Mississippi civil rights museum gains momentum, but not a done deal
JACKSON, Miss. -- In a state long defined by strident racial divisions, there's serious discussion about building a civil rights museum.
It would be a place where scholars and tourists could learn about lynchings, segregation and voting-rights struggles.
A bill that cleared the Mississippi House 117-3 last week would authorize the state to issue $50 million in bonds to develop a museum.
The discussion among elected officials now is not about whether a museum should be built -- but rather about where the potential tourist magnet could go.
Civil rights museums are attracting thousands of visitors each year in Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama, and officials in Mississippi see the potential for revenue.
Read entire article at AP
It would be a place where scholars and tourists could learn about lynchings, segregation and voting-rights struggles.
A bill that cleared the Mississippi House 117-3 last week would authorize the state to issue $50 million in bonds to develop a museum.
The discussion among elected officials now is not about whether a museum should be built -- but rather about where the potential tourist magnet could go.
Civil rights museums are attracting thousands of visitors each year in Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama, and officials in Mississippi see the potential for revenue.
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