In Washington County, Indigenous history, the blues, and Delta landscapes come together. Winterville Mounds offers a particularly striking glimpse into the area’s long history: during the Mississippi Period, from about 1200 to 1600 CE, the site was an important political and religious center for the Indigenous peoples of North America. The mounds were built by people who lived and thrived in the region from approximately 1000 to 1450 CE.
Winterville Mounds and the History of the Blues
Mound A is 55 feet high and is one of the ten tallest earthworks in the United States. Visitors can also walk among the mounds. This lets you experience the site not only as an archaeological landmark but also as a place whose scale becomes clear as you walk through it.
Nelson Street tells another story: it was once an important center of African American business and entertainment in the Delta. Leland, too, preserves memories of the bustle of earlier times. At the intersection of Highways 61 and 10, musicians played for tips while street vendors sold hot tamales and fried fish. These stories connect music and everyday life with specific places in the county.
The Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival began in 1977 and takes place on the third Saturday in September. Greenville’s annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival adds another cultural highlight: the three-day event features musicians, authors, and vendors of Southern food. If you’d like to include a festival in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.
Museums and Culture in Greenville
Several museums in Greenville offer different perspectives on history. The 1927 Flood Museum explores the history of one of the largest natural disasters in the United States. The Greenville History Museum offers insights into local life from the late 19th century through the 1970s. The Century of History Museum documents the contributions and culture of Greenville’s Jewish residents since 1867.
Literature and art also have their place: the Writers’ Exhibit displays original manuscripts and documents the achievements of authors such as Shelby Foote and Walker Percy. The Greenville Arts Council is based at the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center, where it presents exhibitions and events. The center is also home to a hand-painted Armitage-Herschell carousel. It is one of the two oldest operating carousels of its kind in the United States and the only one in the South. The Greenville Air Force Base Museum tells the story of the Greenville Army Flying School from World War II through the Cold War.
Historical traces can also be found beyond the museums. Cotton Row on Main Street preserves well-maintained late-19th-century Classical Revival architecture. Ruins remain of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was destroyed by a cyclone. Native trees on the grounds of the Washington County Courthouse form an arboretum.
Parks, River, and Nature
Leroy Percy State Park is Mississippi’s oldest state park. Artesian springs, cypress trees, and old oaks shape the landscape. Amenities include freshwater fishing, a boat ramp, disc golf, picnic areas, playgrounds, and seasonal hunting opportunities. The Alligator Lake Trail passes through a Delta hardwood forest habitat.
Along the Mississippi, Warfield Point Park has a 38-foot observation tower offering panoramic views of the river. In Greenville, you can also walk along the Mississippi River Levee System on the riverfront path between Main Street and Central Street. The two places offer different views of the river: one from an observation tower, the other on foot along a designated section of the levee.
The county’s protected areas are also of interest for nature and wildlife viewing. Stoneville Wildlife Management Area covers 2,500 acres and is located about five miles north of Leland. At Muscadine Farms WMA, 90 retired catfish ponds are intensively managed for waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting there is available only through a lottery, supplemented by pre-season drawings and stand-by options. Hunting dates and procedures may change seasonally, so check the latest information before making plans.
Local Information and Flavor
The Washington County Welcome Center is located at the intersection of Highway 82 and Reed Road in Greenville. The River Road Queen Welcome Center & Museum of the Delta features Delta exhibits, including a well-known frog display and information about writers known nationwide. Regional offerings include farm-raised Mississippi catfish and frog legs; individual vendors may vary. The Hot Tamale Trail is another visitor attraction in Washington County.
Discover more destinations: Greenville, Issaquena County, Copiah County, Rankin, Madison, Monroe County, Covington, Warren.
For the broader travel overview: Mississippi.
