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INTRODUCTION:
 

Mound Bayou, Mississippi, is one of the most important places in Black history. Founded in 1887 by Isaiah T. Montgomery and Benjamin T. Green—formerly enslaved by Joseph Davis, brother of Confederate President Jefferson Davis—it became one of the first Black‑incorporated towns in the United States. Set in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Mound Bayou stands at the crossroads of Black self‑determination, civil rights, and the rich musical traditions that shaped American culture.

HISTORICAL SITES :
 

Founding & Civil Rights Legacy

Mound Bayou began when Isaiah T. Montgomery and Benjamin T. Green purchased the former Hurricane Plantation from Joseph Davis after the Civil War. They built a self‑sufficient Black town with farms, businesses, hospitals, churches, and strong schools for Black students. Over time, Mound Bayou became a civil rights stronghold, home or base to leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, Aaron Henry, and Robert Parris Moses, and headquarters for the Regional Council for Negro Leadership.

Key historical and civil rights–related sites in the wider Delta include:

  • Mound Bayou Museum of African American Culture and History (Mound Bayou)

  • Emmett Till Interpretive Center & River Marker (Sumner & Glendora)

  • Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden & Statue (Ruleville)

  • Amzie Moore House Museum and Social Center (Cleveland)

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS:

Blues, Highway 61, and Museums

The fertile Delta soil produced both crops and culture—especially the Blues. Artists like Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Ike Turner, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf emerged from this region, creating music that crossed all racial and cultural lines. Highway 61, the “Blues Highway,” runs through Mound Bayou and connects many of these story‑rich towns.

Notable cultural attractions in the region:

  • Mississippi Blues Trail markers across the Delta

  • Delta Blues Museum (Clarksdale)

  • B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (Indianola)

  • GRAMMY Museum Mississippi (Cleveland)

  • Mississippi Film Trail & Ground Zero Blues Club (Greenwood / Clarksdale)

  • Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum (Tupelo)

  • Jim Henson / Kermit the Frog Museum (Leland)

  • Martin and Sue King Railroad Museum (Cleveland)

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 
 

Beyond history and music, the Delta landscape offers space to explore, reflect, and enjoy nature:

  • Tunica River Park (Tunica) – Mississippi River overlooks, riverboat tours, and walking paths.

  • Greenville Cypress Preserve (Greenville) – Guided canoe tours, wildlife viewing, and wooded trails.

  • Winterville Mounds (Greenville) – Ancient Native American earthworks with open green spaces and picnic areas.

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