A cohesive ensemble of historic buildings, museums with exhibits on the Civil War, fire and flood, and literary landmarks give Yazoo City several distinct cultural highlights. When planning, you can focus on architecture and building history or turn your attention to collections, African American cultural heritage and literature. The sites vary in scale, from the historic district to individual buildings, a cemetery, a library and public art in the business district.
A Historic District and Landmark Buildings
The Yazoo City Town Center Historic District is a cohesive, architecturally significant ensemble of buildings that represents 150 years of small-scale urban development. It includes residential and commercial areas; you can explore the district on foot or by car. The focus is therefore not just on a single house, but on an entire area of residential and commercial buildings. This distinguishes the district from the individual houses and institutions, each of which has its own architectural or cultural theme.
The Triangle Cultural Center was built in early 1904 as Yazoo’s Main Street School. Its facade facing Main Street features a monumental portico with massive, modified Ionic columns. The building houses the William Duke Carter Collection of Antique Tools. The building’s history and its collection thus offer two distinct points of interest within the same structure: its original use as a school and a collection of antique tools.
For more than a century, the Oakes House was home to members of the Oakes family; today it houses the Oakes African-American Cultural Center. Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church offers a different architectural focus: it was the first brick church built by African Americans in the state of Mississippi. Together, the two sites show different connections between buildings and history—from a former family home now used for cultural purposes to the historic significance of a church.
Museums and Literary Landmarks
The Sam Olden Historical Museum features exhibits on the history of the Civil War, the 1904 Yazoo City fire, the 1927 flood and the everyday lives of Yazoo’s early residents. Its themes range from major historical events to the daily lives of earlier residents. The museum thus complements the architectural history of the Historic District with specific events and everyday life.
The B.S. Ricks Memorial Library is the oldest public library building still in use in the state of Mississippi. Because of its connection to author Willie Morris, it is designated a Mississippi Literary Landmark. Another literary landmark is the Henry Herschel Brickell Memorial Yazoo Literary Walkway. It honors the memory of more than 100 people from Yazoo who contributed to the literary world. The library and walkway represent two distinct forms of commemoration: recognition of a library building because of its connection to an author, and a tribute to a larger group of people who contributed to literature.
Glenwood Cemetery has been in existence since at least 1856. It is home to the grave known as “The Witch’s Grave.” A legend is associated with it, according to which the witch burned Yazoo City in 1904; the story became known through a book written by Willie Morris. Here, a historic cemetery and a local legend made famous through literature come together.
Landscape and Art in the Business District
Broadway Hill adds a landscape perspective to the historic buildings: from Battle Road to Main Street, it drops more than 200 feet and offers views of Yazoo City’s historic district and the Mississippi Delta. Its elevation and views give this place a character distinct from the museums and buildings.
Art in the historic business district offers its own points of interest. The area features several murals, as well as colorful guitar-shaped artworks along historic Main Street. If you want to combine architecture and history with art, these offer further specific themes to explore in Yazoo City, alongside its buildings and collections.
For the broader travel overview: Yazoo County.
