Mississippi State

Civil rights history in Mississippi

This collection highlights Mississippi's profound role in the American Civil Rights Movement and broader African American history. It features the Mississippi Museum of Civil Rights in Jackson, which documents the struggle for equality through eight immersive galleries. Key sites include the Medgar and Myrlie Evers House National Monument and landmarks dedicated to the legacy of Emmett Till in the Delta. The list also encompasses specialized institutions like the African American Military History Museum and the historic all-Black town of Mound Bayou.

History & Civil Rights — Map

A

Mississippi Museum of Civil Rights

Features eight galleries documenting the movement from 1945 to 1976. The central 'This Little Light of Mine' sculpture glows and plays music as visitors reflect on the struggle for racial equality.

B

Medgar and Myrlie Evers House

A National Monument and the 1963 assassination site of the NAACP field secretary. The ranch-style home is restored to its 1960s appearance, illustrating the life and civil rights work of the Evers family.

C

Emmett Till Interpretive Center

Located in Sumner, this center uses art and storytelling to address the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. It stands across from the Tallahatchie County Courthouse where the trial of his killers took place.

D

Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center - ETHIC

Housed in a former cotton gin in Glendora, this museum details the events leading to Emmett Till’s death. It focuses on the local history of the Mississippi Delta and the origins of the civil rights struggle.

Woodlot / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

African American Military History Museum

The African American Military History Museum, also known as East Sixth Street USO Building, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, opened to…

F

Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture

Exhibits chronicle the African American experience in the Natchez district, covering the slave trade at Forks of the Road, the 1940 Rhythm Club fire, and the local civil rights movement.

G

Mound Bayou Museum of African American Culture and History

Documents the history of Mound Bayou, an independent all-Black community founded in 1887 by former slaves. The museum highlights the town’s legacy of self-governance and entrepreneurship.

Bubba73 / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Elvis Presley Birthplace

The Elvis Presley Birthplace is a historic museum site in Tupelo, Mississippi, dedicated to the preservation of the birthplace of American…

/\ \/\/ /\ / CC BY-SA 2.0

I

Old Capitol Museum

The Old Mississippi State Capitol, also known as Old Capitol Museum or Old State Capitol, served as the Mississippi statehouse from 1839…

Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Lower Mississippi River Museum

The Lower Mississippi River Museum is a museum in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

K

Oakes African American Culture Museum

Located in the historic home of the Oakes family in Yazoo City, this museum preserves the legacy of prominent African American educators and business leaders from the late 19th century.

L

Pleasant Reed Interpretive Center

A replica of the home built by Pleasant Reed, a former slave, in the late 19th century. It illustrates the daily life and craftsmanship of African Americans in the post-Civil War Gulf Coast.

Other Lists

Mississippi Essentials Mississippi Highlights Heritage & Museums of Mississippi Parks & Natural Wonders