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The land may be flat, but that doesn’t mean you can see everything. How to Get Here The Great River Road Literally the road less traveled, but far more rewarding, What brought us here and made us what we are is “ America’s favorite backroad is rich in history and unique the Mighty Mississippi. We are the land of cotton and finds for any traveler. The Great River Road Historic Byway the Delta Blues, where the stories are bigger than of the Mississippi River offers the classic American way to catfish and as powerful as the waters of Ole Man River. relax and connect to the countryside on a leisurely scenic We have been shelled, invaded, burned, flooded and drive. As one of the oldest, longest and most interesting plagued. And still we capture imaginations and treat scenic byways in North America, the Great River Road is a our visitors warmly like long-lost friends. respite to millions of travelers seeking a getaway— from a leisurely day’s drive to an extended vacation. On the banks of this colossal river is Greenville, a wellspring of music, literature, adventure, imagination, River Road Queen history and plain old fun. Greenville has inspired Welcome Center and greatness from Native Americans to cotton barons, Museum of the Delta Pulitzer-Prize winners, Civil Rights leaders, bluesmen, Highway 82 and Reed Road poets and inventors. Greenville • 662-332-2378 Greenville has an Interpretive Center We’re proud to share Greenville and Washington of The Great River Road. The unique County with all; discover for yourself that there’s more structure of this center is a replica of than meets the eye in this land of rich customs and the steamboat that originally served as the Mississippi state folklore, creativity and physical beauty that make up ” exhibit at the 1984 New Orleans World’s Fair and harkens one of America’s most unique destinations. back to the great paddlewheelers that once plied the river. Mid Delta Regional Airport 166 Fifth Avenue Greenville 662-334-3121 The only commercial airport serving the Mississippi Delta, Mid- Delta Regional (formerly Greenville Air Force Base) was built in 1942 and features a Fixed Base Operator, over 40,000 square feet of hangar space, aircraft maintenance services, and charter services. The building also houses the fascinating Air Force Base Museum. Delta Museum Mile The Delta Museum Mile has the most museums per square Century of History Museum mile than anywhere in the Delta. Maybe you saw the movie Hebrew Union Temple, 504 Main Street, Greenville or read the book, but you can see history up close here. You can see it all, from Pre-Columbian treasures to antique fire 662-332-4153 • hebrewunion.org trucks, original manuscripts and World War II and Cold War The Century of History Museum details the culture of memorabilia, artifacts from Delta bluesmen and the world’s Greenville’s Jewish residents since 1867. most famous frog, Kermit. There’s something wonderful for every member of the family. Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum & Outdoor Hall of Fame 304 North Broad Street, Leland 662-686-7789 mswildlifeheritagemuseum.com The Flood of 1927 Museum For Kids 118 South Hinds, Greenville • 662-347-2782 Delta Children’s Museum / E.E. Bass Cultural or 1-901-652-1390 Exhibited in the oldest structure in downtown Greenville, Arts Center / Armitage Herschell Carousel this museum presents the history of one of the greatest 323 South Main Street, Greenville • 662-332-2246 natural disasters this country has ever known. On Thursday, Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. • deltacm.org April 21, 1927, at 7:45 A.M., the levee at Stops Landing, Take a ride on our 1901 Armitage Herschell Carousel in the eight miles north of Greenville, broke due to the pressure Delta Children’s Museum Pavilion. from the swollen Mississippi River and created the greatest single crevasse ever to occur anywhere on the river. The Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Greenville Air Force 415 SE Deer Creek Drive, Leland Base Museum 662-686-7383 • Monday – Saturday Mid Delta Regional Airport 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Greenville • 662-334-3121 lelandchamber.com The Greenville Army Flying As a child, Muppet creator Jim School instructed thousands of Henson spent hours playing along U.S. airmen and women. This Deer Creek. It was here that he museum tells their story from the dreamed of and created the character darkest days of WWII through the Kermit the Frog. Cold War. Winterville Indian Mounds Greenville History Museum and Museum 409 Washington Avenue, Greenville • 662-335-5802 2415 Highway 1 North, Winterville Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 662-334-4684 • Monday – Saturday greenvillehistorymuseum.com 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., A unique glimpse into Greenville’s past from the late Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 1800s to today, this building houses enough newspaper Winterville mounds constitutes one of articles, photos, and other artifacts to keep you engaged North America’s most significant pre- for hours or days. Columbian archeological sites. True Blues The Delta is the crucible where the blues was formed of Mississippi Blues Trail heartache, joy, worry, hard times, lost love, late nights and The roots of the blues are embedded deep within boogie rhythms. There are many types of blues, but they all owe their existence to the soils you tread on here in the Washington County; it’s been the backdrop to many of the Mississippi Delta. key individuals and events that make up the history of the blues. Download the Blues Trail app from iTunes or Google Play to build an itinerary with directions. 1. Charley Patton (Sunflower County) The most important figure in the pioneering era of Delta blues, Charley Patton helped define not only the genre but also the image of the rambling Mississippi bluesman. Downtown Leland Mural Project The Leland Blues Project depicts the musical history of the area through a series of striking downtown murals. Highway 61 Blues Museum 307 North Broad Street Leland • 866-285-7646 2. Jimmy Reed Monday – Saturday Mathis James “Jimmy” Reed, one of the most influential 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. blues artists of the 1950s and ‘60s, was born here on the highway61blues.com Shady Dell plantation on September 6, 1925. In the heyday of the blues, over 150 3. Johnny Winter bluesmen lived within Pick up an original cathead Guitar icon Johnny Winter’s emergence on the national a 100-mile radius of drawing from local blues- music scene in 1969 created a sensation among rock and man, Pat Thomas, son of Leland. This museum “Son” Thomas. blues audiences. Columbia Records featured the song chronicles the story “Leland, Mississippi Blues,” which paid tribute to his roots. of the Delta Blues and the musicians who helped make it famous and features memorabilia from Little Milton, James 4. James “Son” Thomas “Son” Thomas, and Johnny Winter. James Henry “Son” Thomas, internationally famed blues musician and folk sculptor, worked as a porter at the Montgomery Hotel, which once occupied this site, after he moved to Leland in 1961. Mighty Mississippi Music Festival Mighty Mississippi Music Festival features Highway 61 Blues Stage, sponsored by The Leland Blues Project. The Mighty Mississippi Music Festival is a project of Down River Entertainment, founded by Delta natives Steve Azar and Jason Fratesi and is a part of the Bridging the Blues. mightymississippimusicfestival.com Explore the Mississippi Blues Trail. True Blues 5. Tyrone Davis Tyrone Davis, one of America’s most popular soul singers, was born on a plantation near Leland on May 4, 1938. From 1969 to 1988 Davis had forty-three singles on the national rhythm and blues charts, including the No. 1 hits “Can I Change My Mind,” “Turn Back the Hands of Time,” and “Turning Point.” 6. Corner of 10 and 61 Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival A major source of income 662-335-3523 • deltabluesms.org for blues artists in the first Always held the 3rd Saturday in September, the Mississippi half of the 20th century was Delta Blues Festival is the oldest continuously operating t i p s . T h i s c o r n e r , f o r m e r l y t h e blues festival in the country. intersection of highways 10 and 61, was a profitable spot, Old Highway 61 – The particularly on Saturdays Original Blues Highway when people from the country When the first Delta Bluesmen came to town. took Highway 61 to the industrial North to find work, they also took 7. Ruby’s Night Spot their music. Today, the music Ruby’s Nite Spot, operated at this site by Ruby Edwards, born in the Delta is revered was one of the most prominent blues clubs in the Delta worldwide and recognized as during the 1940s and ‘50s. Patrons here could dine, drink, the roots of jazz, rock and roll, dance, and gamble into the wee hours of the morning, long rhythm and blues, and hip hop. after clubs in nearby Greenville and Indianola had closed. 8. Sam Chatmon and the Hollandale Blues Sam Chatmon, along with local musicians have performed on Simmons Street, known as the Blue Front, once one of the most vibrant centers of blues activity in the Delta. 9. Freedom Village The first Mississippi Delta Blues Festival was held on October 21, 1978, here at Freedom Village, a Walnut Street / Walnut Street Blues Bar rural community founded as a refuge for displaced 128 South Walnut Street, Greenville • 662-378-2254 agricultural workers.
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