The National Park Service is undertaking a study of civil rights sites in Mississippi to report to Congress on which sites might become part of the park system. A new NPS website explains the project and announces six public meetings around the state next week (I’ve also placed these meetings on the MissPres calendar to help us all keep track).
The National Park Service cordially invites you and any interested members of the public to participate in the Mississippi Civil Rights Sites Special Resource Study process by attending one of six open house meetings to be held in May, 2018 throughout the state of Mississippi.
Description:
The National Park Service study team will explain the special resource study process, answer your questions, and gather your ideas for the study. This is an important opportunity for you to provide your input and valuable information related to this study.
Date Start Time End Time Location 05/07/2018 11:30 AM 1:30 PM Delta State University
Ewing Hall, Jacob Conference Center
Cleveland, Mississippi 38733
05/07/2018 5:00 PM 7:00 PM Tallahatchie County Courthouse
401 W Court Street
Sumner, Mississippi 38957
05/08/2018 11:30 AM 1:30 PM Two Mississippi Museums Auditorium
222 North Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
05/08/2018 5:00 PM 7:00 PM Medgar Evers Library
4215 Medgar Evers Boulevard
Jackson, Mississippi 39213
(601) 982-2867
05/09/2018 5:00 PM 7:00 PM Philadelphia/Neshoba County Tourism Office at The Depot
256 West Beacon Street
Philadelphia, Mississippi 39350
05/10/2018 5:00 PM 7:00 PM Biloxi Visitor Center
1050 Beach Blvd
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
Comment on the Special Resource Study
We would like to hear your thoughts and idea about the Mississippi Civil Rights Sites Special Resource Study.
Please provide your comments on the following project scoping questions listed below.
Topic Questions: 1. What are the most important stories and people associated with the civil rights movement in the state of Mississippi? 2. Do you have any ideas or concerns about preserving and interpreting civil rights sites in the state of Mississippi? What are they? 3. What sites or places related to civil rights history would you suggest for consideration as part of this study? Why? 4. What ideas or comments would you like to share with us?
Categories: Biloxi, Civil Rights, Cleveland, Jackson, Philadelphia, Preservation People/Events, Sumner
Preservation in Mississippi 
Well, after all the demolitions the last decade plus, we know there are no sites left in Meridian, which considering how important the city was to the Movement in Mississippi, is not only a shame, but it also creates a gap in the commemoration and interpretation of the Movement that is not easily filled.
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Was the Meridian bus station demolished?
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No, not yet, but the Carnegie Library and COFO Headquarters have both been demolished in the last decade, in addition to buildings lost before then.
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Agreed that Meridian has taken itself out of the running in many ways, but what are the sites in other communities that should be considered? The Evers House, now an NHL, is one obvious site, but I’ll bet there are others in Jackson that might be worthy–the COFO Building, Stringer Grand Lodge, etc.
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Greenwood and McComb have several sites listed in Charles Cobb’s book On the Road to Freedom, so perhaps there should be consideration to their historic buildings. Jackson, of course, has the most buildings listed. Civil Rights Sites from Charles E. Cobb Jr.’s “On the Road to Freedom”
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