Blues music permeates the Mississippi Delta. Struggles with slavery, segregation, civil rights and poverty in this stretch of the South go hand in hand with the woeful tunes. Guitarist Gary Clark Jr. is shown here performing in Clarksdale.
Home of the blues —
Blues music permeates the Mississippi Delta. Struggles with slavery, segregation, civil rights and poverty in this stretch of the South go hand in hand with the woeful tunes. Guitarist Gary Clark Jr. is shown here performing in Clarksdale.
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Just across a bluff from Mississippi, the city of Memphis, Tennessee, rose from the cotton fortunes across the state line. It's the perfect spot to start a Delta visit and serves as the region's unofficial capital. The mighty Mississippi River, shown here, is seen from Memphis.
The Delta's Tennessee gateway —
Just across a bluff from Mississippi, the city of Memphis, Tennessee, rose from the cotton fortunes across the state line. It's the perfect spot to start a Delta visit and serves as the region's unofficial capital. The mighty Mississippi River, shown here, is seen from Memphis.
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While you're in Memphis, visit the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968. The Lorraine Motel, shown here, is now part of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcivilrightsmuseum.org" target="_blank" target="_blank">National Civil Rights Museum</a>.
Civil Rights landmark —
While you're in Memphis, visit the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968. The Lorraine Motel, shown here, is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum.
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Neon-lit casinos, like the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel shown here, have transformed impoverished Tunica, Mississippi, into "the Las Vegas of the South."
Las Vegas of the South —
Neon-lit casinos, like the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel shown here, have transformed impoverished Tunica, Mississippi, into "the Las Vegas of the South."
Jeff Piselli/Tunica County Public Information/AP
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fvick%2Findex.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Vicksburg National Military Park</a> provides a sobering reminder of the Civil War and one of its key battles. Confederate soldiers surrendered to Union troops on July 4, 1863. The statue shown here depicts Confederate general Lloyd Tilghman's death during the battle of Champion Hill.
Civil War history —
Vicksburg National Military Park provides a sobering reminder of the Civil War and one of its key battles. Confederate soldiers surrendered to Union troops on July 4, 1863. The statue shown here depicts Confederate general Lloyd Tilghman's death during the battle of Champion Hill.
Tim Isbell/Biloxi Sun Herald/KRT/Getty Images
Blues artist Richard Pryor performs outside the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blues2rock.com%2FBlues2Rock%2FHome.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rock & Blues Museum</a> at last year's Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Located at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, Clarksdale is famous for the blues. Legend has it that this is where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his mastery of the blues guitar.
Blues festival —
Blues artist Richard Pryor performs outside the Rock & Blues Museum at last year's Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Located at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, Clarksdale is famous for the blues. Legend has it that this is where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his mastery of the blues guitar.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Po' Monkey's Lounge, a popular juke joint run by Willie Seaberry outside Merigold, Mississippi, serves beer from a cooler and has a DJ that plays the blues.
Juke joints —
Po' Monkey's Lounge, a popular juke joint run by Willie Seaberry outside Merigold, Mississippi, serves beer from a cooler and has a DJ that plays the blues.
Matthew Craig/Commercial Appeal /Landov
Don't forget to visit the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbkingmuseum.org" target="_blank" target="_blank">B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center</a> in Indianola, Mississippi. King's ever-evolving performance attire and his favorite guitar, a Gibson model that he named "Lucille," are on display.
Musical legends —
Don't forget to visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi. King's ever-evolving performance attire and his favorite guitar, a Gibson model that he named "Lucille," are on display.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Unique lodging can add another layer of history to your visit. Blues singer Bessie Smith died from injuries she received in a car wreck at the G.T. Thomas Hospital, now the Riverside Hotel, in Clarksdale.
Interesting accommodation —
Unique lodging can add another layer of history to your visit. Blues singer Bessie Smith died from injuries she received in a car wreck at the G.T. Thomas Hospital, now the Riverside Hotel, in Clarksdale.
David Redfern /Redferns/Getty