Tougaloo site chosen for civil rights museum
Published 7:03 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The $50 million National Civil Rights Museum will be located on a 9-acre site at Touglaoo College in north Jackson.
A commission set up by Gov. Haley Barbour voted Tuesday 22-9 in favor of the location.
Opponents argued that downtown Jackson would be a more viable site for the museum, but co-chairman Charles Pickering Sr. argued that the Tougaloo site will draw more school children and tourists than Jackson downtown.
Next, the governor will choose board members for the nonprofit museum’s fundraising effort.
Barbour has said he wants to limit new bond debt this year. That means there’s little chance of any substantial state money anytime soon to move the project forward.