Open Wednesday - Friday 9 - 4 pm
Call us at 662.423.3500
Email our director, Lane Meeks at tish.courthousemuseum@gmail.com
Marriage Capital of the South
Restoration of the Mural Scenes
Town of Tishomingo, MS
Date: August 18, 2023 (Friday)
Time: 10:00A.M.
Location: 1302 Main Street/Trace
The Old Courthouse Museum, Staff, and Board Members would like to extend a whole-hearted welcome to everyone, all ages and ethnic groups, to attend the opening day of meet the “ARTIST” that will be restoring the historical mural that was designed and implemented in 2017. Due to tornadoes, high winds that carry damaging objects, ice, and many days of rain, the community’s 90- ft wall mural arranged in collages highlighting the heritage of the local culture of the town will begin the restoration process to bring this piece of art back to its original state. We want the community to receive recognition and take part in this great process that leads the people to “take a walk back in time.”
Date: August 18, 2023 (Friday)
Time: 10:00A.M.
Location: 1302 Main Street/Trace
The Old Courthouse Museum, Staff, and Board Members would like to extend a whole-hearted welcome to everyone, all ages and ethnic groups, to attend the opening day of meet the “ARTIST” that will be restoring the historical mural that was designed and implemented in 2017. Due to tornadoes, high winds that carry damaging objects, ice, and many days of rain, the community’s 90- ft wall mural arranged in collages highlighting the heritage of the local culture of the town will begin the restoration process to bring this piece of art back to its original state. We want the community to receive recognition and take part in this great process that leads the people to “take a walk back in time.”
Living History Day at Old Courthouse Museum
Sept 2nd 2023
WANTED: Vintage and newly handcrafted textile items for display at Iuka Old Courthouse Museum.
The Old Courthouse Museum will participate in this year’s Iuka Heritage Day with its own Living History event on Saturday, September 2nd. The museum will be open from 9:00 to 3:00.
The upstairs courtroom will serve as the display area for various types of textiles to include quilts, books, magazines, patterns, vintage linens, tapestries, and woven blankets. This serves as a request to bring your precious family memory items to the museum for display. Each item will be separately identified, well taken care of and returned to you the week following the event. Please provide a typed or hand written short info card with likely date and maker of the item as well as any known history. Items will we accepted now through Aug 30th. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00-4:00 to accept your items.
The Iuka Apron Museum will also provide a clothesline display of their wonderful collectible aprons.
Our Native American room will be open with a chance to meet members of the Cherokee Tribe that were such a hit at lasts year’s Heritage Day in Mineral Springs Park.
Historic tours of the museum will be given throughout the day.
In celebration of Iuka’s fame as the Marriage Capital of the South with over 44,000 marriages performed, mock Tom Thumb type weddings will be held for anyone wishing to profess their love and document the joyous event with a photo. Just a Kind Word Florist is providing wedding décor for the venue. “Weddings“ will $5 and pictures $5.
Traditional basket making and broom making techniques will be demonstrated.
Local area history books, t-shirts and memorabilia as well as refreshments will be available for purchase.
Museum entrance for the event is $5.
The Old Courthouse Museum will participate in this year’s Iuka Heritage Day with its own Living History event on Saturday, September 2nd. The museum will be open from 9:00 to 3:00.
The upstairs courtroom will serve as the display area for various types of textiles to include quilts, books, magazines, patterns, vintage linens, tapestries, and woven blankets. This serves as a request to bring your precious family memory items to the museum for display. Each item will be separately identified, well taken care of and returned to you the week following the event. Please provide a typed or hand written short info card with likely date and maker of the item as well as any known history. Items will we accepted now through Aug 30th. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00-4:00 to accept your items.
The Iuka Apron Museum will also provide a clothesline display of their wonderful collectible aprons.
Our Native American room will be open with a chance to meet members of the Cherokee Tribe that were such a hit at lasts year’s Heritage Day in Mineral Springs Park.
Historic tours of the museum will be given throughout the day.
In celebration of Iuka’s fame as the Marriage Capital of the South with over 44,000 marriages performed, mock Tom Thumb type weddings will be held for anyone wishing to profess their love and document the joyous event with a photo. Just a Kind Word Florist is providing wedding décor for the venue. “Weddings“ will $5 and pictures $5.
Traditional basket making and broom making techniques will be demonstrated.
Local area history books, t-shirts and memorabilia as well as refreshments will be available for purchase.
Museum entrance for the event is $5.
Owls July 20, 2023 1:00
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area. Take the opportunity on July 20th to earn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on hand at 1:00 to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South. Special guests will include MWR's own ambassador birds. The event is free and open to the public. Ww would like to thank our friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
Animalogy July 21, 2023 11:00
On Friday, July 21st at 11 a.m. Bob from Animalogy, along with his wildlife friends, will join us at the Old Courthouse Museum for an educational wildlife program fun for audiences of ALL ages!
NHECM programs are presented by professional wildlife biologists who carefully design curricula tailored to schools, libraries, conservation organizations and other special events throughout the Southeast.
Programs will include our resident wildlife friends and new babies acquired this spring! This year’s event is entitled “Building Communities Wildlife” where Bob will showcase how animals are built for specific roles or jobs in the ecosystem.
This program is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our wonderful friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
NHECM programs are presented by professional wildlife biologists who carefully design curricula tailored to schools, libraries, conservation organizations and other special events throughout the Southeast.
Programs will include our resident wildlife friends and new babies acquired this spring! This year’s event is entitled “Building Communities Wildlife” where Bob will showcase how animals are built for specific roles or jobs in the ecosystem.
This program is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our wonderful friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
On July 13th at 1 p.m. come to the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka to explore the world of wildlife rescue and rehab with volunteers from North Mississippi Mammal Rehab Inc!
Join us as we present a unique opportunity to explore our state’s wildlife mammal species, see first hand what you can do to help wildlife in need, and learn how our wildlife rehabbers care for injured and orphaned foxes, bobcats, bats, skunks and more! During our time together, you will have the opportunity to meet a local wildlife rehabber, ask questions, and even have the chance to experience what it’s like to touch a fox, and other native wildlife mammals, by feeling real furs that we will have on display.
This event is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
Lunch Lecture Series
Author Charlie Spillers
Discussion : Confessions of an Undercover Agent
Noon Thursday June 22, 2023
Free and open to the public
Author Charlie Spillers
Discussion : Confessions of an Undercover Agent
Noon Thursday June 22, 2023
Free and open to the public
On June 22nd at noon the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka will host a Lunch Lecture Series featuring bestselling author Charlie Spillers. Spillers currently resides in Oxford and is a former Baton Rouge Police Officer, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics regional commander, career federal prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice Attaché for Iraq, and combat Marine.
Mr. Spillers served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for six years, working undercover as an Intelligence and Narcotics officer, infiltrating the criminal underworld. He then served 12 years with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), with the first five years undercover, and rose to the rank of Regional Commander for all of north Mississippi.
His book, Confessions of an Undercover Agent, describes his experiences during a decade of undercover crime-fighting, exciting years filled with heart-pounding encounters and narrow escapes. Playing different roles, he infiltrated rings of burglars and safecrackers, drug trafficking groups, Dixie Mafia auto-theft rings in Northeast Mississippi, and Mafia and Mexican drug smuggling operations. During his last undercover role, smugglers delivered 3,000 pounds of marijuana to him in Houston, Texas.
He capped off a unique career by becoming a career federal prosecutor working on major drug trafficking organizations, violent street gangs, corruption, and white-collar crime. In addition, he volunteered for three tours in Iraq for the Department of Justice, serving as an attorney-advisor to the Iraq court that tried Saddam Hussein and other regime leaders.
He served as the U.S. Department of Justice Attaché for Iraq, and led a joint project to disrupt al Qaeda financing. He examined chemical warfare samples in Belgium, collaborated with the British government on a war crimes case in the High Court of England and Wales, and worked on a notorious Hezbollah commander based in Iran who orchestrated attacks against American and British forces in Iraq. Additionally, he met with the E.U. representative to discuss Saddam’s defense minister, Ali Hasan Al Majid, aka “Chemical Ali”; assisted the Italian embassy and the Vatican on Tariq Aziz, and met with Iraq’s National Security Council.
His contributions were recognized by the FBI Director, the Deputy Attorney General, the Italian Embassy, the British Ambassador, and Britain’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
Beyond his exceptional law enforcement career, Charlie Spillers became widely respected as an instructor in law enforcement academies and training courses for federal, state, and local officers. He was also an adjunct professor in graduate criminal justice programs and an instructor for federal prosecutors at the DOJ National Advocacy Center. As an innovator in law enforcement training programs, Mr. Spillers led the development of the groundbreaking Mississippi Highway Patrol criminal interdiction program. He organized a comprehensive air and marine drug smuggling course attended by MBN and Louisiana State Police narcotics agents and state agents from Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. In addition, he developed the first MBN Basic Agent Academy to be certified by the state minimum standards board.
Amazon declared his book Confessions of An Undercover Agent a #1 New Release nationwide in law enforcement memoirs, and it became required reading in criminal justice courses at two universities. He has been featured in over 180 book appearances and speaking engagements across Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana, including dozens of newspaper, magazine, and radio stations including MPB Radio state-wide. He has done TV interviews with WTVA in Tupelo, WREG in Memphis, and stations in Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, and in Alexandria and Monroe, Louisiana. Mr. Spillers was a featured author at the Mississippi Book Festival and the state book festivals in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Mr. Spillers is also the author of Whirlwind: A Frank Marsh Novel, and is currently working on the sequel and a memoir about Iraq.
MWR, INC.--Owls of Mississippi
Thursday, July 20, 2023 1:00
Old Courthouse Museum
Thursday, July 20, 2023 1:00
Old Courthouse Museum
Lunch Lecture Series
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
Be sure to mark your calendars to attend the Seventh Annual Renaissance Day at the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The fun will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Once again the grounds of the Old Courthouse Museum will come alive with fun, food, and fellowship. Bring your lawn chair, plan to spend the day, and learn about a time when life moved at a slower pace. The courthouse lawn will be covered with presenters demonstrating blacksmithing, basket weaving, broom making and much more. Sadly, many of the aforementioned skills are practically nonexistent today, so being able to observe and talk with these demonstrators is a rare treat. Civil War reenactors will have a Civil War era cannon and camp set up at Mineral Springs Park, and Mr. Autry, “The Poetry Man”, will be telling stories inside the Old Courthouse. Kristi Lovelace of Southern Hearts will be on hand helping children make pinch pots. Jack Martin of Hockaday Handmade Brooms, winner of the Tennessee Governor’s Folklife Heritage Award, will be demonstrating how brooms have been made in his family for over 100 years. Pony rides and a petting zoo will also be available for a nominal fee. Music will be yet another facet for attendees to delight in. Throughout the day multiple groups will be on the grounds to perform for your entertainment. Patrons of Renaissance Day will enjoy the musical stylings of The Mallards of Mayhem, North Mississippi Dulcimer Association, the Lisa Lambert Band and many more. We hope to see you there!
Courthouse Museum Books, photo albums, mugs pictures, Courthouse cards, etc.
Need a gift for that person that has everything? How about a book to curl up with. Our specials are: Rosecrans Meets Price, The Diaries of Henry Little, Gunboats on Cavalry, the 150th Anniversary Re-Enactment Battle of Iuka, John Marshall Stone, and Civil War Generals. Any 3 for $15. Great teacher gifts, too! We also have mugs, cards and pictures, too.
Old-Time Mississippi Fiddle Concert
October 22nd, 2022
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Camp Courthouse 2022 Thursday July 21, 2022
Featuring award winning educator Pat Arrinder and Southern HeArts ' Kristi Loveless, this year's Camp Courthouse is set for July 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Camp Courthouse is a fun, informative experience open to kids aged 6-12. Lunch will be provided. From 11:00 to 12 :00 Mr. Pat Arrinder will be dressed in period clothing and will present a wide range of pioneer games and musical entertainment to regale local youth.
From 12:30 to 1:30 students get to experience the art of pottery. Kristi Loveless from Southern HeArts in Iuka will walk campers through the process of making one of a kind pieces of pottery. These pieces will be finished at the studio and ready for pickup two weeks after camp.
Let us put a little history and art into the hearts of your kids! Capacity is limited and all children MUST pre-register no later than July 15th. Cost is $10 to attend and must be paid at the time of online registration. For more information, call the museum at 662-423-3500 or email tish.courthousemuseum@gmail.com or sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-courthouse-tickets-372199357297
Camp Courthouse is a fun, informative experience open to kids aged 6-12. Lunch will be provided. From 11:00 to 12 :00 Mr. Pat Arrinder will be dressed in period clothing and will present a wide range of pioneer games and musical entertainment to regale local youth.
From 12:30 to 1:30 students get to experience the art of pottery. Kristi Loveless from Southern HeArts in Iuka will walk campers through the process of making one of a kind pieces of pottery. These pieces will be finished at the studio and ready for pickup two weeks after camp.
Let us put a little history and art into the hearts of your kids! Capacity is limited and all children MUST pre-register no later than July 15th. Cost is $10 to attend and must be paid at the time of online registration. For more information, call the museum at 662-423-3500 or email tish.courthousemuseum@gmail.com or sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-courthouse-tickets-372199357297
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area.
Take the opportunity on July 14th to learn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on-hand at 2 p.m. to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South.
Special guests will include MWR’s own ambassador birds!
This event is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
June 11, 2022
We're excited to bring back our courtroom drama series! Many will remember how great our performance of "12 Angry Men" was, and those who worked on "Witness for the Prosecution" know just how great a show that was shaping up to be before COCID cut us short. We invite you to come Saturday, June 11 at 7 pm to see our return to the courtroom drama series with "The Case of Humanity vs. Pontius Pilate"!
Set in our historic Tishomingo County Courtroom, Pontius Pilate stands trial for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The verdict is left in the hands of the jurors who are chosen from the audience. The events are reexamined as if they happened only yesterday with every attempt being made to present both sides of the case as accurately a possible. We see faith, greed, and hope, as they come into conflict in the people most involved in history's greatest story. We hear the facts -- the truths and the half-truths -- and then the jury decides! The show, a reprisal by cast and crew of The Shoals Theatre's production, made into a fully immersive event via our courtroom setting is a one time only, must witness event!
We thank Iuka Piggly Wiggly and & Ace Hardware and Heavener's Lawn Service for sponsoring the show, as well as Subway of Iuka for providing refreshments, and Tishomingo Arts Council (TAC) for working in conjunction with us to make this event possible.
To book seats ahead of time, call or visit The Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka, MS, Wed. - Fri., 9-4. TAC members receive a 25% discount off the $10 admission! Check out Tishomingo Arts Council on Facebook for information on how to become a member.
April 23, 2022
January 2022
January 2022
For a limited time, we will be offering Dr. Ben Kitchen's books, Gunboats and Cavalry, Rosecrans Meets Price, and John Marshall Stone, at a reduced price. They are $5 each or $12 for the bundle. Call 662-423-3500 or stop by to purchase. We can also ship.
Additional Books for Sale:
1900 Census $10
Families of Alcorn County $15
Gunboats & Cavalry $8
Henry Little $10
History of Old Tishomingo County Miss Territory $15
Images of America Tishomingo County $10
John Marshall Stone $8
The Smokehouse $5
Rosecrans $8
Native People $15
Great Word $15
The End of the Trail $15
The Trail I Traveled $15
Tishomingo County Agricultural High School $10
Civil War Generals $4.95
Mighty Mississippi $6.95
Civil War Trivia $7.99
Iuka's History $3.95
Souvenir History of Iuka $3.95
Battle of Iuka 150th Reenactment $10
Battle of Iuka $10
They Call Tishomingo County Home $10
Also available - patches, photos, ornaments, coasters, postcards, shirts and mugs.
Tinsel and Trees 2019!
Come vote for your favorite tree from Dec. 6th until Dec. 20th.
Local businesses still have time to submit trees by Dec. 6th!
Local businesses still have time to submit trees by Dec. 6th!
Thanks to the community for making our November spotlight on World War II a fun and informative month for all!
Thanks for making 12 Angry Men a huge success!
Our production of 12 Angry Men ran October 17 and October 19, yielding two sell-out crowds. We are looking forward to offering more courtroom dramas set within our historic walls! Follow us to catch audition calls for our exciting courtroom drama: Witness for the Prosecution!
Second Annual "Vote Yes to the Dress!"
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The Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka was once called “The Marriage Capital of the South". On this site more than 44,000 couples were married. Since there was no three day waiting period and since marriage licenses were issued to individuals as young as 14 years old, couples would cross state lines from Tennessee and Alabama to marry in Iuka.
According to legend, ministers and Justices of the Peace would race to the cars outside in order to be the first to marry the betrothed couples and earn the $5 fee. We would like to remind everyone to bring your wedding dress and wedding photo to the museum starting on Thursday, July 24. This event has been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic This year we will also be accepting preserved wedding dresses. Winners will be announced on Heritage Day. For more information, contact Chairperson Kathy Everitt at 662-423-9962. |
Congratulations to Colten Patrick for winning our first annual Summer Bug Contest!
Camp Courthouse 2019 was a terrific time for everyone!
Postponed for 2020 until further Notice
We are happy to have had such a great interest in this year's camp courthouse. Due to the larger than expected turn-out, we will be endeavoring to make next year's event even bigger! It is our aim to make our youth programs accessible to everyone, so we will take great efforts next year to see that no one is turned away.
Featuring award winning educator Pat Arrinder and representatives of the Chickasaw Nation, this year's Camp Courthouse was held June 11 from 11 AM to 3 PM.