The Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson will be offering free admission on Saturday, Feb. 21, in honor of former Gov. William Winter and First Lady Elise Winter.
Gov. Winter, who served in the state’s highest post from 1980-84, was a staunch supporter of public education. He championed the Education Reform Act of 1982, remembered as one of the most significant K-12 laws in state history. The legislation mandated statewide public kindergarten, established attendance requirements, increased teacher salaries, and implemented performance-based accreditation.
That commitment to education extended well beyond his time in office. According to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, one of his greatest legacies came after he left the governor’s mansion, when he convinced state leaders to open the Two Mississippi Museums in 2017 and helped secure the funding to build them.
“The Two Mississippi Museums stand at the intersection of Winter’s greatest passions – history, education, and racial justice,” a news release from MDAH noted. “He was a leading force behind the public/private partnerships that created the site’s conception and eventual construction. He once said that the museums ‘were built for all of us, but most especially they were built for our children and our grandchildren and future generations.’”
Winter served on the MDAH Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and was president for most of his tenure. He passed away in December 2020 at the age of 97. His wife of 70 years, First Lady Elise Winter, was a community activist and author who died just six months after her husband in 2021.
Maintaining the annual tradition of honoring the Winters, admission will be free to all at both the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History. The day of free admission is being made possible by Jones Walker LLP, which acquired Watkins, Ludlam, Winter, and Stennis where Gov. Winter worked for over 50 years.
“It is an honor and a privilege to recognize the contributions of Governor and First Lady Winter by supporting the Two Mississippi Museums’ William Winter Free Day,” Jones Walker LLP managing partner Bill Hines said. “We are confident that visitors will gain insight into their commitment to Mississippi’s history and their efforts toward educating future generations.”
The free day at the museums is not the only way the museums honor the Winters. The Foundation for Mississippi History established The William and Elise Winter Education Endowment to memorialize the Winters and their commitment to education and preservation, using funds to cover costs throughout the years such as admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students.
The Two Mississippi Museums are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museums are located at 222 North Street in Jackson.