Visitors in search of a more curated experience will find a multitude of museums to explore while visiting Mississippi. Located at the crossroads of Highway 61 and Highway 49, the town of Clarksdale and the surrounding Delta region is known as the place "Where the Blues Began." Fitting, then, that this destination is home to the Delta Blues Museum, the oldest music museum in the state. Founded in 1979, the museum is guided by a mission to collect, preserve, and provide public access to the history of the blues since its inception. The historic Clarksdale freight depot, constructed in 1918 for the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, has served as the Delta Blues Museum's home since 1999. With approximately 7,000 square feet of ground floor space, the museum is dedicated to displaying the highest quality of permanent and mobile exhibits, such as a collection of guitars owned by blues legend John Lee Hooker and a display case commemorating the life and achievements of pioneering blues singer Big Mama Thornton.
As the name suggests, the GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi in Cleveland, Mississippi, is dedicated to educating patrons on the history of the GRAMMY Awards, however, the scope of its mission is far wider. Additionally, the museum is dedicated to providing resources and experiences to support learning about all aspects of music traditions with a primary focus on the musical history of the region. Most unique to GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi are its interactive exhibits, which include the Singing & Songwriting/Producing pods where acclaimed musician Keb’ Mo’ guides visitors, start to finish, through the songwriting and production process to create original songs. Visit grammymuseumms.org to learn more.
Sometimes, a career is so monumental that no single exhibition can possibly capture its magnitude. For this reason, in Indianola, Mississippi, is the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, which tells the story of King’s unmatched 72-year career as a blues icon and his role in bringing the Delta blues to the world. While several museums display one or more of King’s guitars, all famously named “Lucille”, the exhibits at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center capture the entire scope of his life. While the primary focus is on the musical career of King, exhibits also deliver lessons in social justice and our nation’s complicated history through the lens of one man’s rise from abject poverty to international fame against impossible odds. Visit bbkingmuseum.org to learn more.
Coming Soon
While the blues and the Delta often take center stage in discussions about the music of Mississippi, it would be a mistake to overlook another iconic American musical genre that took shape here: country music. Famous Mississippian and country music superstar Marty Stuart is working to preserve country music’s place at the proverbial table with Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music Museum (MSCCM) in Philadelphia, Mississippi – Stuart’s hometown. Stuart has amassed a collection of more than 20,000 items as a result of his lifelong passion for safeguarding and preserving the legacy of country music. In December 2022, after 15 years of planning, Stuart reopened the historic Ellis Theater in downtown Philadelphia as a venue for hosting bluegrass and country performances. The reopening is the first phase of the Congress of Country Music Museum to open to the public. When the rest of the complex opens in 2024, MSCCM will deliver a comprehensive picture of the rich cultural heritage of country music, as well as Mississippi’s foundational role in its evolution. Stuart’s collection, and the museum that bears his name, will ensure that these treasures trace the Magnolia State’s starring role in the development of country music for years to come. Stay tuned…
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