As the birthplace of American popular music and the center of the Civil Rights movement, Mississippi is rich in cultural history. In the past few years, several world-class museums have popped up throughout the Magnolia State, showcasing the state’s wealth of artistic accomplishment as well as its history of racial oppression, along with celebrating the strength of those who helped to overcome it. In honor of our Back-to-School issue, here are five reasons to take a Mississippi road trip and learn about the artists and activists who helped shape the nation into what it is today.
The Community Gallery “Made in Mississippi” wall.Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience
Meridian, Mississippi, is home of the state’s newest museum, the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, aka the MAX. Opened in April, the museum’s exhibit design blends elements of interactive technology with related artifacts. The first level of the museum is home to the Hall of Fame, celebrating 18 of the state’s cultural stars – writer John Grisham, actor Morgan Freeman, puppeteer Jim Henson, entertainer Oprah Winfrey, and more. The floor also includes two art studios, a recording studio and a changing exhibition gallery. The upper level is focused on the people, places and institutions that inspired Mississippi’s artists.
A re-creation of King’s home studio is seen at the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center
Surrounding an early 20th century cotton gin, the 20,000-square-foot B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center celebrates the life and work of blues musician B.B. King, as well as the music and history of the Mississippi Delta through rare artifacts, film and interactive exhibits. Be sure to pay your respects before you leave. King was buried on the grounds after his death in 2015.