1. In 1881, the last known sighting of the now-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker in Mississippi was reported near the town of Yazoo City.

2. In 1952, the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, a state-sponsored organization aimed at preserving segregation and suppressing civil rights movements, was established.

3. On September 12, 1962, James Meredith, an African American student, was barred from enrolling in the all-white University of Mississippi despite a court order. This incident sparked violent riots and led to federal intervention, ultimately resulting in Meredith being enrolled and becoming the first African American student at the university.

4. In 1990, Hurricane Hugo made landfall in Mississippi, causing significant damage and resulting in 3 deaths in the state.

5. On September 12, 2015, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History were announced to be built in Jackson, Mississippi. They both opened to the public on December 9, 2017.