The first week in May of each year is declared to be Hernando de Soto Week in Mississippi in recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the Mississippi River on May 8, 1541.
This week shall be a week of recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto and European exploration and no day of this week shall be recognized as a legal holiday.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 3 - State sovereignty, jurisdiction and holidays
Chapter 3 - State Boundaries, Holidays, and State Emblems
§ 3-3-1. Limits and boundaries of the territorial waters of the State of Mississippi
§ 3-3-3. How state divided into counties
§ 3-3-5. How far counties on Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico extend
§ 3-3-8. Designation of first week in May as Hernando de Soto Week
§ 3-3-15. Display of state flag
§ 3-3-16. Design of state flag
§ 3-3-35. "Retired Teachers Day" designated
§ 3-3-37. State Grand Opera House
§ 3-3-42. The Great Seal of the State of Mississippi
§ 3-3-42.1. Replacement of older version of state seal
§ 3-3-47. State Automobile Museum
§ 3-3-48. State wildlife heritage museum
§ 3-3-49. State Historical Industrial Museum
§ 3-3-51. "Nurses Month" designated
§ 3-3-53. "Mississippi Health Awareness Day" designated
§ 3-3-55. "Katrina Day of Remembrance" designated
§ 3-3-57. State military history museum