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Enjoy Mississippi’s Magnolias in Bloom

Tupelo

Some artists lose connection with their hometowns over the years, but for others, their birthplaces serve as character maps to the values and culture that defined them early on in life. Such is the case in Tupelo, where the king of rock n’ roll himself, Elvis Presley, was born in a little two-room home in 1935. Music fans can learn more about Presley’s formative years at the Elvis Presley Birthplace, a unique museum that includes the original family home, the restored church where Presley first developed a love for music and an exhibit area with Presley family photos and memorabilia.

Groups can also stop by Tupelo Hardware in downtown, an old-fashioned, all-purpose hardware store that features everything from small engine parts to housewares and instruments. In 1946, Presley entered the store with his mother to pick out a present for his 11th birthday, and guests can see the exact spot where he stood when the shopkeeper handed him his first guitar. The story goes that Presley originally wanted a .22 caliber rifle, but his mother talked him into buying a guitar instead.

Another distinct attraction in Tupelo is the Tupelo Automobile Museum, which houses 150 rare, collectible cars, one of the largest privately owned auto collections in the country. The cars are organized chronologically, so visitors can observe the evolution of style and motor technology as they stroll up and down the rows of cars in the 120,000-square-foot facility. Some of the vehicles came from notable owners, such as a Lincoln that once belonged to Elvis Presley.

Columbus

Colorful Columbus, the “city that has it all,” is one of Mississippi’s true hidden gems, boasting over 650 homes on the National Historic Registry and three National Register historic districts. In Mississippi, the city is second only to Natchez in number of preserved 19th-century homes.

The city’s double-decker bus tour provides groups the opportunity to see many of these ornate properties and historic sites with detailed descriptions from a step-on guide. Some of the homeowners graciously open their Italianate or Greek Revival mansions for private luncheons and tours, which visitors can coordinate through the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In April each year, the Annual Spring Pilgrimage draws thousands of visitors to the city as a selection of antebellum homes open to the public, presenting period costumes, activities and food. The award-winning event has been running for nearly 80 years and is regarded as one of the most authentic home tours in the South.

Columbus is also the birthplace of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Tennessee Williams, who spent the first three years of his life in a beautiful Victorian home that now operates as a museum and visitors center. Inside, groups can learn more about the life and works of America’s most distinguished playwright, who penned classics such as “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “The Glass Menagerie.”