Birthplace of the Blues?

Cleveland, Mississippi

We were traveling on some little rural back road of Mississippi when all of a sudden there was this classic nonfunctional service station.

Around in back was the Dockery Farms plantation.

Then I saw this sign.  This is something I never gave much thought to until then.  What was really cool was below the sign was a button you could push.  I pushed it.  Original classic blues music taken from scratchy old 78 rpm records began to play from various speakers hidden around the grounds.

I didn't notice it while there, but did so while fixing up this post...it looks like that tree has fallen over against the building yet it is still alive.

This large diesel motor stood retired and quiet inside the gin mill.  

Look at those huge belts that drove all of the milling process equipment.

I could just imagine a beautiful southern style plantation mansion must have stood at the end of this road. But a shut gate means something so I stayed out.

This is one of the reasons I fell in love with the South; it was all so green and lush, wonderfully quiet save for the sounds of the Blues still playing on as we drove away.