1. Mississippi’s First Art Museum Opened on March 18, 1911
On March 18, 1911, the Mississippi Art Association opened the state’s first art museum in Jackson. The museum has since expanded and grown into the Mississippi Museum of Art, which now houses over 6,000 works of art.

2. The First Mississippi Unionist Convention Began on March 18, 1861
On March 18, 1861, the first of two Mississippi Unionist Conventions began in Jackson. The convention was held in response to the state’s decision to secede from the Union, and was attended by delegates who remained loyal to the United States.

3. The USS Mississippi Was Launched on March 18, 1901
On March 18, 1901, the USS Mississippi, a battleship built at the Newport News Shipbuilding Company, was launched. The ship served in both World War I and World War II before being decommissioned in 1956.

4. Mississippi Was Admitted to the Union on March 18, 1817
On March 18, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state to be admitted to the Union. Prior to its statehood, Mississippi was part of the Mississippi Territory, which was created in 1798.

5. Democratic Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy Visited Mississippi on March 18, 1960
On March 18, 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy visited Mississippi while campaigning for the presidency. Kennedy spoke to a crowd of supporters in the state capitol, and his visit helped to generate support for his campaign in the state.