025. According to these reports, President Donald Trump signed executive orders in 2025, including one titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The reports state these orders have led to changes at federal parks and museums, and that the administration has encouraged federal institutions to present a version of history less focused on discrimination and racial violence as part of national America 250 preparations.