1. On April 17, 1861, Mississippi seceded from the United States and joined the Confederacy, becoming the second state to do so after South Carolina. The decision was made in response to Abraham Lincoln's election as president and the growing tensions over states' rights and slavery.

2. On April 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The case had been initiated by a group of African American parents in Topeka, Kansas, but it had a major impact on Mississippi and other Southern states where segregation was widespread.

3. April 17, 1997, marks the opening of the Grammy Museum Mississippi in Cleveland. The museum is dedicated to exploring the history and impact of American music, with a special emphasis on Mississippi artists such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson.

4. On April 17, 2018, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law the controversial "gestational age" abortion ban, making it illegal for women to get abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of a medical emergency. The law was immediately challenged by women's rights groups and eventually struck down by a federal judge.

5. April 17, 2019, saw the opening of the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, marking a major milestone for the state's tourism industry. The state-of-the-art facility features a variety of marine life exhibits, including river otters, dolphins, and sharks. With a focus on education and conservation, the aquarium promises to be a major attraction for visitors of all ages.