1. On March 1, 1871, the Mississippi legislature passed the Civil Rights Act, which granted all citizens the right to equal treatment under the law regardless of race or color. This was a significant moment in the state's history as it marked a step towards ending the Jim Crow era.

2. In 1889, the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Mississippi State University) opened its doors to students. This land-grant institution has since become a leading university in the state and region, offering a wide range of academic programs and research opportunities.

3. On March 1, 1956, Autherine Lucy, the first African American student to attend the University of Alabama, was expelled from the school after just three days due to violent protests by white students. Lucy later enrolled at the University of Mississippi and became the first African American to graduate from the school in 1963.

4. In 1960, African American students staged sit-ins at Woolworth's lunch counter in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, as part of the civil rights movement. This peaceful protest aimed to challenge segregation laws and led to the desegregation of public places in the state.

5. March 1, 2002, marked the first day of the Bassmasters Classic fishing tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. This annual event, which attracts thousands of anglers and fishing enthusiasts from around the world, has been held in various locations across Mississippi over the years, including Jackson and Greenville.