Peter visits Tunica, Mississippi!

Name: Kelsie Coop
Date: 2/27/13-3/2/13
Destination: Tunica, Mississippi
Latitude: 34.84684
Longitude: -90.29403
Round Trip: 370.2 miles
Total Miles: 1,831.2 miles

Peter and I left Wham on Wednesday afternoon and traveled to Sparta, Illinois to spend the night at my house before our big trip! We relaxed and enjoyed watching the new episode of Duck Dynasty. After a restful night of sleep, Peter and I left bright and early Thursday morning with my family to head to Tunica, Mississippi. The four and a half hour car ride seemed to take forever! However, we were very excited when we saw the Mississippi state welcome sign! 

Mississippi was the twentieth state to enter the United States of America on December 10, 1817. The state capital is, and the nickname is the Magnolia State. Mississippi is well known for its major farming industries.

After we entered the state of Mississippi, it was not long before we reached our destination of the Gateway to the Blues Highway 61 Visitor Center. U.S. Highway 61 is known as the "blues highway." It rivaled Route 66 as the most famous road in the American music lore. Musicians such as Big Joe Williams, Eddie Shaw, James "Son" Thomas, and several others have recorded songs about Highway 61. Travel was been a popular theme in blues music because of the "get up and go" possibilities. Peter enjoyed touring the visitors center. He commented on how much character the building has and how it made him feel as if he traveled back in time! It was a cold and windy day, but Peter and I managed to snap a picture outside.

Peter and I did a little shopping at the outlet mall on our trip. We enjoyed sleeping in and relaxing during the short getaway. Late Saturday morning, we headed back to Sparta, Illinois. Peter was lucky, and he slept the entire drive home! 

After arriving in Sparta late Saturday afternoon, we ate dinner and grabbed one more quick picture before traveling back to Carbondale.

Peter had to stop and check out the Charter Oak School located right outside of Sparta in Randolph County. Charter Oak School is one of the few octagonal-shaped, one room school houses left in America. Classes were held in the building from 1873 to 1953. In 1970, the school became an official Illinois State Historical Site. Today, elementary students use the building for class field trips to experience how school was in the past.

After our stop at Charter Oak School, we returned back to Carbondale. Both Peter and I were exhausted from our trip! We traveled a total of 370.2 miles.