Informative, entertaining next 5 days at a museum near you

The next five days will be busy ones at your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
They also will be interesting. Mostly, they will be informative.
In cooperation with the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Smithsonian Institution, the MSHOF will host three events to complement the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit “Hometown Teams.”
Events include:
• Wednesday, April 20 (noon): Dr. Charles “Chuck” Ross, Director of African American Studies at the University of Mississippi, will speak on the history of the integration of sports teams in Mississippi and the role of race in sports in the state and the country.
• Thursday, April 21 (noon): Jackson native Janet Marie Smith, a world-renowned sports stadium architect, will speak on her philosophy that a ballpark should reflect a city’s culture. Her shining example: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which has changed the way America designs its sports stadia.
• Monday, April 25 (5 p.m.): Mississippi governors William Winter, Ronnie Musgrove and Haley Barbour discuss sports in small-town Mississippi, how athletics are an important part of the Magnolia State’s social fabric. Winter (Grenada), Musgrove (Batesville) and Barbour (Yazoo City) all have sports backgrounds and remain avid sports fans.
There is no admission charge to hear any of the speakers.
“Hometown Teams” — which is at the MSHOF through the end of the month — is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit program. The exhibit, located on the mezzanine level, examines role of sports in our culture and its important place in America’s history.