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Tracing history of the former slaves of the area can be an interesting journey.  This journey may take you to Mound Bayou which was founded in 1887 by Isaiah T. Montgomery and his cousin, Benjamin T. Green.  These two men were both former slaves of Joseph Emory Davis.  The community is situated halfway between Vicksburg, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee off of Highway 61.  It is the oldest bastion of Black municipal government in the South.

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Have you heard of Bessie Smith and Blind Lemon Jefferson and the other blues singers of the 1950’s?  At this museum there are 78 RPM’s of these great blues singers on display.

There are also early Rock ‘n Roll artifacts from the likes of Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Little Richand and of course, Elvis.  Don’t miss those of Buddy Holly, Bo Diddly and others that are there.

The 1960’s are represented by the Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones, "British Invasion", Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeplin, Jefferson Airplane and more.

There are displays of juke boxes, antique gramophones, radios and scores of concert and movie posters all over for you to view.

There are 6 rooms in the museum consisting of approximately 3,000 square feet of display area. 

You can see the fabulous artwork that was done on the covers of the albums, autographs, photos, 45 and 78 RPM records and acetates, guitars autographed by Chuck Berry and B.B. King (who is STILL performing around the country), there are magazines, news articles, concert tickets along with many other treasures you will enjoy seeing.

The city and the museum host a Juke Joint Festival every year where you can join in on the fun of a small town fair with a blues festival celebration.  It aims to educate and enlighten native Deltans and blues tourists alike through a series of performances, exhibits, and presentations involving music, art, storytelling, film, and children’s events.

In May of 2009 there will be the 3rd annual Clarksdale Caravan Music Festival. August 7-9, 2009 will have the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival. There is also the Tennessee William Festival annually telling the story of Tennessee Williams and his influence on writers and actors of today.

The Hambone Art & Music Festival runs for 4 days and is filled with activity.  Join in on the jam session on Thursday night, the dinner party on Friday and the street party on Saturday with entertainment for everyone.  Contact MaryChillout@hamboneartgallery for more information.

Hours: Friday and Saturday - 11am to 5pm
Thursday and Sunday by appointment (48 hour advanced confirmation required)

Note: For bus tours and groups, please contact us at 901-605-8662 at least 1 week in advance to make an appointment for visits on any day during the week or Sunday.

Admission: $5 per person

Location: 113 E. Second St., Clarksville, Mississippi 38614

Phone    901.605.8662

Email: frog@rockmuseum.biz

You will want to take the time to visit the Mississippi John Hurt Museum which is the actual home of the late Mississippi John Hurt built the 1800’s. Take the two hour tour which includes the museum, home, church, historical marker, gravesite and Old Community Store where MS John Hurt played.

This old house is the home of John Hurt, the well-known Blues Musician who grew up and lived in the area.  He was known for his three finger pickin style of playing which would sound like there were two guitars playing at the same time, rather than just John.

He was born in 1893 and lived until 1966.  He recorded his music in the 20’s but it never really became successful due to the lack of funding during the depression to press enough records.  He returned home and continued to play for local enjoyment and occassionally would venture out to play. 

His music was re-discovered in the 60’s and was a sensation at the 1963 Newport Fok Festival.

It is said that John Hurts’ "sound was shaped almost entirely by his humble personality and a self-taught guitar style unaffected by modern influences. John Hurt was deeply connected to the rural land and the people he came from, his songs often sounding like they came up out of the wide-open fields and swamps where he lived and worked most of his life. He was authentic, down to his bones." Jim Ohlschmidt 2005 article.

The museum is a three room house with numerous artifacts, a couple of guitars, photographs, some of MJH’s original furniture and a wall where guests are invited to write their names. It really is worth the visit, the feeling that overcomes you, if you are a blues fan, is just neat.

Location: Rt. 2, Box 47A-Road 109, Carrollton, MS 38917

Phone: 662.455.3958

Email: mfhurt_wright@yahoo.com

Hours: Open Year Round
Hours: Mon-Sat; 12 noon-5 p.m.

Admission    $5 Adults, under 12 years free

Enter the fairyland of gardens when you come to the Wister Gardens and their 14 acres of flowers, trees and shrubs.

Designed by Frances Chiles Henry and Wister Henry in the era of 1937 the garden was developed for the beautification and enjoyment for all that stroll through the Garden.

There are hundreds of azaleas of many varieties lining the pathways, they cover wooded areas and drives and are stunning from around March 25 to April 25 each year.

Along with the azaleas are hundreds of roses throughout the Gardens.  There are two designated rose gardens for you to enjoy (and envy their beauty).  Daylilies, those fabulous smelling addition to any garden, abound in the Garden with the best viewing being during early June and July.  Daylilies are such a lovely fragrant flower that the stroll through the Garden at this time will be most enjoyable.

There are Crape Myrtles providing glorious color through the months of July thru September.

Take a few minutes and sit in the six-sided gazebo while you admire the flowers and rest just a bit.  There is also a large fountain from Italy installed over an artesian well to add even more character and beauty to the site.

Here you will get to see the highest award presented to gardeners by the Men’s Garden Club of America, it’s a Johnny Appleseed statue just across the lawn from the Garden House.

Do you want to be inside?  Well, there is a year-round glassed in garden house, heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer, that can be rented for special occasions.

The Garden Club of Belzoni give you an opportunity to learn what some of the different varieities of trees and shrubs are by identification markers on 150 different species. 

Come and enjoy the ducks, there are a variety of them occupying the 4 acre lake at the site.

Location: 1440 State Hwy 7, Belzoni, MS 39038

Phone:     662.247.3025

Email: WISTER@BELZONICABLE.COM

Hours: Open Year Round from Sunday - Saturday form 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Closed on all major holidays.  It is handicap accessible.

Admission is FREE
 

Ethel Wright Mohamed was often referred to as Mississippi’s Grandma Moses of stitchery.  She was born in 1906 and died in 1992 leaving behind a fabulous array of stitchery telling the stories of her family’s life.

She was a master at "painting with thread" and has provided a wonderful and colorful view into the history of the Mississippi Delta’s way of life.  These "memory pictures" show her marriage, eight children and many scenes of their family and the events they all shared.

The museum is located in the former home of Ethel Wright Mohamed.  The curator is a daughter, Carol Mohamed Ivy, who guides visitor through the exhibit.  She can give a first hand glimpse into the story behind each piece.

At the museum you will tour through high-ceilinged rooms which are covered with the works which hang from the floor to the ceiling on almost every wall.  The sketches have been fill with very intricate, fanciful and colorful designs created by the artist to capture her treasured moments of time.

Some of the work is displayed at the Smithsonian Institute.  She also designed the cover for the Smithsonian-National Park Service Bicentennial Festival Program Book.

Location: 307 CENTRAL, BELZONI, MISSISSIPPI  39038

Phone: (662) 247-3633
fax (662) 247-1433

Email: hwilson493@aol.com