Tailored from Moon USA State by State
There are almost 200 websites included as a part of the Mississippi Blues Path, and visiting all of them is a substantial endeavor. Should-see stops delve into the historical past and affect of blues greats, whereas others are mere markers or plaques about artists from the city or what occurred on that spot. The Blues Trail app offers particulars on all of them.
A selective tour of the Blues Path travels via the Mississippi Delta and hits sights within the cities of Tunica, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Indianola, and Leland in about 170 miles (273 kilometers) of driving.
The place to start out: Memphis is a superb jumping-off level for the Mississippi Blues Path. Take Freeway 61 south to Clarksdale, stopping in Tunica on the way in which. Within the morning, hit a pair extra Blues Path cities, Cleveland and Leland, in your solution to Jackson.
High Stops on the Mississippi Blues Path
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The must-stop 3,500-square-foot (325-square-meter) Gateway to the Blues Museum (13625 U.S. 61 N., Tunica; 888/488-6422) has six completely different galleries, the place you may be taught in regards to the historical past of the blues and the way the geography contributed to the style. There’s even an exhibition the place you may document your personal blues music (which will likely be emailed to you).
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Created in 1979, the Delta Blues Museum (1 Blues Alley Ln., Clarksdale; 662/627-6820) is the state’s oldest music museum. The cabin the place Muddy Waters was born has been relocated right here from its unique website a number of miles northwest.
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Juke joints, vigorous, no-frills locations with nice music and low-cost drinks, have lengthy been related to the blues however have a tendency to return and go. An genuine juke joint with an erratic schedule, Pink’s Blues Membership (390 Sunflower Ave., Clarksdale; 662/627-3166) gives stay blues by among the greatest native musicians behind a hard-to-find entrance—it’s the door to your proper as you strategy the constructing.
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The spectacular Grammy Museum Mississippi (800 W. Sunflower Rd., Cleveland; 662/441-0100) is the establishment’s first outdoors Los Angeles and has greater than 12 completely different interactive reveals that do a superb job of linking the blues to different genres.
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The spectacular B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (400 2nd St., Indianola; 662/887-9539) chronicles the legend’s rise to fame. Along with displaying his significance as a musician, it additionally lets his character shine via (and if you happen to don’t know why he named his guitars Lucille, you’ll discover out).
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The Highway 61 Blues Museum (307 N. Broad St., Leland; 662/686-7646) is a labor of affection, jam-packed with blues artifacts and information compiled by native lovers. This explicit museum has extra visible artwork, together with work and pictures by Delta artists, than most music museums. When you name forward, they’ll do their greatest to have some musicians present as much as play whilst you peruse, an expertise no blues fan ought to miss.
Mississippi Street Journey: 5-Day Itinerary
When you’re trying to lengthen your journey, this 5-day highway journey itinerary covers a portion of the Mississippi Blues Path and explores native historical past, each historical and up to date.
Day 1
Begin in Jackson, and head to the Two Mississippi Museums, one dedicated to the state’s civil rights historical past and the opposite masking the state’s 200-year historical past. Verify to see if the Eudora Welty Home is open, and take a tour to see the house the way in which the author set it up.
Day 2
From Jackson, embark on a short jaunt on the Natchez Hint Parkway heading north, heading to the Invoice Waller Mississippi Craft Middle, simply east of Jackson, and browse the gadgets made by native artisans.
Cease for lunch in Starkville, house to Mississippi State College. Whilst you’re there, you should definitely decide up a cowbell to indicate you’re a real fan.
After lunch, go to Bynum Mounds to see 2,000-year-old Indigenous burial mounds. From there, hop again on the Hint to Tupelo, the place you’ll spend the evening
Day 3
This morning is dedicated to Elvis, with a tour of his birthplace house. Afterward, drive west 2 hours to Clarksdale, your first cease on the Mississippi Blues Path. Take a look at the Delta Blues Museum, and hit Pink’s Blues Membership, an genuine juke joint, for stay music.
Day 4
It’s extra blues right this moment: Drive south to Cleveland, house of the Grammy Museum Mississippi, after which to Indianola for the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Middle. Ensure that to attempt some Delta tamales whilst you’re within the space.
When you can squeeze in yet another museum, head to Leland’s Freeway 61 Blues Museum, earlier than calling it a day in close by Greenville.
Day 5
From Greenville, take the Great River Road alongside the Mississippi to Vicksburg, the place there’s a well-known Civil Battle battlefield. From there, flip east to go inland again to Jackson.
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