Greenwood’s rich local history offers a wealth of places to explore for history buffs and curious travelers alike.
The roots of the blues run deep in the lush land of the Delta, so it's only fitting that Greenwood is home to seven markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail, a project from the Mississippi Blues Commission to mark significant sites of interest and intrigue in the formation of the blues genre. Access it all by downloading the Mississippi Blues Trail’s mobile app, cue up some blues classics on the stereo, and hit Highway 61 for one of America’s most memorable road trips.
Pay your respects to famed blues legend Robert Johnson (1911-1938), who is said to have performed in the town during his final years. The seminal songwriter’s life is shrouded in mystery, from the myth that he sold his soul to the Devil at a crossroads in exchange for his musical talent, to his early death—he was allegedly poisoned at a juke joint—to the modern speculation that he could be buried at three possible sites, as his death certificate didn't specify which Zion Church. The gravestone at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, however, is considered to be Johnson's most likely final resting place.
Greenwood was also notably an epicenter of action during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the city has two Freedom Trail Markers that commemorate the historic events at Bryant’s Grocery in Money—nine miles north of Greenwood—where fourteen-year-old Emmett Till was killed; and Broad Street Park, where Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) chairman and activist Stokely Carmichael delivered his iconic “Black Power” speech during the 1966 “March Against Fear”—a two-hundred-mile protest walk from Memphis to Jackson. Both markers ensure that the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement’s impact in Greenwood is preserved for posterity.
The Museum of the Mississippi Delta celebrates its fiftieth anniversary of showcasing history and art from the Delta region this year. Comb through the museum's extensive collection of agricultural artifacts, artwork, and antiques. Any budding archaeologists or artists will delight in the life-size, walk-through diorama of a Mississippi swamp (complete with sound effects), and a hands-on natural science room.
The outdoors in Greenwood offer a relaxing respite away from the bustling everyday life, with hunting game on the fertile Delta land and kayaking on the Yazoo River Trail as two popular pastimes. Take a walking tour of downtown's historic Howard Avenue, or embark on a driving tour of the filming locations seen in the 2010 film The Help, based on the bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett and set in Greenwood.
