Today In History
5 Fun Facts About November 20 In Mississippi History
1. James Meredith is shot - On November 20, 1962, civil rights icon James Meredith was infamously shot by segregationist Aubrey James Norvell on his historic walk to desegregate the University of Mississippi. 2. Tupelo Tornado - On November 20, 2000, a massive tornado tore through Tupelo, Mississippi, leaving behind...
5 Fun Facts About November 19 In Mississippi History
1. In 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant ordered a failed amphibious assault on the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. The attack was the first step in what would become a successful Union campaign to take control of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. 2. In 1894, William Faulkner, one...
5 Fun Facts About November 18 In Mississippi History
1. In 1883, the Mississippi State Capitol building was destroyed by fire. The fire started in the attic and quickly spread, eventually resulting in the building's complete destruction. The cause of the fire was never determined, but it is thought to have been caused by a faulty chimney. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About November 17 In Mississippi History
1. In 1871, the University of Mississippi was established in Oxford. The university was originally known as the Mississippi University but changed its name to the University of Mississippi in 1892. 2. On November 17, 1884, the famous Mississippi state flag was adopted. The flag features a blue field with...
5 Fun Facts About November 16 In Mississippi History
1. On November 16, 1837, Mississippi became the first state in the United States to issue postage stamps. The stamps were designed by Henry S. Geyer and printed by Rollin & Underhill in New Orleans. 2. In 1885, the first-ever state fair was held in Mississippi. The fair was held...
5 Fun Facts About November 15 In Mississippi History
1. On November 15, 1863, Confederate General Stephen D. Lee led an unsuccessful attack on Union forces during the Battle of Campbell's Station in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lee, a Mississippi native, served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army and later became the first president of Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical...
5 Fun Facts About November 14 In Mississippi History
1. On November 14, 1960, the Freedom Riders arrived in Jackson, Mississippi to raise awareness about segregation in public transportation. The group of activists faced violence and arrests as they traveled through the South. 2. In 1907, the USS Mississippi battleship was commissioned in Newport News, Virginia. The ship would...
5 Fun Facts About November 13 In Mississippi History
1. On November 13, 1962, the University of Mississippi was forced to allow its first African American student, James Meredith, to attend classes after a long and violent battle against segregation. 2. On November 13, 2005, Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina, which caused widespread destruction and claimed the lives...
5 Fun Facts About November 12 In Mississippi History
1. On November 12, 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the United States of America. The state was carved out of the Mississippi Territory, which was created in 1798. 2. On November 12, 1862, the first battle of the Civil War occurred in Mississippi. The Battle of...
5 Fun Facts About November 11 In Mississippi History
1. The city of Biloxi was settled on November 11, 1699, by French explorers led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. The settlement was named "La Nouvelle Orléans" in honor of the Duke of Orléans and eventually became the present-day city of Biloxi. 2. November 11, 1918, marked the end of...
5 Fun Facts About November 10 In Mississippi History
1. In 1969, the Mississippi River hit its highest recorded level in Vicksburg on November 10th. The river reached a height of 47.8 feet, causing widespread flooding in the area. 2. On November 10, 1917, the Camp Shelby military base was established near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The base was named after...
5 Fun Facts About November 9 In Mississippi History
1. In 1965, Hurricane Betsy caused significant damage to coastal Mississippi. The storm surge broke through a levee in Biloxi, flooding the city and resulting in several deaths. 2. On November 9, 1875, James Lynch became the first African American to serve as the Speaker of the Mississippi House of...