Blues Music Attractions in MS – Visit Mississippi https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/ The State for Wanderers Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:12:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://visitmississippi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-Favicon-01-32x32.png Blues Music Attractions in MS – Visit Mississippi https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/ 32 32 B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/b-b-king-museum-and-delta-interpretive-center/ Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:20:38 +0000 http://visitms.azurewebsites.net/?post_type=poi&p=3760 Located in the heart of the Delta in Indianola, the B.B. King and Delta Interpretive Center, through exhibits, tells the story of King’s life and music. “The mission of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit […]

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]]> Located in the heart of the Delta in Indianola, the B.B. King and Delta Interpretive Center, through exhibits, tells the story of King’s life and music.

“The mission of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is to empower, unite and heal through music, art and education and share with the world the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta.“

Located in Indianola, Mississippi, the mission of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is “to empower, unite, and heal through music, art, and education and share with the world the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta.” For tourists traveling through this region, this means they can find a one-of-a-kind experience at one of the most beloved music attractions in the state. Allow Visit Mississippi to provide you with more information about the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center and assist you with planning an unforgettable trip.

Who Is B.B. King?

Born as Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, B.B. King is a native of the Mississippi Delta region, one of the country’s most impoverished locations at the time, though that didn’t keep him from pursuing his dreams of becoming a famous blues musician. Not only did he defy the odds, he also made great contributions to the development of the blues genre and provided inspiration for future generations of musicians.

With popular tunes such as “The Thrill Is Gone,” “3 O’Clock Blues,” “Downhearted,” and “Sweet Little Angels,” B.B. King recorded numerous albums,  accumulated 15 GRAMMYs, received Kennedy Center Honors, and was even awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He graced stages at major venues around the globe, and his international fame is a large part of the reason the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center was born, as many fans of blues music yearn to know more about one of the forefathers of the genre.

What to Expect During Your Visit

Situated in Indianola in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center offers a host of programming that depicts the story of B.B. King’s life in the Delta and his legendary career. A family-friendly destination ideal for music fans of all ages, this attraction teaches visitors about the events of B.B. King’s time, including discussions about civil justice and race relations, and it also  explains how King contributed to Mississippi becoming known as “The Birthplace of America’s Music.”

When you visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, you’ll be able to experience fascinating exhibits such as the following:

  • The Theatre: The first stop on your journey through the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, you and your party will view an introductory video about King with the facility’s advanced HD technology and robust audio system.
  • The Delta, 1930’s: Learn about what life was like in and around B.B. King’s birthplace and what the young musician-to-be experienced both socially and as a farmworker.
  • Memphis, 1950’s: In this gallery, learn how B.B. King made his way to a radio appearance on WDIA.
  • Artist to Icon, 1960’s: Documenting his days of touring the South’s Chitlin’ Circuit, this exhibit also delves into the effects of the Civil Rights movement on the music industry.

Also, be sure to visit Lucille’s Gift Shop, which offers B.B. King memorabilia like coffee mugs, guitar picks, and more, to help you remember your visit for many years to come.

Hours of Operation and Additional Information

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is located at 400 Second St.,Indianola, MS, 38751. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call the B.B. King Museum and Interpretive Center at 662-887-9539, email info@bbkingmuseum.org, or contact Visit Mississippi.

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]]> Delta Blues Museum https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/delta-blues-museum/ Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:36:26 +0000 http://visitms.azurewebsites.net/?post_type=poi&p=5082 Since its creation, the Delta Blues Museum has preserved, interpreted, and encouraged a deep interest in the story of the blues. Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, […]

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]]> Since its creation, the Delta Blues Museum has preserved, interpreted, and encouraged a deep interest in the story of the blues. Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees and re-organized as a stand-alone museum in 1999, the Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum. 

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]]> Highway 61 Blues Museum https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/highway-61-blues-museum/ Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:38:56 +0000 http://visitms.azurewebsites.net/?post_type=poi&p=5100 A small blues museum honoring the Mid Mississippi Delta bluesmen striving to educate the public on the their contributions to music all over the world. […]

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]]> A small blues museum honoring the Mid Mississippi Delta bluesmen striving to educate the public on the their contributions to music all over the world.

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]]> Gateway to the Blues Museum & Visitors Center https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/attractions/gateway-to-the-blues-museum/ Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:45:37 +0000 http://localhost:10298/?post_type=poi&p=5626 The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center on Highway 61 is the first place many people see when they roll into Tunica. This rustic train depot, circa 1895, is a must-stop for travelers before and after a visit to […]

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]]> The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center on Highway 61 is the first place many people see when they roll into Tunica. This rustic train depot, circa 1895, is a must-stop for travelers before and after a visit to Tunica. Inside, travel counselors are ready to give directions, advice and the latest information about events, restaurants and attractions. They can even help book you a hotel room, make dinner reservations or find you a perfect, one-of-a-kind souvenir in the gift store.

The Visitors Center is home to the Gateway to the Blues Museum. This must-see attraction for all music lovers, will tell the remarkable story of how The Blues was born and the role Tunica played in building the genre’s legacy.

Admission – $10 Adults, $5 Children.

For more details on the Museum exhibits, tours and rentals click here.

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]]> The Blues Crossroads https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/the-blues-crossroads/ Thu, 09 Feb 2023 17:59:06 +0000 https://visitmississippi.org/?post_type=poi&p=17119 Clarksdale is known as the birthplace of the blues and home to the Crossroads where, according to popular (though fictional) music folklore, blues legend Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural musical ability. Today, a […]

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]]> Clarksdale is known as the birthplace of the blues and home to the Crossroads where, according to popular (though fictional) music folklore, blues legend Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural musical ability. Today, a monument featuring three giant blue guitars marks one of the intersections where this event was said to have happened.

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]]> Ground Zero Blues Club – Biloxi https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/ground-zero-blues-club-biloxi/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 18:57:51 +0000 https://visitmississippi.org/?post_type=poi&p=20722 Biloxi location of the down-home Delta club co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, featuring local blues bands, Southern eats & booze. […]

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]]> Biloxi location of the down-home Delta club co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman, featuring local blues bands, Southern eats & booze.

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]]> Club Ebony https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/club-ebony/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:59:47 +0000 https://visitmississippi.org/?post_type=poi&p=36954 Club Ebony is a historic music venue in Indianola, known as one of the Delta’s most significant African American nightclubs during the mid-20th century. Established in 1948, it hosted many of the biggest names in blues, jazz, and R&B, including […]

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]]> Club Ebony is a historic music venue in Indianola, known as one of the Delta’s most significant African American nightclubs during the mid-20th century. Established in 1948, it hosted many of the biggest names in blues, jazz, and R&B, including B.B. King, Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Ike Turner. The club became a central gathering place for the community and a cornerstone of the Delta’s vibrant music culture. In later years, B.B. King purchased the venue to help preserve its legacy, and it now operates as part of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, continuing to celebrate the region’s musical heritage through live performances and special events.

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]]> Blues Archives at the University of Mississippi https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/ole-miss-blues-archive/ Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:49:00 +0000 http://visitms.azurewebsites.net/point-of-interest/ole-miss-blues-archive/ The Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi is one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of blues-related materials. Located within the J.D. Williams Library in Oxford, the archive houses more than 60,000 sound recordings, 20,000 photographs, 1,000 videos, and […]

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]]> The Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi is one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of blues-related materials. Located within the J.D. Williams Library in Oxford, the archive houses more than 60,000 sound recordings, 20,000 photographs, 1,000 videos, and extensive manuscripts, posters, and memorabilia documenting the history and culture of blues music. Highlights include B. B. King’s personal record collection, the Jim O’Neal and Amy van Singel / Living Blues Collection, the Trumpet Records Collection, the Sheldon Harris Collection, the John Richbourg Collection, and the Percy Mayfield collection. Founded in 1984, the archive serves as a vital resource for researchers, musicians, and fans seeking to explore the roots and evolution of the blues.

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]]> Dockery Farms https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/dockery-farms/ Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:49:00 +0000 http://visitms.azurewebsites.net/point-of-interest/dockery-farms/ Dockery Plantation was a 25,600-acre cotton plantation and sawmill in Dockery, Mississippi, on the Sunflower River between Ruleville and Cleveland, Mississippi. It is widely regarded as the place where Delta blues music was born. […]

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]]> Dockery Plantation was a 25,600-acre cotton plantation and sawmill in Dockery, Mississippi, on the Sunflower River between Ruleville and Cleveland, Mississippi. It is widely regarded as the place where Delta blues music was born.

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]]> Hollywood Cafe https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/hollywood-cafe/ Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:53:31 +0000 http://localhost:10298/?post_type=poi&p=5663 Beale Street and Elvis aren’t the only stars in Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis”—Tunica’s own Hollywood Café was also immortalized in the hit song for its soulful live music. But this local eatery’s real claim to fame is the food. […]

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]]> Beale Street and Elvis aren’t the only stars in Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis”—Tunica’s own Hollywood Café was also immortalized in the hit song for its soulful live music. But this local eatery’s real claim to fame is the food. It is, after all, the home of deep-fried pickles and the hubcap burger!

For more information,  visit its website.

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]]> Gus Cannon’s Gravesite https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/gus-cannons-gravesite/ Fri, 04 Dec 2020 21:37:43 +0000 https://visitmississippi.org/?post_type=poi&p=7523 Born in 1874, Gus Cannon was an American blues musician who played the banjo, “played the jug” and who helped to popularize jug bands (such as his own Cannon’s Jug Stompers) in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote and first […]

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]]> Born in 1874, Gus Cannon was an American blues musician who played the banjo, “played the jug” and who helped to popularize jug bands (such as his own Cannon’s Jug Stompers) in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote and first recorded the song, “Walk Right In,” which became a number one hit for the Greenwich Village folk group, the Rooftop Singers in 1963.

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]]> Blue Front Cafe https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/blues-attractions/blue-front-cafe/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 17:18:06 +0000 https://visitmississippi.org/?post_type=poi&p=22967 Located in Bentonia, the Blue Front Cafe has been a cornerstone of the blues scene since its opening in 1948. As the oldest juke joint in the state, it’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Mississippi blues. Owned by […]

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]]> Located in Bentonia, the Blue Front Cafe has been a cornerstone of the blues scene since its opening in 1948. As the oldest juke joint in the state, it’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Mississippi blues. Owned by Bentonia Blues legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, the cafe continues to attract visitors from around the world, offering an authentic glimpse into the rich musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta.

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