Museum we are standing on the first floor in this National Historic landmark built in 1839, which makes this 175 years old this year. This is the oldest surviving building in jackson and a place where mississippi history happened. Over the 175 years many things occurred in this building within these halls that affected mississippis history made us what we are today. From 1839 to 1903 this building served as the Mississippi State house which was the witness of many important laws passed, visits by important statesmen across the south, a lot of important events took place here. For instance mississippi is he withdrew from the union in 1961 passed our last two constitution even the one in kpins today passed in 19 niept most of the universities and college were chartered here. Laws that granted rights and laws that took away rights where a passed here. Its easy to say within the walls that mississippi is where it is due due to the events here. We are standing inside the preservation hall where we discuss a number of things. The greek architecture yur. Its a great roe rotunda and dome and a beautiful portico at the front. William nichols was the architect, he had done a lot of work in other State Capitols such as alabama and north carolina. He was the second architect hired. The state of mississippi had to fire the first one because they didnt like his work. They kind of had to start over after he got the first floor built. The beginnings of the builds had some difficulties. But nichols was able to complete the project. He went on to design the governors mansion, a very renowned architect. And in 175 years the building has a had a tumultuous history in regards to structure. The foundation here we sit on is very difficult, the clay has caused a lot of foundation changes over the years. Theres been storms, hurricanes have ravaged this city, believe it or not. 1909 a hurricane came through and ripped off the roof. In the 2005 hurricane katarina came through and ripped off the roof as well which led to the restoration where we think we have created the most accurate restoration to date of what it looked like in 1939. One of the interesting exhibits we have is a rubble structure. During this last seifertation the contractors and building pulled a lot of stuff out that we put in a main rubble structure to be a visual representation of the buildings kind of rice and fall. In this structure we have 1840 bricks, 1961 fluorescent lighting be with and the kitchen sink in the lounge during the years. I think the rotunda dome is the distinction most people look at. As soon as you walk in and greet you we always look as the visitors to look up at the dome, 94 feet to the top some of the ornamentation inside the dome is original. We get the questions on what is original and what is 175 years old. Depending where you are you get a different answer. But inside the dome the rosettes and ornamentation 175 years old. Kids love coming in and stair up and twirl in circles. We enjoy giving them that feeling of you a here at the capitol. Now we are standing in the Governors Office at the old capitol, a room we restored to the best our ability. There have been many descriptions of this room throughout the years. One of the interesting ones comes in 1861. A british correspondent was here and he covered the secession. He describes at office as being republican simplest ity. The office was nice but from Great Britain the correspondent was ewed to covering kings and courts. But the governor didnt congress. John j. Petis one of the governors serving mississippi throughout the years, served during the civil year. He would rather eat fire or have lunch with any yankee. Petis was important to mississippi because he was instrumental in leading mississippi out of of the union becoming the sec state to do so following South Carolina eventually joining the rest of other states that led to the confederacy. The building was captured several times during the war, the first time in may of 1863 when union army and soldiers came in one of the first people coming in was a man by the name of fred grant. He was the son of the Union General grant. He came into the Governors Office when he came in there was the still lit pipe from john j. Petis. He apparently confiscated for his own use. Another governor i like to talk about was ames. He was a Union General who came union and lived in mississippi and eventually became governor. He had to deal with the violence of reconstruction, a difficult time in mississippi as mississippi is trying to go through those years of trying to deal with the former freedman and dealing with whites not happy about the situation and where mississippi was going. Ames was evenly forced out of office and moved out. Another governor is the last governor to serve inabling. He was the first governor to serve in the current State Capitol. We call the new capitol even though built in 1903 so its 111 years old. But it is the new capitol. Lonenou had to relocate government to a new structure. We are now standing in the most historic room in the state of mississippi. This is the house of represent he was chamber which was a witness to many of the most important events in our states history. For instance, on jan 9th of 1861 delegates voted 8415 to pull mississippi out of the union. The reasonsy clear they didnt leave much doubt in the documentation and journals passed and the statements made. They were doing it to defend the institution of the slavery. There was a tremendous concern on what would happen with a new republican government in National Office if the institution of safely would be attacked and would be database tried to be abolished. One of the most common questions we get here is why did mississippi secede . From that poif its clear to defend the institution of slavery. That is a different question than why did sole years fight in the civil war. Thats a ditch issue. The young man living in ruler mississippi who doesnt own slaves is fighting enduring the hardships of war due to other issues besides slavery doing it for home, state, not doing it to protect slavery an institution he doesnt take part in. Its a fine line we today in mississippi and across the country struggle with trying to determine the causes of war, the reasons people fight and why you know this country erupted into four years of bloody civil war. Besides all the passage of important legislation in room has witnessed many important statesmen. One of the most famous visits wasabi andrew jackson, came in 1840 a year after theabling was built was asked to speak in the names sake city. He had been asked to go to new orleans to take part in the 25th anniversary of his victory at the battle of new orleans against the british in the war of 1812 when city leaders learned he was going to be there they asked him to come here. He did at age 73, came to jackson it was a huge event in the young city. Many of the residents had been asked to come to the State Capitol and help decorate it to make it festive. Jackson was supposed to speak in this room but at age 73 his voice was too frail. His nephew read his speech from the front portico instead. Another important visit wasabi jefferson davis. He came in december of 1862 to boost sagging morale during the civil war. He was accompanied by his main general joseph e. Johnston who voud to be indid he funfatigued. After the civil war one of the more interesting stories that took place here deals with John Roy Lynch. He was a former slave who earned his freedom during the civil war and rose dramatically throughout the ranks, becoming a member of the Mississippi House of represent he was and eventually becoming the first black speaker of the house of representatives. One of the biggest ration to riches story is John Roy Lynch who we like to talk about. This room has seen a dramatic change in looks throughout the years. From the beginnings in 1839 through the end of the civil war in room would have been dominated by white men serving as representatives for mississippi. After the civil war and during reconstruction africanamericans had the opportunity to take part in the political process and did that for the next 10, 15 years. Unfortunately mississippi went through the redemption process where the White Democratic Party regained control through violence and economic intimidation. To the next 100 years almost whites again redominated the legislature and the political process. That was not overturned until the civil rights movement. 1950s and 60s. Hurricane katarina was a dramatic event in the history of the capitol. In august of 2005 is when hurricane katarina came through mississippi devastating the gulf coast and all the way to jackson and removed the roof here. We talked about everything from the native americans to the present day. The hurricane changed all that. Made us shut down as a state History Museum and closed us down until a decision was made to restore the building and turn it into a new museum with a new purpose. Er we are excited about the restoration. With limited money and funds and times were convinced when you walk the halls you are walking in the building as close it could be to 1839. But katarina was devastating. But it was a good thing. Without katarina we would not have gotten the bond bill onto restore the museum. And have all the exhibits that tell the history of this important placing. This is a National Historic landmark, the most important building in mississippi. When visitors come they with can walk the halls see exhibits and have a feeling of this is where history happened. History happened here is our motto. We hope people walk away with that idea. And this might be the only government class you ever take. Youre going to be a voter forever. Youre going to be a juror forever i need to give you tools that help you the rest of your life in those pur suits. Tuesday night at 8 Eastern High School teachers william camps and sunshine discuss how lessons affect pliks. As a history component this is a chance to learn about their story. The story doesnt begin the moment they were born it starts with people before them who shaped the world the borld operates. If they realize, wait a minute this doesnt just start and end with me but what i contribute where im coming from its all part of the bigger story. In that way allowing them to take in other peoples opinions, take in the perspectives of others through social media but also through video it gives them a chance to be able to think, well, this is how i see the world and and why is that in how can i expand that a little bit by taking other perspectives. Tuesday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on a cspan, cspan. Org and listen