OXFORD, Miss. – Living Blues magazine and the Blues Archive receive a
Blues Trail marker from the state of Mississippi Blues Commission at
the University of Mississippi.
The marker dedication is
scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 27 on the Barnard Observatory lawn. It is
the first trail marker to be placed in Lafayette County and is
sponsored in part by the Oxford Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The
dedication is part of the annual Living Blues Symposium, set for Feb.
26-27, sponsored by Living Blues magazine, which is published at UM.
View a schedule of the symposium
Having a Blues Trail marker gets Oxford on the Blues Trail Web site and maps, giving visitors more access to information on Oxford’s vibrant musical culture, said Hugh Stump, executive director of the Oxford Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Showcasing the Blues Archive at Ole Miss and Living Blues magazine as Blues Trail marker recipients makes Oxford a must-see stop on the Blues Trail tour of the state,” Stump said. “The Blues Archive hosts one of the largest blues publications, recordings, and memorabilia in the world. Blues lovers from around the state, region, and world travel yearly to Mississippi to learn more about their beloved music, and a trip to Oxford and the new Blues Trail marker will be a highlight of their tour.”
The Mississippi Blues Trail will continue to be developed in phases as funding becomes available, with plans for more than 120 historical markers and interpretive sites to be located throughout the state. Phase one of the trail consisted of nine markers that were funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The second and third phases are being funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.