VISITORS GUIDE 1 Find Yourself South of the Ordinary. 1 You don’t have to know how to get there. You’ll know it when you see it. Real places. Real food. Real life. Miles of winding roads and windier waterways. Stories without endings. Pages unturned. It’s all there. And it’s always been there, just waiting. There’s nowhere else you really need to be. Not really. So why not… explore? There’s plenty to find, if you let yourself look around. You’ll know it when you see it. 2 HERNANDO Anderson’s Pottery your-own fruit and vegetables, fireworks, hayrides, Handmade stoneware pottery is thrown on a potter’s a corn maize, “Trail of Terror”, pumpkin picking and wheel and glazes are mixed by hand. Each piece is breakfast, brunch or dinner with the Easter Bunny and dishwasher safe, nontoxic, oven proof and can be Santa. Also, choose and cut your own Christmas tree. used in the microwave. Call for appointment. 008 Love Road · 662-429-2540 · www.gocedarhillfarm.com 2701 Scott Road · 662-429-7922 · cell 901-828-0873 www.jimandersonpottery.com DeSoto Arts Council Gallery The DeSoto Arts Council serves as the countywide Baptist Industrial College Marker home for the arts with space for exhibits, classes, Founded in 1900 by the North Mississippi Baptist meetings and special events with local artisans’ work. Educational Convention, the college was the first school Be sure and visit the gift shop. Check the website in DeSoto County to offer instruction through grade for a schedule of events and workshops. twelve to African Americans and one of the earliest Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4pm private schools for African Americans in north 2465 Highway 51 South · 662-404-3361 Mississippi. The school closed in 1960. The original www.desotoarts.com dormitory remains standing. Open year round. 2809 Martin Luther King (Elm) Street · 662-393-8770 DeSoto County Confederate Monument www.visitdesotocounty.com Mississippi’s second oldest Confederate monument was erected in 1875 after the Civil War and is “Beale Town Bound” Mississippi Blues Trail Marker dedicated to those who died for the Confederate States. Honors musicians Gus Cannon, Robert Wilkins and Jim Hernando Memorial Cemetery has the largest number Jackson. Gus Cannon was born in Red Banks, MS and of Confederate graves in DeSoto County with 100 buried in Hernando. Gus was a banjo player who also marked graves and a mass grave for 60 soldiers. Open played “the jug.” He wrote and first recorded the song, year round from dawn to dusk. “Walk Right In,” which became a number one hit in Hernando Memorial Cemetery 1963 for the Greenwich Village folk group, the Rooftop 2846 Magnolia Drive · 662-429-8852 Singers. Blues artists Robert Wilkins and Jim Jackson www.desotomuseum.org were Hernando natives. Open year round. 400 West Park Street · 662-393-8770 www.visitdesotocounty.com or www.msbluestrail.org Cedar Hill Farm This unique farm is open year-round for agricultural field trips, petting zoo, pony rides, beautiful picnic areas and a snack bar open seasonally to the public. Yearly events include Easter egg hunts, pick- 3 DeSoto County Courthouse The anchor of the square, the Courthouse was re-built in 1942 after the previous French Castle courthouse burned in 1940. Learn the history of famed Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto, who explored this area in 1541-1542, through the four spectacular oil murals displayed in the rotunda that depict DeSoto’s discovery of the Mississippi River. Open Monday–Friday 8am-5pm 2535 Highway 51 South · 662-469-8000 www.desotocountyms.gov DeSoto County Museum The museum provides education programs, as well as exhibits on the history of DeSoto County, including an 1840’s restored log cabin. Free Admission. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm 111 East Commerce Street · 662-429-8852 www.desotomuseum.org DeSoto County Welcome Center A great place to find out about current events, activities, news and also pick up brochures and guides for all of the interesting and exciting destinations in DeSoto County and Mississippi. The Welcome Center staff stands ready to answer any questions you have Joseph Eckles Stoneware and can help you make lodging reservations. Wireless Custom created hand-thrown and wheel-thrown internet connections, picnic tables, and RV disposal are dinnerware and decorative pieces. Each piece of available. Open seven days a week 8am-5pm. pottery is a unique work of art and is dishwasher 3685 I-55 South · 662-429-9969 · www.mississippi.org safe and microwaveable. Call for appointment. 2650 Scott Road · 662-429-1621 Genealogical Society of DeSoto County www.josephecklesstoneware.com This extensive library is available to visitors Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 2pm and by Pidgeon Skateboard Park appointment. Referral to local researchers for The 6,000 sq. ft. skateboard park is designed for private research is also available. new, as well as more experienced skaters. 3260 Highway 51 South · 662-469-8495 Renasant Park, 3335 Highway 51 South · 662-429-2688 www.msgw.org/desoto www.hernandorec.com Gus Cannon Gravesite Springhill Historic Memorial Garden Cemetery Born in 1874, Gus Cannon was an American blues DeSoto County’s oldest cemetery, established in 1836. musician who played the banjo and played “the jug.” He By the time of the last major yellow fever outbreak in helped popularize jug bands (such as his own Cannon’s 1878, there were hundreds of graves; many or most Jug Stompers) in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote and unmarked today. Only six monuments date after 1900. first recorded the song, “Walk Right In,” which became Open year round dawn until dusk. a number one hit for the Greenwich Village folk group, Northwest corner Oak Grove Road and Robertson Gin Road the Rooftop Singers in 1963. Open year round. 662-429-8852 · www.springhillfriends.com or Oak Grove M.B. Church Cemetery www.desotomuseum.com 2451 Highway 51 South · 662-393-8770 www.visitdesotocounty.com The Dickinson Family Mississippi Blues Trail Marker James Luther “Jim” Dickinson (1941-2009) played a James Meredith Freedom Trail Marker central role in the North Mississippi and Memphis This Freedom Trail marker commemorates Civil Rights blues scene for many decades as a producer, vocalist activist James Meredith, who was shot in Hernando, MS and pianist. In 1996 his sons Luther and Cody formed on June 6, 1966. Meredith was leading the March Against the North Mississippi Allstars. Open year round. Fear to encourage African Americans to exercise their Hernando Public Library ∙ 370 West Commerce Street voting rights when he was shot and nearly died. After 662-393-8770 · www.visitdesotocounty.com or he was treated for his wounds, he completed the march from Memphis, TN to Jackson, MS. Open year round. www.msbluestrail.org VFW Post 7531 · 4263 Highway 51 South · 662-393-8770 www.mississippimarkers.com 4 HORN LAKE American Contract Bridge League Museum Located inside the American Contract Bridge League’s headquarters, this state-of-the-art, His career encompassed playing blues joints in the Mississippi interactive museum is home to the world’s Delta during the 1920’s and 30’s, to studio recording with largest collection of bridge memorabilia, groups like Fleetwood Mac and Johnny Winter in the 1970’s. trophies, videos and other artifacts related He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982. to the game of bridge. The museum also Open year round. contains the ACBL Hall of Fame, as well as East Center Street · 662-393-8770 the Albert H. Morehead Memorial Library. www.visitdesotocounty.com or www.msbluestrail.org A must see for all bridge playing enthusiasts. Free admission. Circle G Ranch Open Monday–Friday 9am-3:30pm Formerly owned by Elvis Presley, phase one of restoration is 6575 Windchase Boulevard · 662-253-3100 ready to begin, to include the relocation and restoration of the www.acbl.org/museum historic Honeymoon Cottage where Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon. A dynamic water feature will be installed within the Big Walter Horton Mississippi Blues lake. There will also be an outdoor amphitheater for concerts and Trail Marker performances by local, regional and national musicians. Big Walter Horton, also known as Walter 5921 Goodman Road (at Highway 301 South) · 662-393-8770 “Shakey Horton” was born in Horn Lake, www.visitdesotocounty.com moved to Memphis as a child and then on to Chicago where he first appeared on the Eagles Nest Race Track blues scene in the late 1950’s. A quiet, The Eagles Nest Race Track is a North Mississippi Dirt Kart unassuming and essentially shy man, Horton racing track for all ages. Bring your own kart. Call for hours is remembered as one of the most influential of operation and race schedules. harmonica players in the history of blues. 5811 Highway 51 North · 662-393-4514 5 Latimer Lakes Park The 120-acre park features a nature walking trail, four lighted tennis courts, volleyball court, nine baseball fields, two soccer fields, two football fields and three lakes. Plus, two disc golf courses, a playground complete with Astro Turf and a skateboard park. Open seven days a week, 7am-9pm. 5633 Tulane Road · 662-342-3468 www.hornlake.org/parks Latimer Lakes Skate Park This bowl-type skating park is built for skateboards, bicycles and inline skates. The skate park covers a half-acre site and features ramps and slide rails. Open seven days a week, 7am-9pm. 5633 Tulane Road · 662-342-3468 Nesbit Blueberry Plantation www.hornlake.org/parks Pick your own blueberries or purchase pre-picked! Open mid-June through the end of the season. Skate Odyssey Roller Skating Rink During picking season, open Thursday-Saturday, Check website for times and special events.