Opened in April 2001 with a debut exhibition, Islamic Moorish Spain: It's Legacy to Europe and the West simultaneous with The Majesty of Spain: Royal Collections from the Museo del Prado and Patrimonio Nacional.
The third in a series of international exhibitions hosted by Jackson’s Mississippi Arts Pavilion, “Majesty” was expected to attract half a million visitors—including King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain. The exhibit proved to be a great success and paved the way for the opening of the museum as America’s First Muslim Museum.