Charles Knight: The Man Behind Mississippi Museum of Natural Science’s Transformation and Retirement

After serving the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science for 31 years, Charles Knight has retired. His connection to the museum began long before he officially started working there, as he visited it in its old downtown Jackson location as a child in the 1970s and felt a personal connection to it.

Knight later joined the museum as a Research Coordinator and worked his way up to become its Director. During his tenure, Knight oversaw several significant achievements at the museum. The museum earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, won Travel Attraction of the Year award from Southeast Tourism Society, and was recently named “2024 Best Museum” by Mississippi Magazine readers.

Lynn Posey, executive director of Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), praised Knight’s contribution to transforming the museum into an award-winning attraction and research facility. Posey recognized Knight’s dedication towards creating engaging exhibits and his commitment towards wildlife conservation. She thanked Knight for his decades of service and wished him well on his future endeavors.