diff --git a/db/models/message.js b/db/models/message.js
index 58e8450..b9056fc 100644
--- a/db/models/message.js
+++ b/db/models/message.js
@@ -28,8 +28,17 @@ messageSchema.methods.toJson = () => {
 };
 
 messageSchema.statics.list = (options, callback) => {
-	return this.find({deleted: false})
-		.sort({createdAt: -1})
+	let query = this.find({deleted: false})
+
+	if (options.before) {
+		query.where({
+			createdAt: {
+				$lt: new Date(options.before)
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
+	return query.sort({createdAt: -1})
 		.limit(30)
 		.exec((error, messages) => {
 			if (error) return callback(error);
diff --git a/lib/chat/controller.js b/lib/chat/controller.js
index 13aad2f..53aa457 100644
--- a/lib/chat/controller.js
+++ b/lib/chat/controller.js
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ module.exports = namespace => {
 	};
 
 	var refreshMessages = socket => {
-		Message.list({
-			deleted: false
-		}, (error, messages) => {
+		Message.list({}, (error, messages) => {
 			if (error) {
 				winston.error("Unable to retrieve messages. Error:", error);
 				return;
@@ -41,6 +39,20 @@ module.exports = namespace => {
 		});
 	};
 
+	var retrievePreviousMessages = (options, socket) => {
+		Message.list({
+			before: options.before
+		}, (error, messages) => {
+			if (error) {
+				winston.error("Unable to retrieve messages. Error:", error);
+				return;
+			}
+			socket.emit("message:append", {
+				messages: messages
+			});
+		});
+	}
+
 	namespace.on('connection', socket => {
 
 		socket.on('message:new', data => {
@@ -56,7 +68,7 @@ module.exports = namespace => {
 					return;
 				}
 				winston.info("New Message", JSON.stringify(newMessage));
-				broadcastUpdate(newMessage)
+				broadcastUpdate(newMessage);
 			});
 		});
 
@@ -74,7 +86,10 @@ module.exports = namespace => {
 			});
 		});
 
-		socket.on('message:refresh', () => {
+		socket.on('message:refresh', data => {
+			if (data && data.before) {
+				return retrievePreviousMessages(data, socket);
+			}
 			refreshMessages(socket);
 		});
 	});
diff --git a/lib/react/message.jsx b/lib/react/message.jsx
index 9899cb6..3b0e0d9 100644
--- a/lib/react/message.jsx
+++ b/lib/react/message.jsx
@@ -12,13 +12,20 @@ var Chatroom = React.createClass({
 
 		socket.on("message:append", data => {
 			let history = self.props.history;
-			history.push(data);
+			let historicalUpdate = !!data.messages;
+			if (historicalUpdate) {
+				history = history.concat(data.messages);
+			} else {
+				history.push(data);
+			}
 			self.setProps({
 				history: history.sort((a, b) => {
 					return new Date(a.createdAt) - new Date(b.createdAt);
 				})
 			});
-			self.scrollToBottom();
+			if (!historicalUpdate) {
+				self.scrollToBottom();
+			}
 		});
 
 		// Message History Retrieved
@@ -39,8 +46,10 @@ var Chatroom = React.createClass({
 	},
 
 	loadMoreMessages() {
+		var earliestMessage = this.props.history[0];
+		if (earliestMessage === undefined) return;
 		socket.emit("message:refresh", {
-			// before: 
+			before: earliestMessage.createdAt
 		});
 	},
 
@@ -66,6 +75,7 @@ var Chatroom = React.createClass({
 					<ul className="chat" id="chatmessages" ref="messageContainer">
 						<li className="text-center">
 							<a href="#"
+								onClick={this.loadMoreMessages}
 								className="btn btn-primary btn-xs">
 								Load more messages
 							</a>
diff --git a/spec/message.js b/spec/message.js
index 5f0403f..255caa6 100644
--- a/spec/message.js
+++ b/spec/message.js
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ describe("Message Model", function () {
 				done();
 			});
 		});
+		it ("retrieves messages before a date if specified");
 		it ("does not list deleted messages", function (done) {
 			helper.createMessage({
 				content: "FOOBAR"