Online Database of Historic Resources in Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has created a database with information on the historic resources in the state, complete with architectural information and photos. Click here to find out more about the database. Old Capitol Ornaments and Mississippi Note Cards For Sale Purchase one of these great items and help support preservation in Mississippi!  Click here for ordering information MDAH Preservation Grants Over 2 million in grants for historic preservation projects across the state were awarded by the Department of Archives and History in 2011. Click here to check out the projects that received grants.   Become a Fan of MHT on Facebook by clicking here!   Historic Preservation Curriculum Available for Download The historic preservation curriculum for use in Mississippi Schools is available for download by clicking here.   Preservation Professionals Form In an effort to build a data base of professionals involved in preservation across the state MHT is soliciting the names of those involved in the preservation trade.  More information and a form to fill out is available by clicking here.
	"Mississippi Heritage Trust is an organization that seeks to protect Mississippi's irreplaceable cultural heritage - our towns and places, our sense of place that everyone recognizes as Mississippi, the place that inspired our literary greats, the place that is cherished by each Mississippian, and the place that is known throughout the world as a birthplace of creative genius." Ron Miller - Past President, Mississippi Heritage Trust

2012 Heritage Award Wiinner - Meridian City Hall

2012 Heritage Awards Announced

The Mississippi Heritage Trust is pleased to announce the new list of the Heritage Award winners for 2012. 21 awards were given out to outstanding preservation projects from across Mississippi on April 27th in Ocean Springs. The award winning projects demonstrated excellence in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of our architectural and cultural heritage.

This year the award winning projects ranged from restoration and rehabilitation of railroad depots, city halls, a courthouse, houses, commercial buildings, to the conversion of a historic high school in Pascagoula into senior housing. In addition special awards were presented for African American preservation, historic district preservation. This year the most prestigious Lifetime Achievement was given to Sam Kaye of Columbus. These projects and leaders in preservation represent a commitment to the preservation of Mississippi’s history and desire to save and reuse important landmarks of the past. All demonstrate commitment, leadership and achievement worthy of statewide recognition.

Click here to view descriptions

of the award winning projects

Power of Preservation in Economic Development Conference Presentations

Now Available

This year the Mississippi Main Street Association, Mississippi Heritage Trust, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History joined together to present a conference focused on preservation as an economic development tool. The conference featured speakers from across the country including keynote speaker Donovan Rypkema of Place Economics in Washington D.C who is nationally known for his work in using historic preservation as an economic development tool. Other speakers included Randy Hemann from Downtown Salisbury, Inc., John Hildreth from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and representatives from the Mississippi Press Association, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi State University, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Select presentations from the conference are now available for download.

To download conference

presentations click here

Lowry House with restored windows

Lowry House Exterior Almost Finished

Work on the exterior restoration of the Lowry House is almost complete!  We have been working on the exterior since the late summer of 2011 and now are nearing the end of the work. All of the doors and windows have been restored to working condition The siding has been scraped, repaired, and painted. The new roof also has been installed. The porches have been repaired and the rear porch is awaiting its new glass wall enclosure to be manufactured. Remaining work, besides the glass wall, includes final touch ups on the exterior work, installation of the front shutters, and clean up of the site. The rest of the work is scheduled to be finished by the end of March. Historic Renovations of Yazoo is the contractor on the project and the exterior phase is partially funded by a Community Heritage Preservation Grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Another exciting announcement regarding the Lowry House is that MHT has been approved for a Community Heritage Grant to help complete the rehabilitation of the interior, the last phase of the project. Construction documents are in the final stages of completion and when finished the interior phase can be put out to bid.

MHT is also working to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) certification for the project to demonstrate that historic buildings can be made energy efficient. It is the first historic project of its kind in Mississippi to apply for LEED certification.

MHT has been working hard to save the former home of Mississippi Governor Robert Lowry (1882-1890) located in Jackson since it was placed on the 10 Most Endangered list in 2005.  The house can be documented to the 1870s and is one of Jackson’s few remaining raised cottages with Greek Revival and Italiante details. MHT moved the house in 2007 to save it and has been working on plans for its rehabilitation since then. MHT plans to use the building for its new headquarters and open a Preservation Resource Center in the building where people can come learn more about the tools to preserve historic buildings.

To find out more information about the

Lowry House project click here.

Preservation Work for 2012

2011 was a very busy year for MHT and 2012 will be no different! 

We have much planned for the new with several projects across the state. Here is what we will be working on in 2012:

• Continuing our work on the Lowry House with the completion of the exterior restoration and starting work on the rehabilitation of the interior of the house.
• Working on Historic Resource Surveys for McComb and Jackson.
• Preparing a National Register of Historic Places historic district nominations for the Belhaven neighborhood in Jackson.
• Working on Design Guidelines for Starkville and Hazlehurst.
• Continuing to advocate for preservation across the state and speaking at conferences, meetings, and events about the power of historic preservation.

Here are some of the things we worked on so far this year:

• Planning for the 2012 Experience Mississippi Historic Preservation Conference in Ocean Springs April 26th and 27th
• Selecting the 2012 Heritage Awards which were announced at the Preservation Conference
• Preparing National Register of Historic Places historic district nominations for Hernando, Starkville, and Carthage.

As a non-profit organization all that we do at the Mississippi Heritage Trust is a result of the financial support from our members and sponsors across the state, and country.

So if you are not a member, please consider joining (just click here or on the Join Now button on any page) us in the fight to save the special historic places that make Mississippi unique!

MHT Moved to its Temporary Location

In the beginning of December 2011 the MHT office moved from its former location in historic Standard Oil building in downtown Jackson to the recently rehabilitated historic GM&O Depot, also downtown. The Depot is located behind the Charlotte Capers building. The Depot is a state office building that houses the Mississippi Department of Archives and History - Museums Division. MHT will remain in the Depot until the Lowry House is completed. Contact information will remain the same for MHT and the new physical address will be 618 East Pearl Street.

Saving Mississippi's Historic Places

After Hurricane Katrina

House on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi after Katrina and

after restoration work was completed through a grant

from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Over six years ago Hurricane Katrina slammed into the coast of Mississippi destroying many beloved historic landmarks. Thanks to the efforts of preservation organizations, volunteers from across the county, and the dedication of the coast residents, many of the historic places remaining after Katrina have been saved and are once again cherished historic places.

After seeing the incredible damage first hand after Katrina the Mississippi Heritage Trust changed its work plan to focus on saving as many of the historic structures left as possible.  MHT worked on damage assessment, volunteer coordination, raising funds for stabilization and other recovery work, media relations, and lobbying for grant funding. 

The Mississippi Heritage Trust is proud to have been a part of the recovery after Katrina and greatly appreciates the incredible efforts of the historic property owners who persevered through numerous obstacles to save a small part of the coastal heritage of Mississippi for the future! 

To learn more about the efforts

of the Mississippi Heritage Trust

after Katrina click here.

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