Some of the fiercest battles of the Civil War were fought on Mississippi soil. To put this dark time in perspective, make a pilgrimage to the deep South. First visit the antebellum mansions of Natchez, opulent examples of how wealthy Mississippians lived before the war -- and the lifestyle they were loath to relinquish. Because the city had little military significance and was too poor to tear down and rebuild after the war, its architectural treasures built by slave artisans were spared.
At former plantations such as white-columned Rosalie, octagonal-shaped Longwood, and Colonial-Revival-style Ravennaside, hoop-skirted guides provide tours and answer questions about the period of prosperity the state experienced from 1832 through secession.
In 1861, Mississippi left the Union to join the Confederate States of America. Its men fought brave and bloody battles until forced to surrender at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Even today, the ravages of Civil War are clear to anyone who treads Mississippi's battlefields, monuments, and cemeteries. Battle re-enactments staged in Biloxi, Pascagoula, Vicksburg, and other spots throughout the year vividly evoke the anguish as well.
The 1,800-acre Vicksburg National Military Park's green countryside today covers once-blackened and war-scarred hills. The battlefield displays monuments and markers, reconstructed trenches, and the USS Cairo, a restored Union gunboat. Watch the orientation film at the park's visitor center, then drive the historic 16-mile tour road through Union and Confederate siege lines and tarry at museums, churches, and antebellum homes along the way.
Travelers with an interest in Mississippi's African-American heritage can follow a route stretching from Oxford's Center for the Study of Southern Culture (its blues archive holds B.B. King's 10,000-recording collection) through Natchez's old slave market. Visits to the Mostly African Market and the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture round out the experience.
America's Musical Heritage
Birthplace of the blues, country, and Elvis Presley, Mississippi also presents music and history lovers with fascinating places to explore these sounds and the history of the people who made them. The lush, river-fed Delta cotton fields nurtured bluesman B.B. King. Eastern Mississippi produced the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers.
Tupelo, in the northeast part of Mississippi, was where Elvis was born. At the Elvis Presley Birthplace Center, visitors can walk through the King's two-room childhood home (pictured), which is adjacent to a museum and memorial chapel. Graceland Too, an elvis Presley archive featuring unique memorabilia, is located in the picturesque town of Rowan Oak.
Following the winding curves of the Mississippi River, Route 61, also known as the Blues Highway, is the scenic way to reach Clarksdale. This town has recently renovated its former passenger train depot and converted it into the Delta Blues Museum. Restaurants and shops line adjacent Blues Alley.
The museum traces the history and influence of the blues through photos, videos, and live performances. "Lucille," B.B. King's treasured guitar, is among the items on display. Music lovers can delve deeper into the history of this genre at the Delta Blues Archive at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Country-music fans will want to tour the Jimmie Rodgers Museum in Meridian. The town is also home to Peavey Electronics, the world's largest maker of amplifiers, keyboards, and guitars. Hear them in action at the Visitors Center. Tammy Wynette's birthplace in Fulton is close by.
Mississippi keeps the spirit and the songs of its best-known musicians alive at festivals throughout the state. The Jimmie Rodgers Country Music Festival takes place every May, and the Delta Blues and Heritage Festival is held in Greenville each September.
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