The Deadly History Of This Infamous Site In Mississippi Is Terrible But True
Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Of all the historic sites in Mississippi, few have a past as deadly as the Devil’s Punchbowl in Natchez. Local legend says that Mississippi River pirates once used the secluded area as both a hideout and a spot to bury their loot. In recent years, the story behind the Devil’s Punchbowl grew increasingly sinister when a mass grave was found in the area. As historians looked into the grisly discovery, they learned that the grave held the bodies of thousands of formerly enslaved African Americans. As the story unraveled, researchers were faced with an even more terrifying reality – the bodies belonged to slaves who were freed post-Civil War and then re-imprisoned in concentration camps located in the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What isn’t often known about this horrifying tale is that deep within the depths of the Devil’s Punchbowl is not one, but three mass gravesites. In truth, one news clip couldn’t possibly do justice to revealing the heartbreaking atrocities of Mississippi’s Devil’s Punchbowl massacres. However, sharing the very existence of these mass graves in Natchez is the first step toward learning from the past and educating for the future.
Did you know about this part of our state’s history? Were you even aware the Devil’s Punchbowl in Mississippi existed? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Want to learn about another infamous spot in the state? Try “This Bridge In Mississippi Has A Dark And Evil History That Will Never Be Forgotten.“
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Devil's Punchbowl in Mississippi & Related Info
What are some must-see historic landmarks in Mississippi?
There's no denying that the Magnolia State is full of history. From centuries of events long before the Declaration of Independence formed the country to modern-day, world-changing Mississippians, every corner of the state has a story to tell. Here are just a few landmarks in Mississippi that are worth a visit:
- Biloxi Lighthouse, Biloxi
- Dentzel Carousel, Meridian
- Fillmore Street Chapel, Corinth
- Longwood, Natchez
- Old Capitol Museum, Jackson
- Old Warren County Courthouse Museum, Vicksburg
- Round Island Lighthouse, Pascagoula
- Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg
- Windsor Ruins, Port Gibson
- Winterville Mound Site, near Greenville
Are there any unique museums in Mississippi?
With so much history filling its past, it's no surprise that Mississippi would be overflowing with museums of every size and shape. From small town specialty museums to some of the biggest history museums in the state, a few of Mississippi's most unique museums include:
- American Contract Bridge League Museum, Horn Lake
- Apron Museum, Iuka
- Baby Doll House, Benoit
- B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola
- Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, Vicksburg
- Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Exhibit, Leland
- Canton Movie Museums, Canton
- Catfish Museum and Welcome Center, Belzoni
- Coastal Mardi Gras Museum, Biloxi
- Cullis & Gladys Wade Clock Museum, Starkville
- Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale
- GRAMMY Museum, Cleveland
- Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, Biloxi
- Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum, Jackson
- Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience, Meridian
- Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson
- Mississippi Sanatorium Museum, McGee
- Museum of Mississippi History, Jackson