Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

One of the best museum experiences I’ve ever had. It used a unique and attentive way to reveal this dark history, which made you feel like you were really experiencing the same thing with the oppressed people in the past and reminded you to remember it as well as prevent it from happening again. The staff were awesome. They were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer any questions. As a person who knows little about this history, I learned a lot from this museum and recognized the importance of pointing this history out despite how heavy and hurtful it was!

I go to most of the event that the museum put in and I’ve never been disappointed. This museum highlights all of MS history and it doesn’t hide who MS is. I must say tho as a person who has heard some of the stories from someone who was a child during these times, seeing it in a museum makes it surreal. Parts of the story is triggering but well worth the learning experience. It’s part of who we are as Mississippians and I’ll be proud to tell someone to put this on there places to visit if they are traveling through the area.

If you’re looking for a moving and educational experience, I highly recommend visiting the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. This powerful museum delves into the state's complex history of the civil rights movement, showcasing both the struggles and triumphs of those who fought for equality. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated and feature artifacts, photos, and interactive displays that bring the past to life. You’ll learn about the lives of ordinary people who played a crucial role in the movement, as well as the leaders who inspired them. One particularly impactful exhibit is the “Freedom Wall,” which features the names of over 4,000 individuals who were killed or injured during the civil rights struggle in Mississippi. It’s a stark reminder of the sacrifices made to achieve justice. The museum also offers a variety of educational programs and events, including lectures, film screenings, and workshops. These programs provide even more opportunities to deepen your understanding of the civil rights movement and its lasting impact. Overall, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is a powerful and thought-provoking experience that should not be missed. It’s a place where you can learn about history, honor those who fought for equality, and reflect on the progress that has been made. Here are some additional highlights: * The museum is located in the heart of downtown Jackson just passed the Old State Capital Museum and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Museum near an in development park that will allow families to enjoy the mostly pleasant Mississippi weather. * The exhibits are well-maintained and informative. * The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about the museum’s mission. * The museum is a great place for history buffs, families, traveling  tourist and individuals of all ages. If you’re ever in Mississippi, I highly recommend taking the time to visit the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. You won’t be disappointed.

This museum has fabulous exhibits. It’s best to arrive early, there is so much to see! I wish I had a second day to go back and see it again. Wonderful artifacts, great staff on site, and a highlight of our trip to Jackson.

A very well put together museum, more than a viewing it's an experience.

In all sincerity - one of the best museum experiences that we have had. The docents were very helpful and informative. The exhibits flowed perfectly around a central open area. The short movies were also high quality. Highly recommended - 2 to 3 hours for this wing alone. Free parking is available within the attached garage (rear of the building).

I was captivated, humbled and greatly informed by my visit to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. I can’t wait to come back here and bring my daughter. I had the honor and privilege to hear the great civil rights leader Hezekiah Watkins speak at the event that was hosted at the museum, and then to see the events he described with the Freedom Riders laid out so clearly in the museum, along with an excellent timeline of civil rights in the Americas was just amazing.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much detail went into the curation of this museum. The chronological flow made the information comprehensible for all age groups. I visited on a Sunday with free entry, but can honestly say that this is one museum that is worth the entry free. I went into this museum thinking that I knew a lot about civil rights, but I left the museum with mixed emotions......anger, frustration, resilience, hope, peace. I feel that the world would be a much better place if everyone was required to visit this museum at least once in their lifetime. I would like to thank all of the key stakeholders for making a museum like this available to the general public for free on Sundays.

Oh my goodness! I could have spent several more hours here than what I did. Very reasonable admission price gets you in to this museum and the Mississippi History Museum. It follows a timeline of when the human traffickers brought the enslaved over to today. There is a lot more room for improvement, but this is far greater than what some neighboring states provide for the telling of the civil rights. I would recommend this for anyone, it is a very educational and informative experience.

I visited the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum ($15, free on Sundays) on a Saturday and I spent hours here. I got there around 12pm and didn't leave until they basically closed the doors at ~4:30. That was only enough time for me to skim mostly everything. You really need about 4-5 hours to take everything in. Some exhibits towards the end, I just had to skip because I ran out of time. If I could describe the museum in one word, I would say overwhelming. If you asked me for another word, I would say powerful. I was deeply, deeply, moved by the Medgar Evers exhibit as well as the exhibit for the Freedom Summer Murders (civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner). The exhibit showcasing Black women, who were so pivotal in the movement for equality, was touching. Fannie Lou Hammer is on the list of women I admire and they honored her beautifully here. I had heard these stories before, my minor in college was African-American History, but I had not heard it from the Mississippi perspective. It was a well thought out and expertly curated museum. There is also the Mississippi Museum of History but I just didn't have time for that museum. I highly recommend a visit. It's next to the Department of Archives and History. You might as well visit!

This was such a great museum, and I am so glad I got to stop here! The museum is free and there is plenty of free parking around. Plan on spending a few hours here, there's lots to look at here and it's worth taking your time going through. I wish I had more time to go through the Mississippi history museum, but I ended up spending hours in just the Civil Rights Museum. The exhibits are set up very well, especially to go through the timeline of Civil Rights history. There's so such great information here, and the curators did an amazing job with it. I really liked the general Civil Rights history, but also the focus on many events and people specifically involved in Mississippi's history. If you're in the area, this should definitely be a stop of yours!

Such a powerful experience! The museum highlighted various pivotal moments/and or individuals in history such as slavery,segregation, Medgar Evers, Emmett Toll, Freedom Riders, and more. It was truly gut wrenching to read and see the information displayed in the museum! HOWEVER, history can't be erased and must to be preserved so that generations to come can be informed and aware. The museum is broken into sections, I was only able to visit a particular section. That section is broken into various parts as well. I enjoyed the ribbon like sculpture that was situated in the center of the main area. It lights up and changes colors periodically as it was accompanied with music. I also like how the museum activates various senses. You can touch (circular revolving panels ONLY), see, and hear throughout your experience. Whomever, curated this experience did an amazing job. If ever in the area, I encourage you to stop

If you can only visit one attraction while in Jackson, this is it. I wish that I could give it an extra star. It has limited free street parking available and a free parking garage as well. Admission here also includes admission to the nice Museum of Mississippi History. The museum is amazing. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The museum is well laid out and very eye catching. It has some impressive exhibits and videos including an Emmett Till exhibit, exhibits on lynchings, notable civil right related murders, a Murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner exhibit, an eye raising blacks in War exhibit (I learned the German POWs were treated better than black GIs), A black vs white school exhibit, Black voters exhibit, Freedom rider exhibit, and a William Meredith/Ole Miss exhibit. I found the Emmett Till exhibit, and the lynching exhibit the most intriguing. The museum, which does a great job tying the civil rights movement to the State, also features the city's favorite son, Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers. As you would expect, the museum is extremely graphic. It really shows a true depiction of Mississippi civil rights struggles. You will find an awesome rotunda in the center of the museum where you can sit and rest. There is a very nice illuminated sculpture going through the rotunda up above. There is also a small restaurant and a gift shop that it shares with its sister museum. The museums restrooms are nice and clean and you will also find a little kiosk where you can take a selfie and have it emailed or texted to you. I cannot express how well laid out this museum is and how nice the exhibits are. Be sure to look up high when you are here, as they have put many picture up there. I almost missed them. I consider myself up on civil rights history and I learned so much here. I spent about 3 hours here and I was rushing because I was on a schedule. You could easily spend a half day here. The museum is a must see for everyone. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit here and highly recommend everyone else doing the same.

The museum complex combines a Mississippi history section and the more specialized civil rights museum under one roof. Let's be honest: if you ask someone who's not from here to make a list of their top 45 or so U.S. states, Mississippi is probably not on it. But the museum creates a compelling picture of the surrounding countryside, while adroitly navigating difficult history and showcasing exceptional modern methods of exhibition. The two floors of state history start with a video narrated by Morgan Freeman and take us through the Native Americans of the region all the way up to the second world war. Several more video narrations dot the two floors, with countdowns making you feel like there's always something happening. The section concludes with an opportunity for the guest to record a video message, and some of them are selected to be on playback, giving a charmingly genuine picture of how people from the state reacted to seeing this depiction of their heritage. The civil rights museum is something else. It is a multimedia experience where motion sensors detect you coming by and play the sound of a (genuinely startling) whip cracking to unsettle the visitor. Various signs caution the viewer of the graphic nature of the racial history of Mississippi, but they aren't "trigger warnings" per se and visitors will find pictures of lynchings and uncensored n-words; half the exhibit would probably be banned on an elite American college campus, which is a discredit to college but a credit to the museum. The museum largely succeeds in navigating the difficult history of the state. The term white supremacy is not a hollow epithet in the surrounding region, but the exhibitions resist simple narratives. The story of Mississippians heading off to join the Civil War becomes poignant when the fact that many of them never returned home is narrated with empathy by a person those very soldiers wouldn't have allowed to learn to read. A story of white civil rights activists coming down from the north and getting murdered with help from the local police is punctuated by the search for their bodies yielding the bodies of several unrelated local murder victims; men who no one was even looking for. A picture of black Mississippians serving at Iwo Jima is not the Iwo Jima picture we usually see, but nonetheless represents a powerful image given what they returned to as veterans at home. And there's nothing like having a security guard who probably was old enough to have lived through some of these events point the visitor's eyes upwards to a series of overtly racist Jim Crow-era cartoons of people like him. The perils of political correctness are largely evaded by a series of nuanced exhibitions which provoke both thoughts and emotions. I do note that while the museum complex has a free parking garage and spiffy wi-fi, there is a significant admission charge (although Sundays are free), and they do make you go through security. While these constraints aren't ideal, I think both are understandable, as there are genuine security concerns, and given the surrounding city's appalling roads and dubious water supply, I wouldn't ask their government to put any more money into making its tourist attractions free. There are a lot of museums out there on the racial history of America and I've been to many of the best ones, and this was definitely a top-tier experience thanks to both the specificity of its primary sourced stories and the ingenuity of their presentation. And while it's tough material, the civil rights museum is built around a central hub where visitors can rest and relax, and the uplifting call of negro spirituals rings through the halls. Both the knowledgeable and friendly people working there and the messaging of the museum itself will leave the visitor with an optimistic vision of Mississippi, and hope for the future of the human race.

We were staying in Vicksburg but made the drive to Jackson to see the museum. It was absolutely worth the drive and I definitely recommend it.

There was a load of rich history in the museum. It's a must-see museum. I felt proud to have the rights that I have today, as I learned about the struggles of my ancestors from MS. I was also able to meet one of the freedom fighters at the museum. The pictures of the freedom fighters around the museum was amazing. It was also exciting to have audio clips playing in the background along with short videos of moments to remember. The video footage that was played brought back monumental memories. It was also exciting that Oprah narrated some of the documentaries. The museum represents Jackson, MS well, and it tells the story of segregation in MS. As a bonus, I also enjoyed the Marty exhibit and The Negro Motorist Green Book Exhibit.

I was thoroughly impressed by how beautiful the museum and the exhibits were! I've visited civil rights museums in other states and this one is one the best.. I enjoyed learning more about the history of my people throughout the years! Although our past has been tough, we are in a better place today! Our future will be even better..

One of the most amazing museums I have ever seen. I've only ever cried inside two museums, this is one of them. It chronicles the history of the Civil Rights movement, primarily in Mississippi but also puts the history in the context of national events and history. Each wing, arranged like petals of a flower around a central atrium-like intersection, chronicles a different aspect of the movement. The museum was highly personal for very unusual reasons. As a kid growing up in a very small place in Georgia, I remember the integration of my second grade class. Georgia lagged well behind the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision striking down "separate but equal facilities" in actual implementation (as did Mississippi). This made the education-focused wing of the museum especially poignant. Will Thomas, the first African-American kid I got to know well personally in second grade, is still a good friend (Facebook, etc). I texted him about this museum. Yes, it is that moving. It is part of a two-museum complex, but the other focuses more on general Mississippi history. The Civil Rights museum is the one that is the must-see. There are wings on slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, influential people, education, Jim Crow laws, protests / struggles and events in recent years. The building itself is quite imposing, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Admission is only $10 if not a senior or student. If you only have time to do one thing in the area, definitely make it seeing this museum.

Wonderful, well done and necessary for the understanding of the civil rights movement. I always visit a museum in each state I visit. You can purchase a ticket for both museums which are in the same bldg, they also had a exhibition going on upstairs called "The Spirits Of The Passage". Down the hall you can view Slaves Stories beautifully done on quilts! Don't forget to visit the lovely gift shop for goodies. We saw lots of school children visiting on this day. This would be a great place to do a group meet up. I actually spent a few hrs thru out the museum on a Friday. You really need to take your time and absorb each area. There are many areas and places to sit and have lunch inside and out. This museum was one st history lessons this far. They touch on the subject from a educational stand point, dignity, respect, and Truths. The staff were very helpful and gave us tips thru out museum to get the most out of our day. I highly recommend everyone spend some time here to grow and learn.

Even if you only have a couple of hours you should go!! This museum is sobering. The different rooms present different events, incidents, and situations from a range of periods in Mississippi's history as it relates to Civil Rights. The layout is intriguing and the content is very engaging. The staff is very friendly and helpful. This museum is a must visit for a humbling experience.

One of the best museums I've ever been to and I've been to museums in numerous countries. Worth the money and time spent. Do plan on being here for the majority of the day. Highly recommend!

Two museums in one location... The history of Mississippi and the long awaited civil rights museum. Both sides of this amazing building are artfully and thoughtfully done. There are all kinds of hidden gems just in the design elements. The story of Mississippi begins as far back as when the Choctaw and Chickasaw first formed and it takes you through time all the way to modern times. The civil rights museum was so creatively done I found myself standing and staring at all the symbols ...all of the little things that might be overlooked if you walked through too quickly. Take your time when you travel through this museum. It is more than reading and looking at images, it is also appreciating the structure , the format, the imagery -even on the ceiling and on the floor- that is really moving. My pictures don't come close to doing it justice. You need to go! The history of Mississippi is just American history! It's a story that is so so significant to all of us no matter what state you are from. I highly recommend this museum.

I visited the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum anout a monthly about a month ago with a large group with the University of Texas at San Antonio. We visited this site as a part of our 5 day Civil Rights & Social Justice bus experience. Before our tour began, we were greeted by some of the museum staff who have us an overview of the museum's history, layout and perspective on Mississippi's culture. Additionally, the staff was accommodating of our large group needs and allowed us to have our large group meeting in some of the rooms. As for the museum, it was an AWESOME experience. If you live in Jackson or are just visiting, or if you want to grow in your understanding of history and become a more socially conscious citizen, check out the museum! As for the museum itself, there are multiple sections within that highlight different times/events/people important to the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and the nation as a whole. They accomplish this through a variety of videos, interactive displays, videos, audio recordings, pictures, etc. As a native of Louisiana, I even learned a some history of my own state.

Was in town for some business at the capital. My host told me I needed to check out this museum before I left Jackson. Let me tell you, absolutely nothing could have prepared me for how extensive and detailed this museum is. Absolutely breathtaking the amount of detail out into the exhibitions. You can literally see and feel the love and attention to detail that has been put fourth. Staff are not only friendly but they are excited to be a part of the museum. The price to entry was more than reasonable and the cafe onsite had small sandwiches and drinks. Five stars, my host was right this is a not to be missed experience.

Absolutely amazing... though, that seems inappropriate to say considering the horrible past that the museum flawlessly brings to light. As you walk through the museum, you're shaken to your core at the cruel, abhorrent, ways black Mississippians have been treated. It highlights the successes that select black Mississippians have thrived despite those deplorable circumstances and unjust treatment. My wife and I were extremely emotional by the time we completed the tour and will absolutely visit again! A Jackson MUST!

Wonderful, thought-provoking and well-designed museum provides necessary factual balance in Jackson, still full of so much debunked "Lost Cause" public statuary and Confederate iconography. This museum is so well done - it's interactive, well organized, thoughtful, and viscerally affecting. We hope every schoolchild in the area gets to come here on a field trip. It exceeded our expectations of a civil rights museum in Mississippi - once the cruelest and most violent battlegrounds in the 1960s civil rights movement. We took our time here, spending over 2 hours experiencing the exhibits. I knew that life in segregation days was sharply divided, and I knew about the sit-ins, but I had never heard of the wade-ins: since blacks were barred from every inch of beach on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, civil rights groups organized wade-ins to desegregate the beaches (and participants were arrested and beaten in the process). This museum gave me a new perspective on how bad life under Jim Crow was - I knew intellectually it was scary, unjust, violent and unfair. But this museum made me FEEL that in a new way, without being shocking (no gruesome lynching photos) or unrelentingly in-your face. It's a respectful presentation of the experience of being a black person in Mississippi, and it's eye-opening. I will also say that in this era of extreme political polarization this museum is not an us-versus-them grievance experience. It is very well-balanced and all people are welcome here. I have been in civil rights museums whose presenters are obviously angry and trying to motivate - this is not that experience at all. It's about building understanding between the races about what life was like in segregated Mississippi. Maybe that's why it's so powerful. 5 eye-opening stars

I enjoyed it when I worked for the state an did painting work on it . It is a great place to learn an see history of what happened here in Mississippi when I was a small child . Y'all come visit it , thanks y'all.

Everyone should take the time to visit this museum. We thought we'd be there a couple of hours but ended up spending 5-6! It was educational, emotional and well worth the time to understand black history in the US and the civil rights movement. Most of the stories told are never taught in schools and SHOULD be. It was extremely powerful. Highly recommend!

The museum is divided into what look like five divisions on a spoke. One focuses on the civil war era and earlier, 2-3 of them focus on the 1960s and the remaining 1- 1 1/2 are on contemporary.

The experience here will leave you speechless. We were there for almost 4 hours , and I feel that I need to go back at least a second time to digest everything. What you experience helps you to remember the past and to cherish the future. There is so much rich history here to learn. This is place that you want to put on your bucket list.

The atmosphere here is A1! The staff was very friendly and professional!! There is so much that I did not know and still learning. I plan to go back real soon!

I have been trying to get hear for a couple of years and I'm glad I finally made it. Mississippi was pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement and the museum covered its history well. This museum has so much information. You'll learn interesting facts from the exhibits. I've heard my dad share stories of growing up in the state and o gained more detail from the museum. If you're in Jackson, you have to plan a visit.

This museum covers a lot of Mississippi's atrocities during the civil rights movement. You need to take your time to learn what the people struggled with and how they overcame. Be prepared to read. There are some short movies throughout the museum, if you have time you should view them. I only had one day, I think that you need at least two to experience everything.

Excellent! Truly learned a lot. Hope to go back and spend an entire day. There's a lot of history to digest there. The interactive exhibits were great and the staff was very helpful & knowledgable.

Very nice museum. You can purchase a ticket for either the Civil Rights Museum or the History Museum or both. We only did the civil rights museum due to not having much time. We went on a Sunday around 2:30pm. They closed at 5. We were not able to take in a lot of the short movies because we wanted to make sure we went through the entire museum before they closed. The short films we saw were very good. The museum is set up very nicely and you learn a lot. Will go back again to catch some of the things I missed.

On Saturday, I spent all day long at the Vicksburg Civil War battle site. On Sunday, I spent all afternoon at the Mississippi civil rights museum. The combination of these two experiences were amazing, interesting, eye-opening, and most of all: essential. I think any history buff, any educator, and anybody at all who is a citizen of United States, will thoroughly enjoy the rich, well presented, plethora of experiences! The Mississippi civil rights museum is brand spanking new. It is artfully put together, it immerses the visitor in a thorough history of the struggle for civil rights in the state of Mississippi. The viewing rooms for the well put together films are exceptionally creative. Unexpected special effects in thoughtfully laid out places, appeal to all age groups. My children were enthralled with the spinning wheel to tell them which jobs they would have to take back in the day. My kids and many other children were very interested in the computer activated digital interactions screens towards the middle of the museum. Older visitors seem to love to sit in the atrium, just enjoying the atmosphere: people watching here is second to none! I applaud the creators of this Museum. The quality is so exceptional. The experience is so phenomenal. I would make a trip to Jackson for the express purpose of spending more time at this museum with my entire family. The feeling, was so well portrayed that I was brought to the brink of tears on several occasions, viewing the struggle of civil rights is not an easy task, and this museum makes it just difficult enough, so that my level of empathy and understanding is delicately placed right where it should be: appreciation for all human beings and their basic civil rights.

What an unbelievable, tremendous time I had at this museum. I spent about 3.5 hours watching various clips, reading inserts and just gaining more in what is an intricate part of history. It is well worth the $10 entrance fee and for $5 more you can visit the Museum of Mississippi History, another fabulous site to learn about the development of this state. Back to the Civil Rights Museum, every piece of history displayed was worth reading. If you go, this is not a museum you can do in 1-2 hours. You really need a half of a day. The staff was very pleasant and the ticket taker really helped me in what to try and see first, especially with a school group that was on the way when I arrived. If you are ever in Jackson, Mississippi this is a must see.

This museum is powerful and moving. Most of the exhibits have a lot to read, although there are plenty of interactive exhibits also, but you need plenty of time to fully submerse yourself in this museum. If you are a person who wants to read every story you need to plan to spend an entire day at this one museum. It was a very emotional experience for me. You will see the worst of humanity and the best. The stories of courage and people who took a stand to do the right thing are truly inspiring.

If you have time to do one thing in Jackson, I recommend going to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The displays are very engaging and use a variety of presentation styles to cover a wide range of civil rights topics in memorable ways. The museum staff is readily available to answer questions in all of the rooms, and they know their material well. There's a ton of information to absorb and think about here for all age levels. Whether or not you're familiar with the long and ongoing history of civil rights in Mississippi, everyone should make time to visit this amazing museum.

Very educational and well put together!!! A beautiful building and so much to see. You will need a few hours!!

I was in Jackson, Mississippi for the weekend and visited the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Mississippi History Museum. My tour of both museums were spectacular. Very educational and well worth the trip to see. Both museums are housed in one building and the price was reasonably. The staff were very friendly and well knowledgeable about the history of Mississippi. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

This is an amazing museum. It addresses difficult and shameful parts of history, but does so with a quiet clarity that does not polarize visitors. Many sections are interactive, and others make very effective use of sound and film to present the events. Especially chilling was the section showing the number of lynchings during different time periods. But it is not entirely without positive exhibits, showing the improvements that have occurred. It is an important museum, and one that can withstand several visits, just to take it all in. I had only a couple of hours there, and I'm still thinking about all that I saw.

I highly recommend visiting. It was very eye opening. I shed a few tears seeing what people had to go thru because the color of their skin. The museum is put together nicely. I spin 2 hours inside, and I didn't get to watch all the videos. I will come back to visit because I want to bring my family. It's a great learning experience

Traveling across country I made my stop to this museum after hearing some strong recommendations from friends. First this place was mind blowing good!!! The museum layout was in a very thoughtful chronological order of historical facts. It was an open book with so much truth that I never knew because this part of American history was never taught in school. You will be amazed by the amount of documented hurtful actions taken against people of color during that time in history. The museum is very modern, super clean and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours looking at the artifacts, the pictures and reading the documents and the interactive exhibits. This is a good place for young kids to come and learn but also a place for all ages to come and restore hope in the progress of America. Entry cost is reasonable and I would highly recommend to all.

I went with my school before covid everyone was so nice the history is real there is audio and videos of historical black people i rate it a 10/10 best historical place i've been to

This museum is honestly better than the Civil Rights museum in Memphis. It really explores the backbone of the civil rights movement, including people like Ella Baker, Medgar Evars and Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B Wells and countless other forgotten but fundamental women of the movement. Loved it! The gift shop in Memphis is better, I wish they had T Shirts you could buy. Well worth the visit, you need 2 days to do everything.

There is so much to gain in visiting this attraction of knowledge. It is difficult ti imagine why it has taken so long to have people acknowledge the State's value of history and investing in our city. There is another wonderful museum (The Smith Robinson Museum) that traces the stories of African Americans. This museum received a tremendous amount of publicity and State wide funds. Once you enter the building you recognize the extreme investment that was placed in presenting this venue. Each person's experience will be different but I can state that you will walk away with an overwhelming feeling of awe and enlightenment. I think every person should visit this museum. The stories seem so personal and you are connected to the voices and history of a Mississippi that has not been fully told. It rivals that of the museum in D.C. easily.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum shares a building with the Mississippi History Museum. Both museums and the building opened in 2016 for the bicentennial of the state. My family and I had time for only the Civil Rights Museum. It was beautifully done by any standard. It was well organized thematically and chronologically, with multimedia presentations that engaged all ages. The exhibits contained enough historical and cultural context to explain to children or those unfamiliar with the history. We drove from Texas to Georgia, and this museum acted as a sort of introduction gateway for our kids. Once they had been exposed to the history, they were better prepared to experience it in Selma and Atlanta. The museum is just plain moving. The staff was helpful and patient with our little-kids' behavior. The building itself is beautiful. We don't have much reason to be in Jackson again soon, but the adults agree it would be worth going back to Jackson just to see more. The only weird issue for me is that the museums of MS history and the struggle for civil rights for all are separate museums when the histories are so inextricably linked. If I go back, I hope to learn more about the decision to separate the museums, which I'm sure was made thoughtfully.

This was an amazing museum located in Jackson. It just opened last year and is so well done. The building houses 2 museums. We went to the civil rights portion and is was so moving. It chronicles the time from slaves being brought to America from Africa through the present time. It is sad to experience all the inequities that were cast upon a group of people. Everyone needs to experience this museum. It was tough to experience and so emotional. Go to this museum and be determined to help continue to promote full equality.

Very friendly staff, very clean environment, and very factual. I enjoyed my visit and learned small details that I never knew. Definitely worth the visit

Very sobering venue. It should be a "must do" trip for each child in this state. Deals with uncomfortable times and profane acts, but this place was built to expose and educate people about these times.

An incredibly deft and deep dive into Mississippi and the civil rights struggles. Smart and engaging exhibits!

This museum presents a very interesting, informative, inspiring, and also heartbreaking journey through the fight for civil rights in the U.S. There is a lot of reading throughout, so I wouldn't recommend bringing young kids... but for the rest of us, it's a fantastic history lesson. To really see everything it would likely take 5+ hours, but if you're short on time you can get a good overview in 3-4 hours or hit the basics in 2 hours (depending on how busy it is). During my brief stop in Jackson, I went here and ate at Bully's - those two things were enough to make me want to visit again!

Two museums, one location! I love this Civil Rights Museum. It is very educational, informative and it displays our history. I'm so thankful that I had a chance to visit this Museum. I wish I had more time unfortunately, I was rushed by my hosts that brought me here. They live in MS, so if they wanted, they could go all the time. But since I travel frequently and live on the West Coast I cannot. We went on a Saturday so it was free normally it is $10. I love free! Security is at the door. Be careful not to take any weaponry inside of the museum. It will be confiscated.

All museums should take a note from the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. This place is ambitious in its scope and subject matter, but manages to create a fluid narrative and information flow, incorporating many varying media styles, without seeming cumbersome, muddled, or emotionally overwrought. That is not to say that you will not experience an internal emotional rollercoaster of your very own, you will. But the emotions are your own, reactions, brought up by the sheer power of the presented facts and exhibits. This museum does not pull punches, and it is all the better for it. Every American should take the time and opportunity to see what Mississippi has built from the ruins and rubble of its own racism. This museum serves as a reminder of where we can never again return as a country and also a beacon of hope for the hard road we have yet to walk, all united for freedom and justice and equality. We are not there yet. But we have come far. Museums like this one just may help shape younger generations into the voters and activists we need to turn equal laws into truly equal society.

I am not a southerner, but based on my experiences in various Southern states, I was blown away with the frankness of the way the Museum reckons with Mississipi's past. The exhibits are laid out thoughtfully so that you are guided through the experience in a specific order, rather than having a disjointed collection. There are some difficult sections, and the Museum tries to have you leave on a high note (how can we build a better future). My only complaint is that I wasn't able to set aside enough time in my trip to really get the full experience, but they let us in for free because the Museum was closing in less than an hour when we got there. Paid more than ticket price as a donation on the way out anyway - definitely an institution worth supporting, and I hope it will positively influence the regional discourse for a long time to come.

My kids (6 and 5) and I visited the museum last week on a slow weekday. Parking was easy (and free) thanks to the parking garage attached to the museum. Admission was free thanks to Blue Star Families (huge list of free museums on the BSF website) but would have definitely been worth regular admission. Because of the kids, we went through the exhibits faster than I would have liked; I probably would've spent 2-3 hours there if I were alone. The text within the exhibits gave an accurate overview of each topic and the arrangement of information and artifacts was both informative and aesthetically pleasing. The clockwise layout of the exhibits made navigating the museum easy and intuitive. One or two videos per exhibit was perfect for conveying a deeper layer of information than found in other areas of the exhibit; I appreciated warnings from signs and docents about the possibility of the videos containing graphic images but came in expecting to see violence because it is, after all, the truth about The South's history. I will definitely go out of my way in the future to come back to Jackson without my children so I can more thoroughly experience this museum.