Video: Hidden Treasures — Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum takes you back in time. Through military, agriculture, business and sports exhibits, you can learn the history of Starkville and Oktibbeha County. The museum opened in 1979 and was renovated five years ago. A favorite exhibit of visitors is often the old doctor’s office.

“You would not believe how many people say they remember coming through those medical doors. To me, that exhibit brings back more comment than a lot of the others because it is a tangible memory for a lot of people,” said Joan Wilson, past chair of the museum board of directors.

The museum operates completely by volunteers. Artifacts are often donated or loaned.

“We learn a lot, and it’s exciting to see what comes in that we can have and share with other people,” said Marty Sparrow, museum archivist.

The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum has plenty to interest you inside, but outside it’s very educational as well. Mississippi State University students helped landscape a rain garden using recycled materials from within the county.

“They’ve collected roof water to go into a cistern where the water is used for irrigation. The last big project was the construction of a pavilion and that was made from old structured material from a service station on University Drive. The roof of that building has got about 20 tons of growth media for a green roof. That is something we are extremely proud of, and we’ve got a spiral staircase that came out of an old church,” said Bill Poe, member of the museum board of directors.

More than 3,000 people walk through the museum doors every year.

“People just need to come and see the museum because it really tells the story of our community,” said Wanda Thorne, past President of Friends of the Museum and current volunteer.

“Coming to the museum has helped me understand Starkville and how it’s grown over the years. It’s grown tremendously since my family moved here in 1985. As I always say this is Oktibbeha County’s best kept secret,” said Ava Moore, Friends of the Museum President.

The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum is located on Fellowship Drive in Starkville. It is open Tuesday through Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

This Friday, August 9 at 6:00 p.m. you can help out the museum at their Denim and Diamonds fundraiser event. Tickets are available for purchase at Book Mart and the museum.

For more information visit, http://oktibbehaheritagemuseum.com/wordpress/ or call 662-323-0211.