West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center

01/28/2025

Did you know…?

Tina Turner was very successful during her musical career. She accumulated 25 Grammy nominations, 8 Grammy awards, and a host of other awards during her career. You can see this picture from the 27th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 1985, where Tina was awarded 3 Grammy awards, when you visit our Turner Museum.

Learn more by visiting the West TN Delta Heritage Center.

01/28/2025

Maestro, composer and performer Rex Willis visited recently for the first time. After enjoying a musical presentation about Blues Pioneer at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and lunch downtown, Willis was inspired to compose a song to commemorate his visit. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

01/25/2025

Sleepy John’s birthday celebration starts at 10 am today, January 25. Well cut the cake about noon. Y’all come hear good music and eat with us! Bring your instruments for an afternoon jam session.

01/23/2025

Join us this Saturday, January 25th to celebrate the 126th anniversary of the birth of Sleepy John Adam Estes. We’ll have a grand time enjoying the stories, music, and spirit of “Sleepy John.” Bring your instruments for the acoustic Blues Jam, too. The fun begins at 10am until 3pm. See you there!

01/21/2025

Did you know…?

The water keg provided farmers with fresh drinking water during long hours of work. Some kegs were attached to wagons and others were found around sheds and barns. Fresh water would be stored in containers of various shapes and sizes like the keg for use in areas where it was not readily available. You might consider the keg a forerunner to the modern day insulated tumblers.

Learn more by visiting the West TN Delta Heritage Center.

01/20/2025

We're remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today with one of our favorite quotes.
Stop by for a warm cup of coffee and a visit. We'd love to hear your favorite quote from Dr. King (or share it in the comments below)! ☕️

01/17/2025

Tennessee Vacation has officially released the 2025 Tennessee Vacation Guide. It's filled with an insider’s how-to for experiencing world-class destinations and unforgettable experiences across the state. The free printed guide or e-guide can be accessed online at TNvacation.com or picked up here at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.

01/16/2025

Did you know…?

An outhouse is a small structure that houses a dry toilet (no plumbing or running water) and is always separate from the main building. It sits over a pit and when the pit fills up, it is covered with dirt and the outhouse is moved to a new location. They are normally made out of wood and the inside consists of a raised wood bench with a carved-out hole in the middle for sitting. Outhouses were commonly used before indoor plumbing and can still be found occasionally in rural areas and developing countries.

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center has a replica outhouse that is located beside the Sleepy John Estes home.

01/11/2025

Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, we'll be closed today and tomorrow. Thanks for understanding. See you on Monday! ❄️
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01/10/2025

We are closed due to the inclement weather. Y’all be safe out there if you have to travel.

01/09/2025

Did you know?

Hand-powered water pumps were placed over wells before piped water systems were available, especially in rural areas. This is the original pump used on the grounds of Flagg Grove School in Nutbush. It was moved along with the school to the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in 2012. It would’ve been used by both the teacher and students for a variety of things such as drinking water and for washing their hands.

Learn more by visiting the West TN Delta Heritage Center.

01/07/2025

Did you know…?

John Kilzer was born on this day in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1957; and was an outstanding basketball player at Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) and would go on to teach literature there. He had several short stories published before pursuing a music career and signing with Geffen Records in 1988. He is most known for his Rock hit "Red Blue Jeans." During his life, he dealt with alcohol addiction. In 2010, he earned a PhD in Theology and began helping people recovering from substance abuse until his death in 2019.

Learn more by visiting the West TN Delta Heritage Center.

01/02/2025

Did you know?

Gleason TN native Mike Snider, banjo player and humorist, learned to play the banjo at the age of 16, and by age 22 had won the 1983 National Banjo Championship. This resulted in guest appearances on The Grand Ole Opry and on the Tennessee Nashville Network's “Nashville Now" show. He was made a permanent member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1990 and was a regular on the nationally syndicated TV show "Hee Haw." Snider still performs and continues to live on his Tennessee farm.

Learn more by visiting the West TN Delta Heritage Center.

12/31/2024

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! We will be closing today at 1pm to celebrate the coming of the new year. We hope to see you Thursday, January 2nd for regular hours.

12/26/2024

Tennessee Songwriters Week 2025 is BACK, and we're excited to host a qualifying round here at the Delta Heritage Center on February 1, 2025! This is your chance to compete for a spot in the final rounds and make your mark in Tennessee’s legendary music scene.
🗓 Songwriter sign-ups are open now and are first-come, first-served, so be sure to grab your spot before they're gone!
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/3vypxbzw

SIGN UPS BEGIN DECEMBER 12, 2024 The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is proud to be an official qualifying venue for the 2025 TN Songwriters Week. All singer / songwriters in all genres are eligible to compete. The Delta Heritage Center qualifier will be Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 1-5 pm....