The Old Mississippi State Capitol, also known as Old Capitol Museum or Old State Capitol, served as the

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

statehouse from 1839 until 1903. The old state capitol was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1969. In 1986, the structure was designated a

Mississippi Landmark A Mississippi Landmark is a building officially nominated by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and approved by each county's chancery clerk. The Mississippi Landmark designation is the highest form of recognition bestowed on prope ...

and became a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1990.

History

Construction

Although construction was initiated in 1833, there were problems with the architect and substandard materials. The original architect, John Lawrence, was replaced in 1836 by William Nichols, who oversaw completion of the 3-story structure in 1840.National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form (The Old Capitol)
Retrieved 2015-02-21. The exterior of the building was composed of brick, limestone, and stucco. A copper rotunda dome extended above the first floor. Wood was the principal material used for construction of the building's interior, with the exception of brick partition walls and

flagstone Flagstone (flag) is a generic flat Rock (geology), stone, sometimes cut in regular rectangular or square shape and usually used for Sidewalk, paving slabs or walkways, patios, flooring, fences and roofing. It may be used for memorials, headstone ...

s on the rotunda floor.

Occupancy

From 1839 until 1903, as Mississippi's statehouse, the old capitol was the site of several historical legislative events: * Passage of the Married Women's Property Act, the first law in any state to allow married women to independently own property, in 1839. * Passage of an

ordinance of secession An Ordinance of Secession was the name given to multiple resolutions drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861, at or near the beginning of the American Civil War, by which each seceding slave-holding Southern state or territory formally Secession in ...

in 1861. * Constitutional Convention of 1865. * Constitutional Convention of 1868, recognizing African American political rights. * Restoration of white rule in 1875. * Constitutional Convention of 1890, under which Mississippi is still governed. When construction of a newer

state capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...

was completed in 1903, the old capitol building was abandoned and remained so until 1916, when it was renovated for state office space. By 1960, all state agencies had vacated the structure and it was again renovated to become the State Historical Museum in 1961. In August 2005, winds from

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...

peeled off sections of the old capitol's copper roof. Mississippi Government Buildings and Property
Retrieved 2015-02-21. About four weeks later, rain from

Hurricane Rita Hurricane Rita was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Gulf of Mexico, tying with Hurricane Milton in 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, 2024, as well as being the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Part of the ...

infiltrated the building and damaged ceilings, walls, and ornamentation, as well as historical artifacts. Storm repairs and renovations were completed between 2007 and 2009, and the museum reopened to the public. The Old Capitol Museum is administered by the

Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is a state agency founded in 1902. It is the official archive of the Mississippi Government. Location The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is located at 200 North St., Jackson, ...

.Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Retrieved 2015-02-21.

Gallery

File:Mississippi Old Capitol Building Feb 20 1940.jpg, Old Mississippi State Capitol; February 20, 1940 File:Supreme Court Chamber in the Old Mississippi Capitol building.jpg, Supreme Court Chamber in the Old Mississippi Capitol building. Desk for counsel for the appellee. File:Mississippi Old State Capitol Building Senate Chamber.jpg, Old Mississippi State Capitol House of Representatives chamber. File:Mississippi Old State Capitol building rotunda.jpg, Old Mississippi State Capitol rotunda. File:Senate Chamber in Old Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson Mississippi.jpg, Old Mississippi State Capitol Senate Chamber

References

External links

Old Capitol Museum, at Mississippi State Department of Archives and History
{{Registered Historic Places National Historic Landmarks in Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Mississippi Former state capitols in the United States History museums in Mississippi Government buildings completed in 1839 William Nichols buildings Mississippi Landmarks National Register of Historic Places in Jackson, Mississippi 1839 establishments in Mississippi