Historic Locale
What brought us here and made us what we are is the Mighty Mississippi. We are the land of cotton and the Delta Blues, where the stories are bigger than catfish and as powerful as the waters of Ole Man River. We have been shelled, invaded, burned, flooded and plagued. And still we capture imaginations and treat our visitors warmly like long-lost friends.
On the banks of this colossal river is Greenville, a wellspring of music, literature, adventure, imagination, history and plain old fun. Greenville has inspired greatness from Native Americans to cotton barons, Pulitzer-Prize winners, Civil Rights leaders, Bluesmen, poets and inventors.
We’re proud to share Greenville and Washington County with all; discover for yourself that there’s more than meets the eye in this land of rich customs and folklore, creativity and physical beauty that make up one of America’s most unique destinations.
Greenville is today in its second location, three miles from the original site. Prior to the Civil War, Greenville was a thriving hamlet; a cultural and business center for the large cotton plantations that surrounded it. During the siege of Vicksburg, a Union gunboat landed, and when fired upon, its troops burned down every building in town. At war’s end, returning Mississippi regiments found their homes gone and their families scattered among area plantations.
A decision was made to rebuild on the highest point on the Mississippi River between the towns of Vicksburg and Memphis. However, Greenville continued to see its share of tragedies. In 1877, yellow fever decimated the community. A third of the population died, including the mayor and four of five councilmen. Soon after the city was chartered in 1886, a group of cotton planters, factors, buyers, and merchants organized the cotton exchange. Due to the rich Delta soil, cotton became king and prosperity followed.
In 1890 Greenville suffered its first flood, covering half the city. Then, after years of growth, the levee eight miles north of Greenville broke in 1927, and a torrent 10 feet deep and the size of Rhode Island flooded in, completely covering the delta for three months. It was one of the greatest natural disasters in our nation’s history.
Greenville has a rich artistic heritage. In the 20th century, more than 100 published writers, including Shelby Foote, Hodding Carter, and Walker Percy, called Greenville home-more than any town of its size in the country. Muppet creator Jim Henson was born here and raised nearby. World-famous Delta blues musicians are honored on the Greenville Blues Walk, and venues on historic Walnut Street offer live music that continues that tradition.
1927 Flood Museum
18 South Hinds, between Main and Washington Avenue, Greenville, MS-- Sandra McIntire at 662-820-1474 or 1-800-467-3582 for more information
Tour by appointment only ; $5.00 Admission Fee, children under six FREE. Group Rates Available
Exhibited in the oldest structure in Downtown Greenville, this museum presents the history of one of the greatest natural disasters this country has ever known. On Thursday, April 21, 1927, at 7:45 a.m., the levee at Stops Landing, 8 miles north of Greenville, broke due to the pressure from the swollen Mississippi River and created the greatest single crevasse ever to occur anywhere on the river. View actual flood artifacts and photographs illustrating the flood’s impact on life and death during the four months Greenville and the Mississippi Delta were inundated. The 12-minute documentary film superbly illustrates the Great Flood of ’27 and the struggle of man against nature.
Book Inn Cafe (Old McCormick Book Inn)
825 South Main Street, Greenville, MS 38701 phone: 662) 599-2665
Enjoy flavors not found anywhere else in Greenville! Located inside the historic McCormick Book Inn.
Visit their facebook page for more information.
Bush’s Kountry Café (formerly Leland Cafe’)
117 E 3rd St, Leland, MS 38756 (662) 771-5030
Home of “Smiley” the Cornbread!! Down-home food for the soul along with many classic dishes such as hamburgers. Go to their Facebook page for more information @BushsKountryCafe
