The Tate County Courthouse is the oldest working courthouse in Mississippi. Built at a cost of $19,800, the cornerstone was laid June 24, 1875. The courthouse opened for business in 1876 and has been in continuous use ever since.  An expansion in 1905 added a south wing and extended the west wall.
A major restoration and addition was dedicated in 1999.  The Circuit Clerk and other offices moved in and were open for business by 2000.

In view of the Tate County Courthouse’s unique place in Mississippi’s history, in 2022, the Mississippi Legislature awarded a grant to the Heritage Museum Foundation of Tate County to refurbish and expand the historical displays in the courthouse.
After a painstaking research and design process, the new displays were fully installed in 2026 and are now available for viewing throughout the courthouse.  A timeline of Tate County and Courthouse history and displays saluting the schools, veterans, and people who made Tate County great are only a part of what you can see during a self-guided tour of the Courthouse.

Tate County Courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Access to some displays and the courtroom may be limited at times.