Blues musician and muralist Bobby Whalen will perform songs that recall the juke joints, stills, and casinos highlighted in the Mississippi Distilled: Prohibition, Piety, and Politics exhibition at the Two Mississippi Museums on Sunday, June 13, from 1–4 p.m.
Admission to the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is free from 1–5 p.m. and includes the special exhibits Mississippi Distilled: Prohibition, Piety, and Politics and I AM A MAN: Civil Rights Photographs in the American South, 1960–1970. Face masks and social distancing guidelines are required.
Bobby Whalen is a native of the historic Church Street district in Indianola where distinguished blues musicians such as B.B. King performed in clubs and cafes. Whalen began his musical career performing as a drummer and bassist in his band, The Ladies Choice, along with several other musicians. He continues to perform blues music at local venues across the region and has been featured in several blues publications. As an artist, Whalen designed the mural paintings of the “Lucille’s Place” juke joint exhibit featured in the Museum of Mississippi History’s Soul of the State gallery.
MDAH was awarded the 2021 American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Award of Excellence for Mississippi Distilled: Prohibition, Piety, and Politics, an immersive exhibition exploring the state’s tumultuous relationship with alcohol from the colonial period to today. It features fascinating artifacts, enticing stories, and surprising images that take visitors on a journey that begins with ancient alcohols and the science of spirits through the social problems that led to the upheaval of the temperance movement and its impact on voting rights, lynchings, child labor laws, and domestic violence. Read more about the award here. The exhibit will close on Saturday, June 26.
Safety precautions at the museums include requiring all visitors to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines. Masks are available on-site.
Regular museum hours are Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The museums are open free of charge on Sundays from 1–5 p.m.
The museums are located at 222 North Street in Jackson. For more information email info@mdah.ms.gov.
