In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, admission to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History will be free from Jan. 18-21.
Dr. King’s involvement in Mississippi included walking in Medgar Evers’ funeral procession in 1963, visiting Greenwood in support of the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, as well as testifying in support of the Mississippi Democratic Party during the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heart of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice,” King said during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. “Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.”
Sponsored by FedEx, the holiday weekend will include the annual MLK Night of Culture on Monday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. inside the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium, with this year’s theme being inspired by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Those set to perform during the Monday night event include visual artists Ashley Harper and Lichelle Brown, poets Joseph “JT3” Thomas III, Jermain Van Buren Jr., and Jasmine “JT” Thomas, along with musicians Jayla Lomax, Twurt Chamberlain, Amara Nicole, Ally Durr, and Janis Johnson Durr. Mississippi Elite Dance & Cheer and Jack and Jill of America’s Jackson chapter will also be part of the show.
Activities during the free weekend at the Two Mississippi Museums included themed crafts, student performances, museum tours on voting rights, and gallery talks from Freedom Rider Hezekiah Watkins. Staff from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office will also be on-site for a voter registration drive.
“We are grateful to FedEx for their continued support of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration,” said Katie Blount, director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “Welcoming the public as guests of FedEx allows more people to experience the rich, historical stories in the museum and honor this important holiday.”
Going into its sixth year of sponsoring free admission on MLK weekend at the Two Mississippi Museums, FedEx decided to go a step further in 2025 and include Tuesday, Jan. 21 as a free day in honor of National Day of Racial Healing.
“At FedEx, we believe that every person deserves a chance to access opportunities that lead to success in work and life,” said Rose Jackson Flenorl, manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity at FedEx. “Dr. King dreamed this vision and we are proud to continue supporting the Two Mississippi Museums and their efforts to help visitors connect with Dr. King’s legacy.”
The Two Mississippi Museums are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museums are located at 222 North Street in Jackson.
