Discover Banks: History, Blues and the Delta

When planning a trip to Banks, it helps to distinguish between the town itself and destinations in the surrounding area. The town’s history dates back to its founding in 1900; blues and Delta themes lead, among other places, to Tunica Resorts and Robinsonville/Tunica Resorts. If you’re looking for a hotel in Banks, this distinction can help you decide whether the town’s history or a specific museum, trail marker, or Delta forest should shape your stay.

Banks: Founding and Historic Railroad

Banks was founded in 1900 and named after its founder, Richard McPherson Banks. The Yazoo-Delta Railroad was built through Tunica County in 1902–1903; its route passed through Banks. The two dates mark different historical connections: the town’s founding and the later railroad construction in the county, whose route passed through Banks. Bennett’s Landing is another historic site in Banks.

Blues in the Tunica Area

Nearby in Tunica Resorts, the Gateway to the Blues Visitors Center is located on U.S. Highway 61; a Mississippi Blues Trail marker stands at the visitor center. The trail includes 120 historic markers across the state of Mississippi. The marker in the Tunica area is therefore part of a statewide trail. The Tunica section of the Mississippi Blues Trail also includes Abbay & Leatherman Plantation as a landmark.

The Gateway to the Blues Museum offers a different kind of blues experience: in a recording studio, you can learn the basics of the blues and record your own blues song. The two offerings are clearly distinct: the marker connects you to the trail, while at the museum you can get involved in making music yourself.

Delta Culture and Nature at RiverPark

In Robinsonville/Tunica Resorts, the Mississippi River Museum at Tunica RiverPark presents the history of the Mississippi Delta and the Mississippi River. Interactive exhibits explore various aspects of Delta culture. Four large exhibits feature live turtles, alligator gar, and fish from the Mississippi River. Historical themes and culture are presented alongside the river’s wildlife.

The Tunica RiverPark EcoTrail covers 3.1 miles of pristine Delta forest. While the museum focuses on exhibits, the forest is the main attraction here: the RiverPark museum offers history, interactive Delta culture, and exhibits; the EcoTrail complements these themes with a nature perspective.

Local Connections and Finding a Hotel

Banks Rice also has a specific connection to the town. The Swindoll family runs the business; it is connected to a farm in Banks that the father of one of the owners bought in 1966. Banks Rice’s main product is long-grain white rice. In the nearby Town of Tunica, Blue & White was established in 1924 as the first full-service Pure Oil gas station in the Mississippi Delta. These connections place different stories in context: the farm and rice business in Banks, and the gas station’s history in Tunica.

When looking for a hotel for a trip to Banks, first decide what you want to focus on: Banks itself offers founding history, railroad connections, and Bennett’s Landing; blues destinations are in nearby Tunica Resorts, while RiverPark is in the Robinsonville/Tunica Resorts area. This keeps your intended destination clear without attributing nearby museums or the EcoTrail to Banks.

Discover more destinations: Tunica Resorts, Dundee.

For the broader travel overview: Tunica.