Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse

The Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse is a two-story brick building topped by a four-story tower featuring Richardsonian Romanesque details. The structure retains its original early 20th-century appearance, with stone accents and a distinctive tower that dominates the town skyline.

Architect William Sharkey Hull designed and built the brick courthouse in 1910. The building gained national prominence in 1955 when the trial of Emmett Till's accused murderers took place here, making it a significant site in American legal history.

The courthouse serves as a focal point of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, where visitors encounter the building's connection to a pivotal moment in American civil rights history. People who come here often reflect on the weight of the events that took place within these walls.

Visitors can see the building from outside or join guided tours offered by the Emmett Till Interpretive Center across the street, which provides information and context about the site. The best time to visit is when the center is open, as tours and educational resources are available during those hours.

The courthouse was deliberately preserved as it appeared in 1955 and functions both as an active courthouse and as an open-air museum documenting civil rights history. This dual role makes it a rare historical site where past and present coexist in the same building.

Location: Sumner

Inception: 1910

Architects: William Sharkey Hull

Architectural style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Part of: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

GPS coordinates: 33.97030,-90.36940

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:45