Marty Stuart exhibit opens this week at Two Museums

“The World of Marty Stuart” exhibit will open this weekend at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson.

The exhibit opens Saturday in the lobby between the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi History Museum off of State Street near the Old Capitol.

Part of the Philadelphia native’s 20,000-piece collection of historical country music artifacts will be on display for about a year. 

These artifacts will eventually be displayed in Stuart’s $30 million Congress of Country Music center which is under construction in Philadelphia.

The exhibit will include hundreds of items never shown before in Mississippi, including Marty’s first guitar, original handwritten Hank Williams manuscripts, guitars from Merle Haggard and Pops Staples, costumes from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, personal items from Johnny Cash, including his first black performance suit, and much more.

"It's a self-appointed mission that got way out of hand that started in a little bedroom," Stuart, the Country Music Hall of Famer said. "Then it went to a little warehouse... two warehouses... three [ware]houses. Now it's a city block worth of buildings."

To celebrate the launch of the exhibit, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will host the inaugural Mississippi Makers Fest. 

The North Mississippi Allstars will headline the all-day music festival. 

Other performers include Mr. Sipp, Framing the Red, Chapel Hart, the Chad Wesley Band, 5th Child, and more. 

Entergy Plaza at the museums will be packed with dozens of art and food vendors for this free event dedicated to celebrating Mississippi creativity in all forms.

“We are thrilled to host 'The World of Marty Stuart' exhibit and can’t think of a better way to kick it off than with the Mississippi Makers Fest,” said Pamela Junior, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. 

“Marty represents what it means to be a creative and hardworking Mississippian, and that’s what this festival will celebrate. We have a phenomenal musical lineup and several incredible food and art vendors from across the state.”