Mississippi is well known as the birthplace of the blues, but fans of every genre will find unique places to explore, where America’s music took root, found its voice, and changed the world. 

The blues is red hot in Mississippi’s Delta region. In Clarksdale, you can visit the Delta Blues Museum or catch a show at the city’s famous Ground Zero Blues Club. Nearby, Cleveland is home to GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, which explores the state’s contributions to American recorded music across genres. And, in Indianola, you can celebrate the legacy of Mississippi’s “King of the Blues” at the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center.

Tupelo is, of course, the birthplace of Mississippi’s other famous “King,” Elvis Presley. You can tour the humble two-room shack where he was born and trace his rise from small-town boy to international icon. Another North Mississippi hotspot, Oxford, is known for its literary roots, historic square, and a growing reputation for live music at venues like The Lyric and Proud Larry’s.

Fans of early country music flock to Meridian, home to a museum dedicated to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. Guitars and other artifacts once owned by the “Singing Brakeman” are displayed.

You can even discover music history on the state’s back roads and small town streets. More than 200 historic markers on Mississippi’s Blues Trail and Country Music Trail highlight the Mississippi people, places, and songs that shaped our country. 

Wherever you ultimately go, you’re sure to have a great time and leave with a song in your heart. Plan your music journey today at VisitMississippi.org. And catch our new podcast, Mississippi on the Map, available on all popular podcast platforms.