History, Heritage & Hometowns

Day 1

Depart Memphis for the Mississippi Delta and the birthplace of the blues. Lunch today is in Clarksdale, in the heart of the Delta, followed by a tour of the Hopson Plantation. Enjoy the sounds of a true Delta blues band in a typical Delta "juke joint." Then explore the history of the blues among memorabilia from such greats as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and B.B. King at the Delta Blues Museum. Travel further down on Highway 61 to Cleveland. Visit the Cleveland Depot Library for a glimpse of local railroad history and literacy exhibits. Next tour the Museum of Natural History which contains Indian artifacts and animal skeletal exhibits.

Arrive in Greenwood in time to visit Cottonlandia Museum, which offers a superb look at life in the Delta. Enjoy dinner this evening at one of Greenwood's fine restaurants.

Day 2

After breakfast and a tour of historic Cotton Row, the second-largest cotton exchange in the U.S., visit Florewood River Plantation State Park, where exact replicas and costumed interpreters re-create life on a Mississippi plantation in the 1850s. On the way to Greenville, enjoy the quaint Mississippi towns of Indianola and Leland, Kermit the Frog's birthplace. Once in Greenville, explore Mississippi's Native American Heritage at the Winterville Mounds Museum State Park. A stop at the Washington County Welcome Center, a replica paddlewheeler which housed the state's exhibit at the 1984 World's Fair, makes a wonderful addition to your tour. A journey down The Great River Road brings you to Vicksburg.

Upon your arrival, view the film "The Vanishing Glory" as an introduction to the Civil War battle and siege of Vicksburg. Tonight enjoy a sunset dinner overlooking the Mississippi River.

Day 3

This morning, tour the Old Court House Museum and one of the many historic antebellum homes. Later, a local guide will take you through the vast Vicksburg National Military Park.

Arrive in Canton in time for lunch and a tour of Canton's Historic Square and Courthouse. Visit the Canton Welcome Center, housed in the historic Trolio Hotel. Several unusual homes are available for prearranged group tours. Canton is "The Film Capital of Mississippi," and you may view its many location sites of movies such as "A Time to Kill" and "My Dog Skip."

This afternoon, arrive in Jackson, Mississippi's capital city, in time for lunch and a tour of the Old State Capitol Historical Museum, Governor's Mansion and Manship House.

Day 4

Wake up to a true Southern breakfast and then a tour of the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry/ National Agricultural Aviation Museum. Complete with a re-creation of "Small Town, Mississippi" as it would have existed in the 1920s, the museum also features the Chimneyville Crafts Gallery, where you may purchase crafts made by Mississippi artisans as a memento of your adventure.

The warm, tranquil waters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast are gently calling you to continue your journey into the quaint coastal towns along its 26 miles of sun-drenched coastline. Here you can venture into the Gulf on a shrimping excursion, or tour historic t Beauvoir, the last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is rich with crafts and culture, so be sure to tour the art museums and galleries that abound here. Enjoy scrumptious seafood and glittering gaming excitement with star-studded entertainment at casinos along the Gulf Coast.

Day 5

After an,"eye opener" breakfast, it's time to say good-bye to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast and continue on your journey to Hattiesburg. This quaint but thriving university town has one of the largest historic neighborhoods in Mississippi. Hometown pride in our armed forces is displayed at the Army National Guard Museum. Continue on to Meridian and visit the Causeyville General Store and Gristmill opened in 1895. Then travel to Highland Park, home of the Jimmie Rodgers Museum. While in the park, take a ride on the rare antique Dentzel Carousel, one of three remaining in the United States.

It is time to depart for Columbus, where the first Memorial Day was celebrated on April 25, 1866, when the kind ladies of the town placed flowers on the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers who died in the war.

Once known as Odd Fellows Cemetery, it is now called Friendship Cemetery. Columbus also boasts many beautiful antebellum homes that survived the Civil War. Visit the house that is the birthplace of Tennessee Williams, Nobel Prize-winning playwright.

Day 6

Your journey continues to Tupelo to tour the humble birthplace of Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll." Also visit the Oren Dunn City Museum. Next, you will head north to experience the splendor of Holly Springs. It is said the ladies of the town charmed the Union soldiers with their hospitality and, thus, spared their town from being burned. The town has over 64 antebellum structures for touring. Enjoy the charm and hospitality of this quaint Mississippi town.

Your trip through historic Mississippi is coming to a close. We hope you'll return to our state often, because the events of today are tomorrow's history... and we're always making history in Mississippi.