The History, Heritage &
Hometown Tour
DAY 1
TUNICA TO CLARKSDALE 48 miles
CLARKSDALE TO CLEVELAND 36 miles
CLEVELAND TO GREENWOOD 44 miles
Total - 128 miles
Begin in the Mississippi Delta, birthplace of the blues. Here you can explore the Tunica RiverPark, showcasing the life and history of the Mississippi River. The Tunica Queen, a riverboat that gives you an up-close look at the mighty Mississippi is perfect for groups. The Tunica Museum’s exhibits depict the region’s history from Native Americans to today’s lavish gaming palaces. Continue south on U.S. 61 to Clarksdale, home of the Delta Blues Museum where exhibits and recordings tell the story of America’s only original music. Enjoy lunch at one of Clarksdale’s restaurants, including Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by famous actor Morgan Freeman and local attorney Bill Luckett. Continue to Cleveland, home of Delta State University, and to numerous arts, cultural and archival resources, along with some great shopping. Dockery Farms, a historic cotton plantation on the outskirts of Cleveland, may have been the actual birthplace of the blues. A barn bearing the plantation name and dates of operation is a popular photo opportunity. Arrive in Greenwood to visit Cottonlandia Museum, where exhibits document the land and people of the Delta, from the Ice Age to today.
DAY 2
GREENWOOD TO INDIANOLA 29 miles
INDIANOLA TO GREENVILLE 24 miles
GREENVILLE TO VICKSBURG 85 miles
Total - 138 miles
Visit Greenwood’s Cotton Row, the second-largest cotton exchange in the U.S. and explore the downtown area where Viking Range Corporation and owner Fred Carl have restored several buildings and established a fabulous cooking school, luxury hotel, sophisticated restaurant plus an top-notch spa and bakery. Your group can take a class at this culinary hotspot and learn the latest trends and techniques in cooking. Indianola is the “home” of blues great B.B. King (although he was born in nearby Itta Bena) and catfish pâté (invented at The Crown In Town Restaurant), a delicious Mississippi delicacy. The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is a must-see for everyone who visits this legedary area of Mississippi. A delightful museum in nearby Leland honors Jim Henson, creator of the beloved Muppets®, and his most famous progeny, Kermit the Frog. Enjoy lunch in Greenville, the state’s largest city on the Mississippi River. Explore Native American heritage at the Winterville Mounds Museum with artifacts and ceremonial mounds. The Great River Road brings you to Vicksburg, site of one of the most important battles of the Civil War. Upon arrival, view
The Vanishing Glory, a film introducing the fall of this Confederate stronghold. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Mississippi River before retiring to your antebellum bed and breakfast inn.
DAY 3
VICKSBURG
Explore Vicksburg’s Old Court House Museum and tour the many antebellum homes. Browse the shops and galleries of Washington Street, enjoy lunch downtown, then spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the Vicksburg National Military Park, 1,800 acres of fortifications, monuments and markers commemorating North and South. During the evening, check out the action at a riverside casino.
DAY 4
VICKSBURG TO CANTON 61 miles
CANTON TO JACKSON 22 miles
Total - 83 miles
Hollywood has made Canton the “Movie Capital of Mississippi.” The Movie Museum has props and sets from several motion pictures filmed on location including
A Time to Kill,
My Dog Skip, and
The Ponder Heart. Arrive in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city, for lunch and tours of the Governor’s Mansion, the Old Capitol and the Manship House.
DAY 5
JACKSON TO HATTIESBURG 89 miles
Visit the extraordinary Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry/National Agricultural Aviation Museum, a tribute to the state’s agricultural heritage featuring a complete replica of a 1920s rural town. End your day with dinner and overnight in Hattiesburg, home of the University of Southern Mississippi.
DAY 6
HATTIESBURG TO MERIDIAN 88 miles
MERIDIAN TO COLUMBUS 89 miles
Total - 177 miles
After breakfast, enjoy the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District or the Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Head northeast to Meridian and visit the Jimmie Rodgers Museum, which honors the Meridian native and “Father of Country Music.” Then take a whirl on the antique Dentzel carousel. In Columbus, tour one of the greatest diversities of antebellum architecture in the south, Friendship Cemetery, site of America’s first Memorial Day observance, and the childhood home of playwright Tennessee Williams. Spend the night in an antebellum bed and breakfast.
DAY 7
COLUMBUS TO TUPELO 62 miles
TUPELO TO HOLLY SPRINGS 60 miles
Total - 122 miles
Continue to Tupelo, the birthplace and boyhood home of Elvis Presley. See the humble house where The King was born and the Tupelo Automobile Museum, including the antique car display with a Lincoln owned by Elvis. Head to Holly Springs and see its more than 60 antebellum homes and churches, spared destruction because the ladies of the town pretended to befriend the Union soldiers sent to torch the town.