Delta Blues Museum — Attraction in Clarksdale

I didn’t have to pay to enter this museum: Washington, DC—The National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families (BSF) are pleased to announce that museums across the nation will be participating in the 14th summer of the Blue Star Museums program. From Saturday, May 20, 2023, Armed Forces Day, to Monday, September 4, 2023, Labor Day, active duty military families can enjoy free admission to participating museums in all 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Wanted to share that information in case other museums are visited. I’m not active duty but most will also allow Veterans free entrance.

This museums has tons of information. You could really feel overwhelmed and it’s a pretty large museum. I didn’t have enough time to properly view. I highly recommend allowing at least 2-3 hours to tour. You are not allowed to take photos or videos. This part I didn’t like!!

The home of Muddy Waters is in museum. Actually it’s one room, the others were destroyed in tornado. There is a lot of written information about him on display in that area. There are so many artist on display, it seems like they didn’t leave anyone out!

Ike Turner was born in Clarksdale, MS. I didn’t have a clue about this. You learn so many details about the artist in these museums. This all ties into the Blues Museum and Hall of Fame in Memphis because many of them were produced by Sam Phillips before leaving MS.

This was my 2nd time at museum and I noticed that it had been updated and is much nicer in 2024. It’s very upscale and they have added new displays, photos. It also seems the floor has been redone. I absolutely love this museum!

There is a gift shop and the staff is very friendly! I did take photos of gift shop and area outside of building. They have very nice murals in area and blues marker for Ike Turner.

This museum is very interesting, I highly...

They had a decent collection. Some displays were dusty and had cobwebs on them, however overall it was interesting. Not being allowed to take photos or video was ridiculous. Most people have photos to refresh their memory of a trip or visit to someplace new. My biggest complaint is the staff. The attendant at the register had head phones on when we walked in. She couldn't be bothered with even saying hello, how can I help you, get lost, nothing. My husband stood there and stared at her until she finally had to speak, to which she pointed to a sign on the desk and said cost for entry is blah blah blah. After we finished our tour we entered the gift shop, she still had her headphones on, she certainly couldn't be bothered with conversation. I found a style of t-shirt I liked but they were sold out of my size. When my husband saw a stack of the shirt I liked on the counter near the register, he began looking through them, little miss chatty Cathy suddenly became very animated stating "oh no, those haven't been put in the system yet". When I asked about the size I needed, she again said the shirts weren't in the system yet, I'll have to order one online. She then turned her attention back to her phone and headphones. There was no offer to help look for one in my size, no offer to help order one online, including not telling me what website I should go to in order to place my order. It's a shame, because they would have certainly had a sale if not for the rude, lackluster staff...

A destination attraction for those who like blues, R&B, and the roots of rock. Set in an old railroad depot, this museum celebrates the Delta blues and its influence. We weren't sure if it was open when we pulled up because you can't see people inside from the parking lot. But don't be deterred. It was open. Lots of memorabilia, a great place where I leaned the names of many new-to-me classic and more recent artists and learned more about those who are more widely known. Painted gas can "Chikan" guitars were a fun visual highlight.

The gift shop had some nice quilted items referring back to a famous blues railroad intersection--where the Southern meets the Dog. The t-shirts were good, but honestly, I preferred the more colorful ones at the Tunica County highway visitor's center. You wouldn't expect that, so if you're traveling south from Memphis, don't pass up the Tunica "shack." Only four stars because photography is prohibited. I hope they change this because people would like to be able to show their friends pictures and encourage them to come. Enjoy your visit to this town that is rich in history,...