As the birthplace of the blues, Mississippi's musical heritage has forever shaped the soundtrack of the United States. But, along with the haunting hum of bluesy harmonicas, you'll also hear the gentle tinkle of banjos playing country songs and Southern writers waxing lyrical. Follow these four eye-opening itineraries through Mississippi to explore a cultural hotbed where history meets harmony.
1. Mississippi Blues Trail
A road trip along Highway 61, America's legendary musical highway, passes through the beating heart of the Mississippi Delta, a region that has produced some of the greatest blues musicians of all time. The first stop should be Clarksdale Crossroads, where legend has it that Robert Johnson traded his soul with the devil in exchange for his formidable talents. At Little Church of Zion in Greenwood, fans still leave bottles of alcohol on the guitar virtuoso's grave.
Next, head to the recently updated site BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, stopping along the way at trendy juke joints such as Ground Zero by Morgan Freeman to fill up on crispy fried chicken, while being lulled by electrifying live music sets. In the state capital of Jackson, you'll find a new monument celebrating little-known female artist Dorothy Moore. This pioneering blues singer, whose hits include the GRAMMY-nominated Misty Blue, took control of her career by founding her own label, paving the way for female artists in her wake.
2. Mississippi Country Music Trail
While blues music looms large in Mississippi, country music is undisputed the state's fastest-growing backing band. Magnolia State stars take on the challenge, from the “father of country music” Jimmie Rodgers to contemporary hitmaker Faith Hill to musical titans Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride and hip-swiveling Elvis Presley. This thrilling trail connects the dots between Mississippi's acclaimed country musicians and the road houses, honky-tonks and back porches where they honed their craft.
The latest must-see attraction for music fans is the new Marty Stuart Country Music Conference in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Housed in an impressive former cathedral, this treasure of a museum is home to the largest private collection of country music memorabilia in the world.
Visit the Clarksdale Delta Blues Museum for an overview of the Mississippi music scene. Photography from Visit Mississippi
3. Mississippi Freedom Trail
Walk in the footsteps of the great changemakers of the civil rights movement on this powerful trail featuring more than 30 sites. At Emmett Till Interpretive Center In Sumner, a museum on the site of a former courthouse tells the tragic story — recently brought to light again with the 2023 release of the film Till — while paving the way for racial healing.
In Hattiesburg, Mississippi's largest summer freedom area, signs and an audio tour commemorate those who participated in the 1964 voter registration drive, while the interactive event Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson sensitively guides visitors through the state's crucial role in the civil rights movement.
4. Mississippi Writers Trail
From the small-town charm of North Mississippi to the sandy, palm-fringed beaches of the Gulf Coast, this bookish driving tour celebrates the state's indelible mark on American storytelling. The first stop should be the picturesque university town of Oxford to visit. Oak Rowan; the beloved family home of Nobel laureate William Faulkner. Don't miss the room where the writer hastily scribbled a plot twist on the wall. Then, stroll past tiny teahouses and tall, columned high schools to visit the independent bookstore atmosphere. Square bookswhere the shelves swell under the weight of Southern literary classics.
“Home is where you hang on to your childhood,” as America’s best-performed playwright Tennessee Williams said. For him, that place was Clarksdale, in the Mississippi Delta, a town that strongly influenced his writing. Each October, Clarksdale returns the affection with a blockbuster three-day festival celebrating the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, featuring performances and lectures from South Mississippi's new generation of scribes.
Visiting Elvis Presley's birthplace is a must-do on your next trip to Mississippi. Photography from Visit Mississippi
Three musicians from Mississippi
Elvis Presley
Fans can stand in the exact spot where the King of Rock 'n' Roll made his first appearance, in a two-room shotgun shack in Tupelo, Mississippi. The humble birthplace still exists, as does the hardware store where Elvis' beloved mother purchased his revolutionary guitar. Every June, Tupelo honors its hometown hero with a festival where rockabilly quips are in order.
Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram
Born in Clarksdale, this astonishing young blues guitarist and singer is considered one of the most exciting musicians of his generation. His first album of 2019 kingfish was nominated for GRAMMYs and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Blues chart for 91 weeks. Her music takes the baton from pioneers such as BB King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince, and sprints down the track with it.
BB King
From the King of Rock 'n' Roll to the King of the Blues, it's less than two hours from Tupelo to Berclair, birthplace of the mighty BB King. The grandfather of electric guitarists, King rose from poor beginnings on a sharecropper's farm to carve out an impressive 60-year career as an ambassador of the Blues.
Plan your trip
To learn more about Mississippi and its cultural trails, visit travelouthusa.com And visit mississippi.org
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