Discover Clarksdale: Blues and Culture

Clarksdale is most closely associated with blues history; literary and architectural history, along with river activities, are also possible focuses for a stay.

Blues History in the City

In the city’s early development, the New World neighborhood was a center for ragtime, blues, and jazz. Clarksdale’s musical history therefore encompasses more than a single genre. The basement of the Riverside Hotel is also part of this history: in the early 1950s, Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm, rehearsed there with singer Jackie Brenston.

There are fifteen Mississippi Blues Trail markers in Clarksdale and Coahoma County. A walking tour of downtown takes visitors to many of these markers, stops on the Clarksdale Walk of Fame, and banners about art and culture. The tour thus connects musical landmarks with other themes in the cityscape.

The Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival began in 1988 as a promotional event to draw visitors to downtown Clarksdale. Its origins are therefore also part of the city’s history.

Museums, Literature, and Architecture

The Delta Blues Museum presents the history and significance of the blues. The Muddy Waters Cabin is also on display there. Playwright Tom “Tennessee” Williams spent his childhood in Clarksdale; the Tennessee Williams Rectory Museum occupies four upstairs bedrooms in the former rectory of St. George’s Episcopal Church. Williams and his family once lived in this rectory. Museum visits are available by appointment.

Another historic landmark is the Cutrer Mansion. Memphis architect Bayard Cairnes built it in 1916 for attorney J.W. Cutrer and his wife, Blanche Clark Cutrer. The Hambone Gallery’s history dates back to 2005; it is located in historic downtown Clarksdale. Together, these places complement the blues history with literature, architecture, and visual art.

The Sunflower River and Recreation

From its location in Clarksdale, Quapaw Canoe Company offers custom-guided adventures on the Lower Mississippi. A paddling route on the Sunflower River also begins and ends downtown at Quapaw Canoe Company. These river activities offer a different focus from the historic sites and city tour.

Soldiers Field, a public park, is located on the Sunflower River in downtown. It has an 18-hole disc golf course and a paved path for walking and cycling. While the city tour leads to Trail markers, Walk of Fame stops, and art banners, Soldiers Field offers specific opportunities to get active in the park. Dining options mentioned in Clarksdale include barbecue, fried catfish, and Delta hot tamales.

Discover more destinations: Coahoma

View the main travel overview: Coahoma County.