Ruleville MississippiATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Ruleville, Mississippi.
1. Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden
CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORICAL SITE
The Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden commemorates the achievements of Ruleville civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and contains her grave, a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker, and a statue dedicated to her legacy. Visitors can learn about Hamer's crucial role in the civil rights movement and her fight against racism, injustice, and poverty until her death in 1977. The garden serves as an important educational site for those interested in civil rights history in the Mississippi Delta.
2. William Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS LANDMARK
William Chapel Missionary Baptist Church is a significant historical site where Fannie Lou Hamer's funeral was conducted in 1977. The church features a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker on its grounds, making it part of the civil rights historical tour in Ruleville. It remains an important community gathering place and spiritual center in the Mississippi Delta.
3. Fannie Lou Hamer Complex and Museum
CIVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION CENTER
The Fannie Lou Hamer Complex and Museum preserves and shares the legacy of this important civil rights leader who lived at 626 East Lafayette Street in Ruleville. The museum houses artifacts, photographs, and educational materials about Hamer's life and her contributions to voting rights and social justice in Mississippi. Visitors can gain insight into the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement through the lens of this remarkable woman's experiences.
4. Ruleville United Methodist Church
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS SITE
Ruleville United Methodist Church stands as one of the town's most notable religious landmarks with historical significance to the community. The church offers visitors a glimpse into the spiritual heritage of the Mississippi Delta region. Its architecture and congregation have been an integral part of Ruleville's social fabric for generations.
5. The Main Event
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
The Main Event is a popular gathering spot in Ruleville offering entertainment options for both locals and visitors. This venue hosts various community events, performances, and social gatherings throughout the year. It represents the heart of social life in this small Mississippi Delta town.
6. B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
BLUES MUSIC HERITAGE
The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, located just a short drive from Ruleville in Indianola, celebrates the life and music of blues legend B.B. King who was born in the Mississippi Delta. The museum features interactive exhibits, rare artifacts, and recordings that tell the story of King's journey from sharecropper to international music icon. Visitors can explore the rich cultural heritage of the Delta blues tradition that influenced American music worldwide.
7. Mississippi Blues Trail Markers
MUSICAL HISTORY TOUR
The Mississippi Blues Trail Markers create a self-guided tour throughout the Delta region, including locations near Ruleville, highlighting significant sites in blues music history. Each marker tells a specific story about musicians, venues, or events that shaped this uniquely American art form. Travelers can create their own Delta blues pilgrimage following these markers across the region.
8. Dockery Farms
BIRTHPLACE OF DELTA BLUES
Dockery Farms, located near Cleveland just a short drive from Ruleville, is widely regarded as the birthplace of Delta blues where legendary bluesman Charley Patton lived and performed. This former cotton plantation and sawmill now serves as a historic site where visitors can learn about the agricultural and musical heritage that shaped the region. The Dockery Farms Foundation preserves this landmark where the sounds that would influence American music worldwide first took root.
9. Delta Blues Museum
AMERICA'S MUSIC HERITAGE
The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale showcases the rich musical tradition that emerged from the Mississippi Delta region surrounding Ruleville. Located in the historic Clarksdale freight depot, the museum houses instruments, recordings, and memorabilia from blues legends like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and others who shaped American music. Visitors can immerse themselves in the sounds, stories, and cultural context that gave birth to the blues.
10. Ground Zero Blues Club
LIVE BLUES EXPERIENCE
Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, offers an authentic Delta blues experience within driving distance of Ruleville. The venue features live blues performances several nights a week in a rustic juke joint atmosphere that captures the essence of Mississippi blues culture. Visitors can enjoy Southern cuisine while listening to both established and emerging blues artists carrying on this important musical tradition.
11. Abe's BAR-B-Q
LEGENDARY DELTA BARBECUE
Abe's BAR-B-Q, established in 1924 at the famous crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, serves legendary Mississippi Delta barbecue within driving distance of Ruleville. This iconic eatery has been serving its signature pork sandwiches, ribs, and tamales to locals, tourists, and famous musicians for nearly a century. The restaurant's location at the mythical crossroads where Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil for musical prowess adds to its cultural significance in blues lore.
12. Delta Cultural Center
REGIONAL HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Delta Cultural Center across the Mississippi River from the Ruleville area explores the rich cultural heritage of the Arkansas Delta region. The museum features exhibits on the area's agricultural history, the civil rights movement, and the influential King Biscuit Time radio show that helped spread Delta blues music. Visitors can gain a comprehensive understanding of the broader Mississippi Delta culture that spans both sides of the river.
13. Jim Henson Delta Boyhood Exhibit
MUPPETS CREATOR TRIBUTE
The Jim Henson Delta Boyhood Exhibit in Leland celebrates the early life of Muppets creator Jim Henson who spent his childhood in this Mississippi Delta town near Ruleville. The exhibit showcases photographs, memorabilia, and information about how Henson's Mississippi upbringing influenced his creative vision. Visitors can see original Kermit the Frog puppets and learn how the local environment inspired one of America's most beloved creative minds.
14. McCarty Pottery
FAMOUS DELTA ARTISANS
McCarty Pottery in nearby Merigold produces distinctive handmade pottery that has become synonymous with Mississippi Delta artistic tradition. Founded by Lee and Pup McCarty in 1954, this iconic studio creates pieces featuring their trademark nutmeg brown clay and the distinctive "Mississippi River line" that runs through many pieces. Visitors can tour the studio, watch potters at work, and purchase unique handcrafted items that represent the region's artistic heritage.
15. Greenville Cypress Preserve
NATURAL DELTA ECOSYSTEM
The Greenville Cypress Preserve offers a glimpse into the natural ecology of the Mississippi Delta not far from Ruleville. This 16-acre nature sanctuary features ancient cypress trees, native plants, and wildlife typical of the region's original swampland environment. Visitors can walk elevated boardwalks through this urban wetland to experience the natural landscape that once dominated the entire Delta region before agricultural development.