Tupelo, Mississippi
The remnants of Chickasaw village tell us that, after bravely fighting for two hundred years, the Chickasaws at last joined the Native Americans on the “Trail of Tears”, finally giving up their home land for the early settlers.
If you think that Tupelo was only a home to Chickasaw Indians, then you are mistaken. Tupelo also played a major role during the civil war.
Automobile Museum
From the birthplace of Elvis Presley, let's continue to Tupelo Automobile Museum, to witness his generosity. Elvis gifted many close friends with Automobiles. One of them is a 1976 Lincoln Mark IV. He gifted the vehicle to Tupelo Automobile Museum. Let's take the self guided tour at the museum to see more than one hundred Antique automobiles, displayed chronologically, showing the progress over one hundred years of automobile industry. One of antique cars on display is a 1886 Benz. It was the first three wheeled car powered by petrol. Karl Benz designed it between 1883 and 1885 in Mannheim, Germany.
Frank Spain, the founder of Tupelo Automobile Museum, acquired 150 rare automobiles over a period of 28 years, from all around the globe. Later, he brought them all under one roof, making the Tupelo Automobile Museum, one of the largest automobile museums in North America. |
History
On our fourth day, let us walk along the outlines of Chickasaw Village and Fort, west of Tupelo. Reading the interpretive panels placed along the outline, we learn that, among the early settlers it was the Spanish Explorer Hernando De Soto who discovered Tupelo in 1540. At the time Chickasaw Indians, inhabiting the land, fought fiercely with the Spanish explorers to stop them from usurping their land. Interpretive panels also inform us, that the Chickasaw tribes were respected as “Spartans of lower Mississippi”, for their sophisticated towns and government system. The Chickasaw nation continued to be a powerful warrior nation for almost two hundred years and weakened the French Explorers in the famous Battle of Ackia in 1736.
Battle of Brices Cross Roads and Battle of Tupelo
As you walk past the lonely graves of thirteen unknown confederate soldiers along the Natchez Trace Parkway, just north of Tupelo, you will be reminded of the two major battles, fought here in 1864 during the civil war. The Battle of Brices Cross Roads and Battle of Tupelo. |
Birthplace of Elvis Presley
After hearing all the brutal war stories, if your heart sinks, you can find peace, listening to Elvis Presley’s music in his birthplace. Tupelo created history when the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Presley was born in a White Frame house built by his father on January 8th, 1935. You can relax in the White Frame house consisting of only two rooms, where Elvis's family lived for two years after he was born. Once you relax, it may even inspire you to make your own Music. Tupelo Buffalo Park
After watching the man made wonders, let's proceed to Tupelo Buffalo Park, to watch natural wonders. We can watch exotic animals, such as Hedgehog, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Llamas, Emus, Yaks and Water Buffalos at the Tupelo Buffalo Park. Let's ride the world famous "Monster Bison Bus", to meet the majestic and powerful buffaloes, that weight more than a ton and are over seven feet tall. |