Tennessee Williams called Mississippi “the beauty spot of creation,” and the stops along newly anointed Cultural Highway 82 seek to reflect the writer and playwright’s romantic ideal.
U.S. 82, which runs from the Mississippi River at the Arkansas line across northern Mississippi and through eight counties, has been designated the state’s first cultural highway, under the leadership of Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona.
“It was something we put in the works last year,” said Chassaniol, who chairs the Senate Tourism Committee.
“This might not seem like a significant part of legislation, just naming it a heritage highway, but it will be a draw for tourists,” she said.
The heritage highway will provide tourists with historical markers, local eateries and other attractions in eight towns off U.S. 82, including Greenwood, Carrollton, Winona, Columbus, Eupora, Greenville, Greenwood, Indianola and Starkville.
Chassaniol said she asked local tourism bureaus in each city and town to provide her staff with a list of the best things to see.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said the city had not put in its list yet but probably will soon.
“Senator Chassaniol is very close to Greenwood and has constituents here,” she said. “We’ve talked about it many times, and she’s talked about it with our tourism director.”
Why U.S. 82? Chassaniol said that of all of Mississippi’s roadways, U.S. 82 had the greatest number of interesting attractions. Offhand she cited the Jim Henson exhibit in Leland, the home of Tennessee Williams in Columbus, the B.B. King Museum in Indianola and the home of J.Z. George in North Carrollton.
McAdams said she is excited about what the cultural designation will mean for local tourism.
“I think it certainly can’t do anything but help. Senator Chassaniol has been working on this project for a while now, collecting the sites for the area,” she said.
She added that the distinction would be especially helpful for advertising festivals and events in the region.
“I’m really proud of the fact that she was able to get this project up and going, because I do think it’s going to help all of us,” McAdams said.
Chassaniol said she was working with Greenwood in particular because much of “The Help” was filmed there in 2010. Greenville, with the host of writers it has inspired, is also a major focal point of the initiative.
“Even the small towns like Carrollton and Moorhead have a lot of important things along the way, near to Highway 82,” said Chassaniol.
A website for the project (www.visitmississippi.org/heritage-hwy-82.aspx) is already in the works, with maps and descriptions of U.S. 82’s various attractions.
• Contact Jeanie Riess at 581-7235 or jriess@gwcommonwealth.com.
