A place where state lawmakers once gathered to debate and pass legislation is open to the public with expanded visiting hours.
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced that the Old Capitol Museum is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Built in 1839, the Old Capitol is Mississippi’s most historic public building and the site of several pivotal moments in the state’s history. These include passage of the Married Women’s Property Act of 1839, Mississippi’s secession from the Union in 1861, and the drafting of the state constitutions of 1868 and 1890.
Designated a National Historic Landmark, the Old Capitol is also recognized as one of the nation’s premier examples of Greek Revival public architecture. When completed in 1839, its massive limestone exterior, copper dome, and grand interior spaces made it the most distinguished building in Mississippi.
The building officially stopped operating as the state’s main capitol in 1903, but the House of Representatives got a taste of what it was like to work inside the venue during a special session this past summer. With the House’s chamber in the new capitol building undergoing renovations, the chamber met in the Old Capitol in July and passed the Mississippi Chancery Youth Court Act of 2026.
While guests are free to visit the Old Capitol Museum at any time during open hours, reservations are preferred. Folks can schedule their visit in advance by emailing ocmscheduling@mdah.ms.gov.
