Mississippi Has A Lost Town Most People Don’t Know About
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published March 29, 2022
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
If you’ve ever searched for abandoned places in Mississippi, you’ve likely discovered that there are several ghost towns in Mississippi. Some, like Rodney and Rock Springs, are extremely well known and explored by the masses. Not all ghost towns in Mississippi have reputations that spread far and wide, though. Take Friars Point, for example. It’s one of the most obscure ghost towns in Mississippi, which is surprising, since it’s got a lengthy history that includes lots of famous personalities – from pilot Charles Lindbergh to bluesman Robert Nighthawk.
A sleepy river community in Coahoma County, Friars Point is home to roughly 1,000 residents and not much else.
Bluesman Robert Nighthawk called Friars Point home at various times throughout his life, while Muddy Waters, another iconic bluesman, was known to put on musical performances at Hirsberg's Drugstore (pictured as it appears today) in Friars Point.
Legend says that James arrived in Friars Point late one evening in the 1880s and was gone by the next morning. During his time in Friars Point, he chatted with a minister and visited a saloon for some drinking and gambling.
Lindbergh’s visit was also pretty short. He stumbled upon Friars Point in 1924, when he ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing. Not much is said about his time in Friars Point, except that he "landed at a place he later called the haunted house."
The history of Friars Point goes back much further than its famous residents and visitors, though.
It’s actually thought to be one of two locations where Hernando De Soto crossed the Mississippi River. Plus, Friars Point is the state’s oldest Mississippi River town, aside from Natchez.
Though the Friars Point of today doesn’t contain much, it does boast some lovely historic structures.
The importance of Friars Point is undeniable, which is why the North Delta Museum was established. Located in Friars Point, the museum houses an array of artifacts from Friars Point as well as the Delta.
Did you know about this lost town in Mississippi? Ever explored Friars Point? What about the North Delta Museum in Friars Point? If so, what’d you think? Tell us!
