Hernando

DeSoto County Courthouse /  by Will Jacks

The anchor of Hernando square, the historic DeSoto County Courthouse was built in 1942 after the previous French Castle courthouse burned in 1940. The courthouse features an impressive series of murals that circle the interior rotunda depicting explorer Hernando DeSoto's travels along the Mississippi River. The murals were painted in 1903 for Memphis' historic Gayoso Hotel and given to DeSoto County in the 1950s. They have since been restored three separate times and have been a consistent point of interest for cultural heritage travelers to the Mississippi Delta region.

 

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DeSoto County Museum /  by Will Jacks

111 E Commerce Street

Hernando, MS 38632

662-429-8852

http://www.desotomuseum.org/

Located in Hernando, Mississippi, the DeSoto County Museum showcases artifacts and exhibits featuring the history of DeSoto County. The DeSoto County Museum features the history and development of the county from 1541 to the present. Highlights include artifacts and exhibits interpreting Hernando DeSoto's arrival in Mississippi and interaction with Native Americans, a working model of a paddlewheel boat, the parlor of an antebellum mansion, African American historical events, and other key events in the agricultural, recreational, and social development of DeSoto County. The museum also features current developments including exhibits featuring the DeSoto Civic Center, local artwork and entertainment, and stories of the growing communities of Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven, and Hernando.