This pinch pot, by Mississippi potter George Ohr, will be part of the exhibit.

Thirty-six iconic objects from the MDAH museum division collection will be featured in a limited-time exhibit March 23–April 29 at the Old Capitol Museum. From the Clarksdale Bell used for trade by Spanish explorers in the 1500s to the flip flops worn by a female Freedom Rider incarcerated at the Hinds County jail in 1961, this collection gives visitors a tangible glimpse of Mississippi’s history. Many of these items have not been seen since Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of the Old Capitol in 2005 and won’t be seen again until the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History open in 2017.

The fundraising gala, A Walk through History, will offer a sneak preview of the exhibit as well as a private viewing of the rare twenty-star flag that flew over the United States only in 1818, the year after Mississippi became the twentieth state. Sponsored by the Foundation for Mississippi History, the black tie optional event will be held on Thursday, March 22, 6–9 p.m. at Old Capitol Museum. Tickets are $100 per person. For tickets call 601-576-6885 or make a contribution online and designate your gift as “Walk Through History.” Continue reading