The Museum of Mississippi History continues to plan for the construction of its new home in Jackson. For decades the Museum of Mississippi History was located in the historic Old Capitol, Mississippi’s statehouse from 1839 to 1903. But the grand setting provided by the Old Capitol was offset by severe moisture problems and a lack of adequate space for exhibits, artifact storage, classrooms, and offices. A new building was being designed when Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the Old Capitol in August 2005, forcing the museum to close immediately.

The 2006 Legislature fully funded the restoration of the Old Capitol. It will reopen in 2009 as a museum separate from the Museum of Mississippi History, focusing on the history of the building, with exhibits on government in action, the importance of historic preservation, and the state’s different capital cities.