While it chronicles the history of Leflore County and the Mississippi Delta with an emphasis on cotton agriculture, Greenwood’s Museum of the mississippi delta also houses an eclectic collection of items that weave a fascinating history of the area’s past. The museum focuses on the five “A’s”: art, archaeology, agriculture, antiques and animals.

A large collection of Mississippi art work includes original paintings and drawings from the museum’s biannual state-wide art competition.

The largest collection of Native American trade beads in the southern United States is on display in the archaeology collection loaned from the L.B. Jones Trust.

The agriculture room displays an impressive array of plows, fertilizer spreaders, mule hames and blacksmith tools that tell the evolution of farming.

Artifacts and furniture from Malmaison, the mansion of Choctaw Indian chief Greenwood Leflore, Civil War relics and an excavated mastodon skeleton are highlights of the antique collection. A life-size, walk-through diorama of a Mississippi swamp — complete with sound effects — and a natural science room provide hands-on learning experiences for younger visitors.

The Museum of the Mississippi Delta is located at 1608 Highway 82 West and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays. Contact the museum at (662) 453-0925 or the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information.