Oakes African-American Cultural Center
Yazoo City is a place rich in history and heritage. For many years, the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation, has been working to improve living conditions in the black community and to provide opportunities for enrichment.

Because of a joint effort between Fair and Civic League, Discover Yazoo and the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Oakes House has become a highlight for our county, featuring many prominent blacks who were successful in education, medicine, business, church, agriculture and all areas of community life.

The Oakes African American Cultural Center is housed in the home of a previous businessman and educator, A..J. Oakes. The Oakes family home was given to the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League by A.J. Oakes III. They have restored the building to its original condition and it is listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places.

This Cultural Center provides a means of learning about past artists who have succeeded in spite of adverse conditions, who have achieved fame and have had to concentrate on basis need rather than cultural or enrichment needs. It is a learning center for historic events and outstanding people of this area. The Oakes home is devoted to the collection and preservation of original source materials, millions of priceless pictures, art pieces, unique manuscripts. Some papers and letters dated back as far a 1868.

Currently the second floor of the home is being renovated and will house a museum on our famous "Blues" artists.

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