Mississippi’s culture runs as deep as the waters of the river that forms its western border. A profound connection to the land, a history perforated with conflict and reconciliation, and lauded institutions ranging from the University of Mississippi to the blues clubs of the Delta all make for a state where raw creativity is incubated across all strata of society.
From the Gulf Coast to the cotton fields and small towns of the Delta upriver, Mississippi’s contributions to the American patchwork of art and culture are as diverse as the state itself. These are the best places to experience Mississippi art and culture.
The Birthplace of Blues
The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the blues, the progenitor of all modern American pop music, and, by extension, much of the world’s contemporary music. While New Orleans jazz gave the world improvisation and syncopated rhythms, the blues demonstrated the sheer sonic utility of a guitar and simple yet powerful lyricism.
Such a genre of music could only have been born under a unique set of physical and cultural circumstances. Few conditions are as iconic as the Mississippi Delta, a land of low horizons, gothic landscapes of cotton fields and river shacks, and an almost feudal economy built first on slavery and then on tenant farming. African Americans inevitably occupied the bottom rung of the social ladder, but they utilized a guitar heritage and call-and-response lyrics learned in the fields to forge a style of music that has never lost its raw potency.
Today, blues sites and experiences are an almost ubiquitous element of travel in the Delta. For a grounding in the history of the genre and to experience the biography of a legend who brought it to the world, head to Indianola and the BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, a fine contemporary museum that is an excellent primer on the subject of the blues and, of course, BB King. The famous musician grew up in this area, supporting his family in their sharecropping fields before moving on to his illustrative career.
Down to the Crossroads
From here, head north to Clarksdale, a city that magnetizes Delta blues enthusiasts and is home to the famed ‘Clarksdale Crossroads’. According to legend, it was this spot where blues singer Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil for his immense talent. Before you get to the Crossroads, make sure to stop at Tutwiler. Here you’ll find the Tutwiler Tracks mural, depicting almost mythological blues figures such as W.C. Handy, popularly known as the father of the blues.
In Clarksdale, blues shows frequently ignite the night at Red’s, a cozy venue often packed with blues fans from around the globe. If you prefer a more spacious venue (Red’s can be cramped), head to Ground Zero, a modern blues showcase that still maintains an intimate atmosphere. The charming Delta Blues Museum underlines much of the subject matter covered at the BB King Museum. In the morning, grab a coffee with a local musician; the blues players gather in, and sometimes perform at Bluesberry Cafe, a local spot where live music is served alongside hearty breakfasts.
Other Music Museums and Monuments
While there’s a Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, another one resides in Cleveland, Mississippi. The Grammy Museum Mississippi is a modern, 28,000-square-foot facility packed with interactive exhibits, including legendary instruments and production ‘pods’ where visitors can engage in creating a contemporary pop track.
One of the newest major attractions in the state is the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, which celebrates Mississippians’ achievements in arts and culture across diverse fields, including music. Six themes – Land, Community, Home, Church, People + Places, and Global Community – are explored through approximately 15 permanent exhibits and a hall of fame dedicated to Mississippi luminaries ranging from Elvis Presley to Morgan Freeman.
An Artistic Coast
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast features sandy beaches, casinos, and artists’ enclaves like Bay St Louis, which is also home to numerous scientists, researchers, and engineers associated with NASA’s Stennis Space Center. On weekends, this quaint town attracts crowds of visitors who revel in the area’s art galleries and craft shops.
Two museums on the coast are dedicated to Mississippians who epitomize the state’s individualistic approach to the arts. In Biloxi, the funky, Frank Gehry–designed Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art celebrates the enormous, eccentric ceramic works of master potter and Biloxi native George Ohr. Other exhibits concentrate on the creative culture of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a region that produced visionary painter Walter Anderson.
Anderson is renowned for his sun-dappled, impressionistic paintings of the Gulf Coast, and his naturalist art is showcased at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs. This airy space, infused with natural light, resembles a beach house fused with a museum, making it a fitting home for works inspired by the region’s ecology.
Literary Life in Mississippi
Southerners have a reputation as storytellers, and Mississippians are no exception. Radio programs like Thacker Mountain Radio Hour showcase storytellers, including radio personalities and front-porch yarn spinners, while offering excellent local music. Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi – also known as ‘Ole Miss’ – famed for its Creative Writing program. On the Ole Miss campus, literature fans should explore Rowan Oak, the 1840s home of author William Faulkner. Geography and a strong sense of place infused Faulkner’s writing, and this historic home, nestled in the woods, inspired much of his work.
Within Oxford, literati can often be found in the town’s famous square, enjoying drinks at the upstairs bar of City Grocery, or simply soaking in the atmosphere at Square Books.
Going to Jackson
Mississippi’s capital and largest city, Jackson, features an abundance of museums and cultural institutions. The Museum of Mississippi History offers a broad dive into the state’s rich past. For deeper engagement on specific topics, head to the Smith Robertson Museum, known as the first African American school in the state and the alma mater of the esteemed author Richard Wright. Finally, the beautiful Mississippi Museum of Art showcases the state in all its physical beauty, providing a fitting conclusion to this exploration of Mississippi’s most iconic cultural institutions.
This article has been produced for Visit Mississippi. All editorial views are those of iBestTravel alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.
