Former governor William F. Winter will be the speaker for the second annual Statehood Day celebration at the Old Capitol Museum. The program, to be held at noon on Friday, December 10, in the House of Representatives Chamber, will commemorate Mississippi’s entrance into the Union. A reception will follow.
“The 193rd anniversary of Mississippi’s admission to the Union cannot be properly observed unless we stop to remind ourselves of the generational ties that bind us together and the shared experiences that now make us one people,” Winter said. “A visual part of this memory is found in the beautifully restored Old Capitol, almost as old as the state itself, which stands as noble affirmation of our storied past. Now a new state historical museum is planned to be built to commemorate our state’s bicentennial and the historic events that have marked those 200 memorable years.”
Winter served as governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984, lieutenant governor from 1972 to 1976, and state treasurer from 1964 to 1968. He was a longtime member of the MDAH board of trustees, serving many years as president.
“We are honored to have Governor Winter speak at our second annual Statehood Day Celebration,” said Clay Williams, Old Capitol Museum director. “His perspective as a former governor of the state and longtime president of the MDAH board of trustees makes him a perfect choice to address the importance of this event.”
The Mississippi Territory was organized in 1798 and included both modern-day Mississippi and Alabama. On December 10, 1817, President James Monroe signed the resolution admitting Mississippi into the Union as the twentieth state. Governor Haley Barbour gave the address at last year’s inaugural Statehood Day celebration.
The Old Capitol, Jackson’s oldest building, is a National Historic Landmark. Located on State Street at Capitol, the museum’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, free of charge. For more information call 601-576-6920 or email the Old Capitol.