Greenville, Mississippi is a small town with a big history. Boasting more published writers per capita than any other American town, Greenville is also the home to historian Shelby Foote, Muppet’s creator, Jim Henson, and a charter member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson. Spend a day- or a weekend- in Greenville and you’ll discover why the town lives up to their slogan, “More than meets the eye.”
Thanks to the American Queen Steamboat Company and the Greenville and Washington County CVB for hosting us. All opinions are my own.
History of Greenville, Mississippi
Located on an alluvial floodplain known as the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, Greenville was founded in 1824 and named for Revolutionary War general, Nathanael Greene. The city was completely destroyed by Union forces in the Civil War and later rebuilt three miles away.
How To Spend a Day in Greenville, Mississippi
The perfect weekend getaway, Greenville has a little something for everyone, from fabulous food to music, literature, history, and outdoor adventures.
Begin the weekend with a Downtown Walking Tour. Along the way, stop by the Greenville History Museum. Once the home of a thriving business, the two-building showcases a collection of town artifacts collected by owner Benjy Nelken. The museum is divided into sections and spans over 130 years of history. Here you’ll find everything from a Wurlitzer Jukebox to Greenville Americana.
A few steps away is the 1927 Flood Museum. Located in the oldest building in Greenville, this one-room museum is small but worth the visit. The flood-which has been called “the most destructive river flood in US history-” demolished the town and left residents fleeing for their lives. Watch the 12-minute film depicting the horror of the event and the unsettling view of how African-Americans were treated during this catastrophe before viewing the artifacts and pictures.
Continue the journey to the Hebrew Union Temple. From their beginning as the Hebrew Union Congregation in 1879, the congregation grew and started construction on the temple in 1880. The present temple was finished in 1906. Besides the beautiful stained glass windows located in the temple, guests can visit the Hebrew Union Congregation Museum. Knowledgable docents provide the history of the areas’ Jewish community, along with information on their contributions to the community, as writers, and as military heroes.
A love of literature runs deep in Greenville. During the 20th Century, more than 100 writers resided in the town. Visitors can find out more about the literary history of Greenville at the Percy Library. Located on the second floor is the Greenville Writer’s Exhibit, honoring some of their own. From a bust of Hodding Carter to original manuscripts and artifacts, this exhibit will appeal to anyone who is a fan of Southern literature.
Art lovers will enjoy The E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center, located in a former senior and junior high school, now showcases regional art. Guests can view one of the six to seven events hosted each year or ride the 1901 Armitage Herschell Carousel, one of only two of these hand-painted and carved carousels in the nation.
Drive to the nearby Greenville Cypress Preserve, a 16-acre nature park. Founded in 1940 by the Greenville Garden Club, this preserve features wooden walking trails and plenty of seating to enjoy the view. Download the trail guide before you begin your exploration to discover facts about the vegetation, wildlife, and habitat, and read the markers presented along the way.
End the day at Belmont Plantation, the ‘last antebellum mansion located along the river in the Mississippi Delta.” Dr. William Worthington purchased the property in 1855 and shortly afterward began construction on the mansion. The home was completed in 1861. Its tumultuous history came to a head in 2014 when historic preservationist Joshua Cain purchased the property. Today, restored to its former glory, Belmont is open for tours and operates as a Bed and Breakfast.
Feeling hungry? Think you have to visit the Southwest to find authentic tamales? Nope. You can visit “the most Southern place on earth” to explore The Tamale Trail-a series of stops between Tunica and Vicksburg that celebrates all things tamale. There are ten stops in Greenville and each has a different take on this quintessential food. Visit one of these restaurants and you won’t be disappointed.
Doe’s Eat Place-a family-owned business opened in 1941-is easy to miss. It’s a small hole in the wall where tamales are hand wrapped in the backroom and guests can enter through the kitchen, which was once a former honky-tonk. The tamale recipe used is still the original recipe developed by Doe’s wife, Mamie.
Hot Tamale Heaven– Opened in the 1970s’ by the Harmon family, they dish up something a little different; the fried tamale. Known for their slightly sweet and not as spicy as some flavor, these tamales have won first prize in the Commercial Division in the annual Tamale Fest. Greenville now has two locations-the original building with outdoor seating and a drive-thru, and a dine-in location, Hot Tamale Heaven and Grille.
Scott’s Hot Tamales-Located in a small roadside stand, these tamales are made with brisket, cornmeal, and their secret seasoning before being wrapped by hand. Before making a trip, be aware of their hours- 4:30 PM-10 PM Tuesday through Saturday.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
*If you are visiting with the American Queen, Hop-on Hop-off buses run every 15-20 minutes. Stops include the Greenville Writers Exhibit at the Percy Library, the Hebrew Union Temple, the Greenville History Museum, Wetherbee House, the 1927 Flood Museum, the Downtown Butcher and Mercantile, the Mighty Miss Brewing Company, the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center, and St. Joesph’s Catholic Church.
*An optional premium tour-The Ultimate Mississippi Music Experience, which begins with a Dixieland jazz brunch, followed by a tour of the Grammy Museum Mississippi and a tour of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center -is offered to American Queen passengers.
Where to Find It:
Greenville History Museum is located at 409 Washington Avenue.
The Hebrew Union Temple is located at 504 Main Street.
The 1927 Flood Museum is located at 118 South Hinds.
The Greenville Writer’s Exhibit (Percy Library) is located at 341 Main Street.
The E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center is located at 323 South Main Street.
The Museum of the Mississippi Delta is located at Highway 82 West and Reed Road.
The Greenville Cypress Preserve is located at the corner of 82 West and Cypress Lane.
Belmont Plantation is located at 3498 Highway 1 South.
The Greenville Washington County CVB, located at 216 South Walnut Street, offers a free Walking Tour Guide of Historic Downtown that includes 33 points of interest.
These are just a few of the sites in Greenville. Visit Greenville to learn more about the birthplace of the Blues on the Blues Trail, search for alligators at Leroy Percy State Park or view wildlife at the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge.
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Oh wow. This is a must visit! Lots of interesting places to see and food to taste.
Wow, those tamales look delicious. What a great idea to use brisket. I want to travel to Greenville just to try one!
BB lives in a little rural Southern town; aren’t they great? Loving all the history in Greenville, and the diversity. The vibes must be really cool to attract all those writers and artists. Will be adding it to our “wanna see” list.
So many goodies!! Love the Greenville Cypress Preserve and the Plantation, I need to see. And yum on the food.
We are hoping to be that way in May, if everything allows. I will bookmark this for when we go, thanks for the insight!
I have never been there but Greenville looks like a nice place to visit, it’s beautiful and I wish to see that place someday!
I have never been to Greenville before. I just recently visited Mississippi for the first time ever and we stayed in Coastal Mississippi near Ocean Springs. Loved the gorgeous coast and the great food too plus the sunsets were world class. And the biscuits! YUM.
Greenville is that kind of place that I love to visit. Small, quiet, full of local history and delicious food!
Oh wow! I would love to visit Greenville, Mississippi very soon! The history of this place is really rich and such a beautiful thing to know. Thanks for sharing.
What some fun sounding things to do – I have to admit I haven’t heard much about Greenville before but I love nosing around museums so those would be right up my street!
I lived very near the Mississippi River in southern Missouri most of my life and I know the destruction that river can do. My husband and I love visiting old southern towns and especially antebellum homes. This looks like a great place to visit.
What a fun time. I’ve never been to Mississippi before. I’ll have to get there when we can travel again!
I’ve never visited Mississippi before. Looking forward to visiting with my family. I know they would love it.