A marker on the Highway 61 Blues Trail identifies U.S. Highway 61 as the “Blues Highway.” It also points to an earlier alignment: the original route, now called Old Highway 61, ran just west of the marker. This helps distinguish the road’s name from the route taken by its predecessor—a precise introduction to Tunica’s Blues history.
Blues, History, and Architecture
The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitor Center uses interactive exhibits and artwork to explain the origins of the Blues and the influence of Tunica and the Delta on the musical genre. The Center is located on Highway 61 North, where staff can answer questions about Tunica, gaming, and the Blues. If you plan to use this stop to get your bearings, check the latest visitor information in advance.
Another Blues Trail marker commemorates African American entrepreneur Harold “Hardface” Clanton (1916–1982). He ran a thriving business in Tunica involving gambling, illegal alcohol sales, and Blues music. The marker also tells a local story in which music and entrepreneurship went hand in hand.
The Tunica Historic District includes residential, commercial, civic, and religious architecture dating from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The Tunica County Museum shares the history of Tunica County through exhibits, educational programs, research, and collections. Mound Builders Interactive offers a different historical focus, taking visitors through a life-size model of an ancient Indigenous burial mound.
Experience the Delta and its Waters
The Mississippi River Museum at Tunica RiverPark has four freshwater aquariums featuring live turtles, gar, and fish. A cruise on the Tunica Queen offers views of the Delta from the water. The EcoTrail at Tunica RiverPark features 3.1 miles of pristine Delta forest. Its wetlands are home to deer, foxes, squirrels, beavers, turtles, snakes, and birds.
A river cruise and the EcoTrail offer different perspectives on nature: one from the river, the other along a forest and wetland. Walkers, runners, and cyclists can use the trail, as can leashed pets. Cycling is also part of the region: the Great River Road Bike Trail reaches the Tunica County line along Old Highway 61.
Sports and Events
The Tunica National Tennis Center has four climate-controlled indoor courts. Tunica National’s golf course is described as designed by Mark McCumber, with tee boxes featuring six markers. River Bend Links offers additional points of comparison: the course is a par 72, measures 6,900 yards, and has a Scottish links design. Golf tournaments are also held there. This lets you compare the two courses based on the features expressly listed, without drawing conclusions about difficulty or playing conditions from individual details.
The Tunica Arena & Expo has 48,000 square feet of climate-controlled arena and exhibition space and accommodates horse shows and rodeos. The Tunica Rivergate Festival is an annual weekend event featuring art, music, and competitions; the 2026 edition also included a BBQ competition. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your chosen year.
Discover more destinations: Banks, Dundee, Tunica Resorts, Kemper County, Alcorn County, Panola, Desoto, Rankin.
For the main travel overview: Mississippi.
