A Quick Pit stop at the B.B. King Museum

A couple hours drive from Memphis, you'll find Indianola, Mississippi, the birthplace of legendary Blues guitarist, B.B. King.  King died in May 2015 and the museum opened in 2008.  

The building is on old cotton gin where King used to work as a kid.  The cotton gin has been restored and is now a building rich in music history.

Inside are lots of interactive exhibits showcasing the legendary guitarist.  Your visit begins with a film documenting the life of King and an exhibit hall detailing events in the life of B.B. King from his time in the Mississippi Delta juke joints to his career in Memphis and beyond.

 The grounds of the property are full of treasures paying homage to King and the music he loved.  Near the entrance is a guitar - a tribute to King's beloved Lucille.   

 Also, a series of bronze poles emblazoned with song titles and the guitar notes of those songs.

 B.B. King's grave is at the far end of the museum's grounds in an area dubbed the B.B. King Memorial Courtyard. 

 A massive black granite slab inscribed with lyrics from B.B. King's song "Take It Home" sits in the courtyard.

"Don't know why / I was made to wander / I've seen the light, Lord / I've felt the thunder. / Someday I'll go home again / And I know they'll take me in. / And take it home."

We really enjoyed visit the B.B. King Museum and learned so much about the beloved musician. 

After all that walking we had worked up quite an appetite.  I could smell some good ol' soul food but I just couldn't tell where it was coming from.  There was a barbecue spot about a block away but I wasn't smelling barbecue.

Then I saw an older lady walking with a styrofoam container and asked where she got her food from.  

"Betty's Place" she replied and quickly got in her car.

A couple of blocks from the museum stood a small restaurant called "Betty's Place".

The restaurant was filled with a group of ladies, I'm guessing locals, seated at a table and a constant flurry of traffic from people picking up call in orders.  

Our waitress, one of Miss Betty's grandchildren, seated us and we perused the menu. 

So many options but my mom settled for the fried catfish and I opted for the BBQ ribs with two sides.  Each dinner came with a couple of slices of white sandwich bread.  

I chose the cole slaw and broccoli cheese sides with my BBQ dinner.  The 4 ribs were drenched in a sweet tangy sauce with a hint of pepper.  The sauce was thin but very flavorful.  

My mom opted for the fried okra and a side salad with bleu cheese salad dressing.  The fish arrived piping hot and it was enough fish on that plate for 2.  She ended up having to pack a to go box as it was so much food.

I always order water when I go out to eat.  I was tempted to order the tea / lemonade blend called Muddy Water.  We call it "Arnold Palmer" or "Southern Blend" but don't you just love that homage to the blues?

We were so full and even though the "Carmel Cake" looked tempting we just couldn't eat another bite. 

I plan to visit the region again over the summer and take my family to the B.B. King Museum and maybe just maybe we'll stop at Miss Betty's and I'll have that Muddy Water.

Have you ever visited the B.B. King Museum?  When was the last time you and your family visited a museum?