Until about 70 years ago, documentation of the histories of Mississippi, its town, cities and communities was confined to history textbooks.
Aside from the historic Natchez Trace Parkway – the old Indian foot trail between Natchez and Nashville rebuilt in the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Commission project during the Great Depression – there were few markers to commemorate historic sites throughout the state.
It wasn’t until 1948 that the state legislature created its state historical marker program.
Today, there are more than 1,300 historical markers (and counting) in the state. Few areas have embraced the program better than the Golden Triangle. There are 105 historic markers in the four counties, 57 in Columbus/Lowndes County alone. Oktibbeha County has 23, not counting the 22 located on the Mississippi State campus. Noxubee County has 17 historical markers, with eight more located in Clay County.
The state’s program was designed to encourage citizens to play a role in commemorating history. In Columbus, former CVB director James Tsismanakis was a strong advocate for adding markers for notable Columbians such as Red Barber and Josh Meador. More recently, Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science history students have helped erect historical markers such as a marker honoring MUW’s founder, the six students who integrated MUW, a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker for civil rights leader Emmett J. Stringer and a marker commemorating Glee’s Corner, a center of Black commercial business in post-Civil War Columbus.
Individuals can apply for markers, too – as Columbus citizen and sports buff Glenn Lautzenheiser did in 2022 to honor boxing legend and Columbus native Henry Armstrong.
Mississippi has also done a great job recognizing the state’s contributions to culture and entertainment. The Mississippi Blues Trail features 429 historic markers. The state has 86 markers on the Country Music Trail and another 17 on the Mississippi Writers Trail. The state’s Civil Rights Trail, with 157 markers, tells the story of the movement in the state that was often at ground zero in the struggles for racial justice.
All of these bits of Mississippi history that were confined to textbooks have come alive in a way that makes history fun. It’s one thing to read about early Disney Animator Josh Meadors, but far more interesting to stand near the site of his childhood home in Columbus and read the marker noting his achievements. These markers help make our history more accessible and infinitely more fun than reading the dry accounts found in textbooks.
The success of Mississippi and the Golden Triangle in capturing these historic people, places and events is a testament to those people and groups who have worked to make sure those histories are preserved and commemorated.
And there’s always room for more.
The more curious we are about the history that has shaped our community, the more likely we are to see new markers erected to tell a more complete story of who we are and what we have to celebrate.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
