The History of MSB
Over one hundred fifty years ago on March 2, 1848, the Institution for the Instruction of the Blind was officially established by the State Legislature (Article 9, Chapter 43 - Laws of Mississippi) with an appropriation of $2500. Since its establishment 150 years ago, the school has been known by several names: Institute for the Blind, Asylum for the Blind, Mississippi School for the Blind.
The school initially served 28 students: it presently provides services to over 150 visually impaired and blind children through its various programs. The school has occupied several sites during its long history, at one time being moved to Monticello so that its Jackson site could be used as a hospital during the Civil War. A temporary school for black blind students was established at Piney Woods in 1929. Later, in 1945, Helen Keller spoke at this campus. In 1951 this school was moved to a new location on Capers Street in Jackson. Since then, visually impaired students have been served on the Eastover Campus. A comprehensive building program is nearly completion which houses the students and programs of MSB and the MS School for the Deaf on one campus at the previous MSD location on Eastover Drive. MSB moved into its new facility in January 2000.