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Mississippi Department of Archives & History
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Welcome to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

By preserving Mississippi's diverse historic resources, and sharing them with people around the world, MDAH inspires discovery of stories that connect our lives and shape our future.

Established by the Mississippi legislature in House Bill 1796, the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag met over the course of two months and selected a new design to become the state flag. Mississippians voted to approve the flag design on November 3, 2020. The Mississippi Legislature enacted the design into law during the 2021 legislative session.

Learn more about the process of ratifying Mississippi's new state flag. Download the new design for personal or commercial use.

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Empowering people through Mississippi’s many stories.

That’s our vision at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. We are here to help you explore and discover your Mississippi stories.

You can use this website, and our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to:

  • Research historical records, archival collections and special publications
  • Discover historical sites and museums to visit all around the state
  • Check out upcoming events, including our History is Lunch series
  • Preserve Mississippi’s historic buildings and archaeological sites
  • Download field trip guides, lesson plans, and teaching units
  • View regulations for managing state and local government records
  • Find out how to volunteer, donate, and more
News & Events

Find the latest news, upcoming programs, and special exhibitions at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

News & Events

Research

Discover your story. Search the ultimate primary resource of Mississippi’s historical documents, photos, videos, and more.

You can use our online collections, and the extensive resources at our reading rooms in downtown Jackson, to build your family tree, create an engaging presentation, or simply explore your Mississippi history.

Get Started

Explore

Real stories, real places. Set out on a hands-on history adventure and discover the people and places that shaped your Mississippi.

MDAH welcomes curious visitors of all ages to more than a dozen museums, historic sites and cultural attractions throughout the state.

Go Places

Preserve

Tell your story for generations to come. Mississippi is rich in architectural and archaeological history.

See How

Volunteer

Be part of history. Volunteer with MDAH and help us preserve and connect Mississippi’s rich historic resources with people around the world.

Volunteer

Teachers & Students

Stories are for sharing. Help your students explore their Mississippi history from K-12 to college.

Discover ready-to-use field trip guides, professional development opportunities, a host of classroom resources and information on Mississippi History Day, our history-themed student competition.

Education

News & Articles

4/12/2021
The Eudora Welty House & Garden will launch a new outdoor audio tour and open a new exhibit on Tuesday, April 13, in recognition of Eudora Welty’s birthday.
4/12/2021
MDAH has created a new website that prioritizes the repatriation of human remains and cultural items in the department's archaeological collection.
4/5/2021
A new book uses Mississippi’s civic structures, log cabins, schools, mansions, and skyscrapers to broaden our understanding of the state’s history.
3/23/2021
A hand-drawn 1856 map of the Forks of the Road, the second largest slave market in the United States during the nineteenth century, is now available on the MDAH Digital Archives.
3/22/2021
On April 1, the historic section of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion will reopen to the public for guided tours. Reservations are mandatory and must be made at least seventy-two hours in advance.
3/18/2021
MDAH has transferred the remains of 403 Native Americans and eighty-three lots of burial objects to the Chickasaw Nation. This is the largest return of human remains in Mississippi history, and the first for MDAH.

Events

MDAH Board of Trustees Meeting
Fri, Apr 16 2021, 10 - 11am

At 10 a.m. on Friday, April 16, the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will hold a regular meeting at the Two Mississippi Museums.

Welty Heirloom Plant Sale
Sat, Apr 17 2021, 9am - 1pm

The Eudora Welty House & Garden will host an heirloom plant sale from the Welty Garden on Saturday, April 17, at 9 a.m.

Free Sundays at the Two Mississippi Museums

Admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is free every Sunday and includes the special exhibits

MDAH’s new podcast series Speaking of Mississippi is now available.