Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
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The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is the largest museum in state of Mississippi. Located in Jackson, in Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the museum features aquariums, habitat exhibits, and nature trails specializing in the flora and fauna of Mississippi. The museum also houses the state's systematic collections, containing more than a million specimens of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants, and fossils. The most complete and most used of these collections of taxa are the freshwater fish and mollusks. This museum acts as both a center for research and education. The mission for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is to promote understanding and appreciation of Mississippi's biological diversity through collections, research, scientific data bases, education, and exhibits; and to inspire the people of Mississippi to respect the environment and to preserve natural Mississippi.
[edit] History
The museum was founded in 1932 by Francis A. Cook as a part of the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission. In the late 20's, Francis 'Fannie' Cook led a grass roots effort to start the Game and Fish Commission. This campaign included traveling education exhibits at local and state fairs. After the Commission was established by the legistlature, in 1932, Ms. Cook wrote the state's first game laws, and became the museum's first director. During the past seventy years, the primary users of the museum have been the state's school children and educational institutions.
