Coahoma County: Blues History, Literature, and Nature

Coahoma County offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: blues and literary history in Clarksdale, historic sites, events, and activities on the water and outdoors. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, first consider whether culture, a festival, or time at Moon Lake will shape your stay.

Blues History and Events in Clarksdale

The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale invites visitors to explore the history and heritage of the blues. It was founded in 1979 and reorganized as an independent museum in 1999. Today, it is Mississippi’s oldest music museum. It is housed in a historic freight depot built in 1918 for the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. This connects the museum’s blues history with the history of a specific railroad depot.

Events also highlight a range of cultural themes. The Tennessee Williams Festival takes place each year over a weekend in October and includes literary events, Porch Plays, and live performances. The annual Juke Joint Festival combines a blues music festival with a small-town fair. If one of the festivals is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates before booking.

Literature, Local History, and Historic Sites

The Tennessee Williams Rectory Museum is located in the former rectory of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Clarksdale. Williams spent part of his childhood in Clarksdale; his grandfather was rector of the church from 1917 to 1931. The historic connection is therefore tied both to Williams’s childhood and to his grandfather’s service.

Another important figure in local history is Aaron Henry. He was a pharmacist in Clarksdale and a prominent early grassroots activist in the civil rights movement. As local NAACP president, he led the boycott campaign in Clarksdale in the early 1960s. The Carnegie Public Library Archeology Collection explores a different subject: it includes Mississippi pottery, artifacts, and archaeological research materials.

The Friars Point Historic District includes 49 buildings and one structure and is located primarily along Second Street. Here, the focus is on a historic district, while the Delta Blues Museum is housed in a single former freight depot. North of Friars Point, there is also a viewpoint on the Mississippi River.

Moon Lake: Water, Nature, and Outdoor Recreation

There are public access points for boating and fishing at Moon Lake, which is also a spot for birdwatching. Moon Lake Park has a public boat ramp, a fish-cleaning station, a covered picnic shelter, and public restrooms. These facilities meet a range of practical needs, from launching a boat and cleaning a catch to taking a break at the picnic area.

Moon Lake Overlook has free parking and a path to a pier at the viewpoint. This is a separate waterside landmark from the facilities at Moon Lake Park. If you’re planning activities at the lake, you can distinguish between boating and fishing, birdwatching, and visiting the viewpoint and pier.

For guided river experiences, Quapaw Canoe Company offers custom-guided adventures on the Lower Mississippi from Clarksdale. Remote wilderness areas are reached by canoe or kayak; check availability for your preferred tour before your trip. Delta Bohemian offers personalized Jeep tours focused on the history, blues, and backroads of the Mississippi Delta, Coahoma County, and Clarksdale. The experiences thus differ in how you get around: by canoe or kayak on the river versus a Jeep tour with regional themes. Here, too, it’s a good idea to confirm availability before your trip.

More Outdoor Activities

The Soldiers Field Disc Golf Course runs along the banks of the Sunflower River. A walking path, picnic tables, and a playground are located along the course. The Hugh Jack Stubbs Recreational Trail is suited to exercise and nature experiences. These places offer different ways to spend time outdoors: a course by the river with additional facilities along the route, or a trail focused on exercise and nature.

For travel to Clarksdale, Memphis International Airport can serve as a point of reference: it is about 68 miles from Clarksdale. The drive takes a little over an hour; travel time may vary depending on traffic. This information refers to the route to Clarksdale and can help with general travel planning.

Discover more destinations: Clarksdale, Coahoma, Webster County, Copiah County, Marshall, Desoto, Harrison, Stone County.

For the overall travel overview: Mississippi.