Preserving the Legacy of Mississippi County, Arkansas

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Located in the former Fred G. Patterson Mercantile Store, on the Courthouse Square in historic downtown Osceola, the Mississippi County Museum, operated by the Mississippi County Historical & Genealogical Society, is a true local history museum. The hands on museum is packed with a variety of art, objects, documents, furniture, and advertisements telling the story of the community and its residents. The museum includes a gift shop & research center.

The Mississippi County Museum serves as the chief guardian of our county legacy, chronicling the history of Mississippi County. Our museum works to preserve the cultural tapestry of the county through genealogical archives, research, and collections of local artifacts. We bridge the gap between our county's vibrant past and the modern community, ensuring that the resilient spirit of the families, industries, and pioneers who shaped Mississippi County are never forgotten.

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The Mississippi County Museum is one of more than 70 museums and historic sites showcasing fascinating stories of the Mississippi River. More information about interpretive centers on the Great River Road website.

About MCHGS

Mississippi County sits in the northeastern corner of Arkansas, its eastern edge defined by the Mississippi River. Long before European arrival, the area was home to thriving Native cultures, evidenced by some 800 known archeological sites and numerous mounds, including the well-preserved Sherman Mound. Explorers such as Hernando de Soto, Jacques Marquette, and La Salle likely passed through, but the swamps, frequent flooding, and dense hardwood forests kept settlement sparse for many years. After the Louisiana Purchase, population grew slowly as plantations took root, Native peoples were pushed west toward Big Lake, and isolated areas like Buffalo Island gained a reputation as havens for outlaws. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, the timber boom, the coming of the railroads, the creation of drainage districts, and the incorporation of towns such as Blytheville, Manila, and Leachville began to reshape the county.

In the twentieth century, the county shifted from timber to large-scale agriculture and then to a mix of farming, military installations, and manufacturing. Drained and cleared land produced cotton, soybeans, rice, and corn, first through sharecropping and tenant farming and later under changing federal policies during the Depression, including the Agricultural Adjustment Act and the Dyess Colony experiment. Blytheville hosted an Army Air Corps training base in World War II that later became Eaker Air Force Base, anchoring the local economy until its closure in 1992, after which the site was redeveloped as the Arkansas Aeroplex and other community facilities. The county endured major floods in 1927 and 1937 and waves of out-migration as farm work mechanized. Today, Mississippi County is still a major agricultural producer and, with several steel mills and other ancillary plants, the largest steel-producing county in the nation! American Greetings, Kagome, and other manufacturers provide jobs, while Arkansas Northeastern College supports local education and workforce training.

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Genealogical
Research

The Mississippi County Museum works to maintain a collection of archives to support family history research. We also have volunteers on Our resources include digitized census records, historical marriage licenses, and deep genealogical databases specific to our region. We invite researchers of all levels to trace the legacies that define our county's heritage.

Engaging History: Our Program Series

The Mississippi County Museum offers community programs designed to foster a deeper connection with our shared heritage. From our expert-led historical lectures you can discover the stories that shaped our county.