On Board American Melody

Our first cruise experience was last September on a land-sea excursion to Alaska. The cruise portion was 7 days on board the MS Holland America Noordam. 

We wanted a smaller cruise experience the next time. Even though it was a smaller ship, the MS Noordam had 986 staterooms with cabins spread across various categories, nearly 70% featuring private balconies, 16% ocean-view cabins, and the remainder were inside cabins. 

We wanted to explore U.S. waterways on the next cruise. Seeing ads for American Cruise Lines (ACL) riverboats, we booked a lower Mississippi riverboat trip on the American Melody (9 days/8 nights) for April from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN. Cruising was the slowest possible way to travel that distance, perfect for us.

Launched in 2021, the five-deck American Melody riverboat has 91 staterooms, all with private balconies and full-length sliding glass doors. It holds a max of 180 passengers (157 were on our cruise) and a crew of 40 to 50. Cabin types range from 250 square-foot, single-occupancy rooms to 650 square-foot Grand Suites. All staterooms feature modern amenities. The ACL motto is Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly. 

(Generally, a riverboat, ship, or boat is a vessel or craft., a distinction based on size: ships are large/ocean-going, while boats are smaller and suited for inland waters. A riverboat is classified as a boat, river cruiser, barge, or ferry.)

ACL currently operates a fleet of over 20 modern riverboats that cruise in 35 states on boats US-owned and built and crewed with U.S. citizens. The fleet includes riverboats, paddle wheelers and coastal cats, covering major rivers and coastlines from Alaska to Florida visiting over 150 domestic ports yearly. Founded in 1972 by Charles A. and Carol Robertson, the boats are built in Salisbury, MD, at Chesapeake Shipbuilding. (The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is a federal statute that requires specific construction and crew stipulations for goods transported by water between U.S. ports. It supports the domestic maritime industry for national security and economic purposes and defines certain seaman's rights.)

We preferred an all-adult cruise and the guest mix aboard American Melody fit perfectly. Many, like ourselves, were in their 70s, others in their 80s and one passenger celebrated his 94th birthday on board. We talked to other passengers who had traveled extensively and now wanted to avoid a lengthy flight or had mobility issues that made travel challenging. (River cruises in the U.S. must follow requirements in the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that's not the case abroad.) We met folks from California (highest number) Texas, Oregon and Florida, and also the UK and Australia, but none from NH.

American Melody has several lounges, a fitness center, large dining room, café for casual dining, sun deck, library, laundry room and a four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. The top deck has a sun deck and walking track. What you won't find are casinos, buffets, gift shop, photographers, pools, large crowds and no formal nights, the emphasis is on relaxation and enjoyment.

The riverboat's bow opens for passengers to walk on and off

The riverboat’s flipped-up bow looks like large jaws which open to extend a walkway for passengers to get off and on off. At some docks, there was the usual gangplank, sometimes quite long. The riverboat stows golf carts onboard to help disabled passengers. Mississippi riverboats have unique challenges; however, with its shallow draft and unique bow, American Melody can dock where other boats could have issues. ACL claims that its riverboats have never missed a scheduled sailing due to low water depth. 

At docks where the bow opening could not be used there was a gangplank

ACL includes a complimentary pre-cruise hotel overnight in the departure city. This ensures that passengers have time to get to the departure destination. A designated ACL coach transports everyone to the riverboat the next morning.

Our New Orleans visit was too short to really see the sights

Our cruise departed from New Orleans, LA. Unfortunately, we had less than 24 hours in a city renowned for music and food. We did venture to the French Quarter and Café du Monde, the legendary home of the classic beignet. This square piece of dough is fried, covered with powdered sugar and served in orders of three.

Beignets at Café du Monde in the French Quarter were a must taste

Based on 2026 data, ACL boasts some of the largest average staterooms in the cruise industry, particularly within the small ship and river cruise markets. When we arrived at the riverboat, our stateroom was ready. The luggage had been delivered, there were no boarding lines, lunch was being served in the dining room. 

Our veranda stateroom on American Melody was about 320 square feet

Located on Deck 2, our stateroom had a king-side bed, four pillows, nightstands and lamps on both sides, chairs, large flat screen TV (movies, ship info, selected news channels), dresser with plentiful drawer space, closet, vanity/desk and Keurig coffee maker. There were enough electric outlets so we could both charge cellphones and other devices. The bathroom had a shower (no bath), towels, shampoo, lotion, soaps with room for personal toiletries Our room was a short walk from the two elevators, stairs were always an option. 

Lifejackets were tried on as part of shipboard safety

After lunch, the first thing we were instructed to do was watch a ship safety video on the TV and also to take out the lifejackets and practice putting them on.

Here's an exploration of other areas onboard the American Melody should you be considering a riverboat cruise at some future date and even, if not.

The River Lounge hosts entertainment enrichment talks and cocktail hour 

River Lounge - Located on Deck 3 forward, this large lounge at the ship’s bow, serves as the ship's entertainment center where daily enrichment programs by the resident historian, Jim Schweickart. In addition, the cruise director gave rundowns of the next day’s events titled, Chart Your Course. This preview was useful and well attended. With no theater on board, the crew was kept busy arranging and rearranging chairs for different River Lounge uses like trivia challenges, cocktail hour and evening entertainment.

The Sky Lounge has outdoor and indoor dining areas

Sky Lounge - This lounge on Deck 4 of the American Melody is a popular, aft-located indoor venue that offers scenic panoramic views, bar and 24-hour snacks. It serves as a casual spot with floor-to-ceiling windows, freshly baked cookies and access to the outdoor Back Porch Café. The indoor space has tables for indoor breakfast and lunch.

The captain met with passengers on scheduled pilothouse tours

Pilothouse/Wheelhouse - The fore-located Navigation Bridge (pilothouse or wheelhouse on riverboats) on the American Melody is located at the forward end of Deck 4 near the Sky Lounge (observation deck). It's has open viewing. We took a scheduled tour that let guests see the navigation bridge and talk to the captain.

An open airspace for and walking track was on the Sun Deck

Sun Deck - Deck 5 is a top-level, open-air space designed for panoramic river views, with padded loungers, sofa, deckchairs, shaded seating and a walking track. It also includes a putting green, shuffleboard, and tables for socializing. A 360-degree walking track circles the deck giving high-point views of the Mississippi River scenery including many heavily laden barges pushed by tow boats. Heavy industry tended to dominate the shoreline. There's no elevator access which is by stairways from the Sky Lounge, Deck 4.

The Mississippi River is one of the world's most vital commercial waterways, serving as a primary freight artery for the U.S.. Annually, it transports over 500 million tons of goods — grain, coal, and petroleum, connecting the Midwest to global markets via Gulf of Mexico America ports. It's essential for agricultural exports and handles some 60% of U.S. grain exports. Don't expect to see any nice blue water as the Mississippi River is famously known as the Big Muddy with its water carrying high loads of sediment, particularly after joining the Missouri River. The river is heavily polluted, mostly by agricultural runoff, industrial waste and urban sewage, earning it distinction as America's most endangered rivers. 

The Dining Room offered a varied meal selection daily

Dining - Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served in the single dining room with no assigned seating. Menus had several meal options with a vegetarian choice at dinner. Seafood was fresh, never frozen, and delivery trucks waited at some ports. Lunch and dinner included complimentary soft drinks wine, beer, mixed drinks. While not gourmet, meals were good. If a selected dinner wasn't to your liking, you could request another choice. Half portions were also available. The service staff, young enough to be everyone's grandchildren, were helpful and did their best to serve everyone quickly. Passengers usually lingered after the end of dinner hour to continue their conversations over dessert and coffee which was never a problem. 

The Back Porch Café  offered casual breakfast and lunch choices

A more casual breakfast and lunch was served in the open-air Back Porch Café off the Deck 4 Sky Lounge. Breakfast featured a daily sandwich, pastries, yogurt, fruit, smoked salmon, bagels Lunch included hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken wrap, soup, tortilla chips and salsa and ice cream bars. 

Cocktail hour was a popular daily event in the River Lounge

It's 5:30 pm Somewhere - That was cocktail hour time which was held daily in the River Lounge where hors d-oeuvres and cocktails were offered with a selection of cheeses, fruit, dips and crackers. This event was always well attended. 

Snacks were available 24 hours a day, in the Sky and River Lounges. The setup included self-serve treats such as assorted nuts, cookies and snack bars, coffee and tea. A self-serve fridge had a selection of soft drinks, fruit drinks and water.

Entertainment - As mentioned earlier, there's no theater onboard and no resident group of entertainers or musicians. Evening shows were held in the River Lounge and local musicians boarded at dock stops. These 8:30 pm shows could be watched in the comfort of your stateroom, which did that as we had been on at least two excursions each day. Onboard afternoon activities included trivia games and Two Truths and One Lie in which passengers shared three things about themselves. The challenge was to figure out which were true or false. This proved challenging at times as there were some very interesting folks on our cruise.

The Game Room and Quiet Lounges

During the day, passengers could relax in the game and quiet lounges and either play games, read or work on jigsaw puzzles. At least two 1,000-piece puzzles were solved during the cruise by fellow passengers.

ACL has three coaches that followed the riverboat cruise by a land route

ACL cruise coaches are easy to spot with red, white and blue logos. Three coaches would follow a ground route to ensure that transportation was always at a dock stop. These coaches were comfortable with complimentary bottles of water always provided. They had front seats set aside for disabled passengers. Wheelchairs and walkers were stowed in the under-bus luggage compartment.

Shore Excursions - Many are included in the cruise itinerary with choices for various ports. Information on the onboard ACL app gave the length and “Physical Activity Level” for every excursion, low, moderate or high physical activity. There was a choice of complimentary (free) shore excursions plus premium ones (extra cost.) We scheduled many complimentary ones ahead of time, often two each port and were never disappointed. The most costly premium was a day visit to Graceland with lunch at $195/person. We passed on this one, no offense to The King.

Local tour guides would board the coaches to provide information

Some excursions offered a hop-on, hop-off cruise coach loop ride to showcase an area. A local guide would board to describe the sights and share area history. The cruise coach would return every half hour to pick up passengers for other stops or to return to the boat.

The Cochon De Lait lunch featured a roasted suckling pig (not shown)

A delicious complimentary excursion was the Cochon De Lait Experience near St. Francisville, LA. We boarded the coach for a ride to a true Louisiana treat. This meal involves roasting a young pig on an open hardwood fire. Lunch included pork, Louisiana boudin (pronounced Boo-Dan), potato salad, green beans, salad, bread, sauces, beer, wine and soft drinks. Louisiana boudin is a cooked sausage made from pork meat and rice with vegetables and seasonings, stuffed in a natural pork casing. During lunch, Cajun music was provided by local musicians.

Disembarkation - Leaving the American Melody was as uncomplicated as embarking. The crew made the process as convenient as possible despite the unexpected steady rain on the last day. Many fellow passengers shared that they had booked their next cruise onboard.

Included in Cruise Costs - ACL doesn’t nickel and dime passengers as we've heard other cruise lines often do for services like wi-fi, laundry and drink packages. These are all included in the fare as are meals (no specialty restaurants), gratuities for ship staff, pre-cruise hotel stay, complimentary shore excursions. 

The Viking riverboat, Mississippi, was docked nearby on our cruise

With the failure of American Queen Voyages in February 2024, the Viking Mississippi is ACL’s competition on the Mississippi River. It's larger and carries 386 guests on a 450-foot vessel with a crew of 143 and was designed to operate on the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. Viking is expanding its U.S. presence. Ships that operate on U.S. rivers are being built in U.S. shipyards, crewed by U.S. citizens and legally owned by a U.S. company to comply with the 1923 Merchant Marine Act.

We have no plans to go on a Viking cruise in the U.S. as the ships are larger and costs are not all-inclusive. We had a great time on the American Melody and took advantage of a 15% onboard promo. In October, we'll cruise the Snake and Columbia Rivers on the American Song. Next Spring, we hope to cruise the Great Lakes.

Mississippi River sunset viewed on the cruise

If you suspect that we've become hooked on riverboat cruising, you wouldn't be far off in that assumption. In the future, we hope to cruise European rivers.

Only One Mishap

We're home from cruisin' on the Mississippi River and it was in a word, wonderful aside from one incident on the return home.

Hands down, this adventure is one of the best we've experienced in the U.S. without the need to do any driving or changing hotels. Granted this was not the fastest way to travel from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN, but it was the most relaxing. 

The American Melody riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines

We traveled on the American Melody riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines (ACL).  It holds up to 180 passengers, but there were only 157 on this trip. By the time we docked in TN, we had dined with most of these fellow travelers and knew them by their first names. On a small ship, you also quickly learn the names of the crew members.

The distance in land miles from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN, is about 395 miles. The total driving time is 5 hours, 42 minutes. Taking a bus or a train, this time would expand to about 8 hours and 45 minutes.

Buses identical to this one travel on roads following the riverboat route

Traveling on the river took 8 days to cover the distance, so this is definitely the slowest way to go between these cities. There were several in port days and one full day of just river cruisin' on the Mississippi. Land excursions were done on tour buses operated by ACL. At least 3 buses would travel by land and meet the boat at the port stops. We took many of the complimentary excursions, there were several to choose from in every port.

The weather was perfect which made up for the snowy start on April 7 when we left NH. We had rain-free days with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s and no rain except on embarkation day. Although the ship's crew covered passenger's luggage with tarps, it was definitely the worst weather for such a task.

There was a slight hiccup to the trip, unfortunately one which was all too familiar to me — damaged luggage. This happened in October 2024 trip after our Tuscany trip finding when we arrived at Logan Airport in Boston my suitcase had been being badly damaged (photo at left of the actual damage).

Fast forward a couple of years later to this trip with replacement soft-sided luggage an identical piece, different color, same brand, (American Tourister). But, this time, the damage wasn't different. There were security locks on three zippered compartments. The bottom (largest) largest one had both the lock and two side zippers missing. Unfortunately, this wide open compartment resulted in the loss of three pairs of recently-purchased, costly socks, the most valuable things stored there, aside from some other way-less-costly items. which did not go missing.

The arrows above indicate where the zippers were on each side of the luggage. These zippers had been locked at the top with a lock like the one below.

So how did the lock and both zippers go missing? That's a very good question and one which we still can't figure out. The lock was a TSA-approved one which means it could be unlocked without a forcible removal.

A word of advice here — if your luggage is damaged on a trip do not hesitate to file a baggage claim at the airport. Be insistent, no matter what you might be told by someone in baggage claim or how long it will take. It will save you a lot of time later if your luggage is damaged or items go missing. And, be sure to save receipts when and if you buy new luggage as proof or purchase will be needed when filing a claim. Saving airline receipts would also be helpful. 

I neglected to file a claim at the airport even though I showed the damage to baggage claim folks. They were not the least concerned with one telling me that the broken zipper wasn't the airlines responsibility.

It darn well is their responsibility and, while I inherently knew that, there's no good reason for my failure to insist action be taken. We were exhausted from a long trip home with an airport transfer and 30 minute gate delay, also a pickup driver was waiting. So at 10 pm, I was too tired to pursue the matter. That was a BIG mistake that won't be repeated if a similar incident happens on future travels (hopefully not).

Once you have left the airport, It's not possible to file a baggage claim report. At the time, I was unaware that the 3 pairs of socks had escaped from the unzippered compartment. I learned that sad fact when unpacking Sunday a.m.

Contacting Delta Airlines by texting with several representatives was a futile effort. Despite their empathy with my situation, it was made clear that in lieu of not having filed a claim at the airport, nothing else could be done from their end. I did mention the baggage claim folks attitudes and filed a complaint, but really do not expect anything more to happen.

Yes, we did have travel insurance with Allianz insurance and a claim was filed today, but only for the luggage damage. The travel insurance provider will always want to know if a claim had been filed with the airlines as that's usually the first step. In the online form, I explained that no claim had been filed and why.

Why not file a claim for the socks?

The 3 pairs of Open Wide socks, a subsidiary of Darn Tough Vermont were among six pairs bought before the trip at a lofty cost of $20 each. Yes, that's expensive, but after years of going through many brands and not being comfortable, I took the plunge based on the fact that these socks come in wide sizes and have a lifetime warranty. If they wear out, you can request a replacement pair after filing a claim and returning them.

My original order included duplicates of these 3 colors

I called the company to share the plight of the recent purchase made a week before our departure. You can order online or call to place an order without going through an automated system and you connect to a human being — imagine that !

After explaining what happened, the customer representative said that an exception would be made and the socks would be replaced at no additional cost — happy day after the Delta Airlines run around and I ordered two additional pairs. This is an unabashed plug for the company, I'll admit. However, wearing the socks and also receiving such great customer service I would highly recommend their products to anyone who values foot comfort, well fitting socks. All their products are made from Merino wool in the U.S. and right here in New England.

Today, I filed an online baggage claim with the travel insurance provider, less the sock replacement. I should receive a claim determination within 2 weeks or less. Thankfully, we have no long-distance travel plans until fall, which gives me time to shop for replacement luggage, if necessary.

As usual, there's a lot of photos to sort through, plus the next week or so will be spent catching up on matters here at home. That's why blog reading/commenting will be a bit slow for the next couple of weeks. As much as I enjoy the blogging community, at times, life has other priorities.

This river cruise was a great first experience. We're happy to be home until the next river cruise. An onboard offer of 15% off a future cruise booked while onboard was too tempting not to resist, so we didn't. This October we'll riverboat cruise with ACL and explore the Pacific Northwest on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. We have one more far-off adventure before then in early fall, details shared later.

Your turn — ever have luggage damaged on a trip, if so what did you do?

Down a Lazy River

Down a lazy river is often used to describe a slow, relaxing journey or a carefree escape from the craziness of everyday life. It's a chance to relax and enjoy simple pleasures.

That's exactly what we'll be doing starting tomorrow as we travel with American Cruise Lines (ACL) on the American Melody with a passenger capacity of (are you ready?) 180 cruisers. Fewer passengers is definitely our preference.

Beignets

Our tour starts today with a flight from Boston to New Orleans, LA, and an overnight stay at the Intercontinental Hotel there before boarding the ship early Wednesday.  We won't have a lot of time to explore the Big Easy, but will ride its world-famous street cars with a $3 all-day pass. One stop will be at Cafe du Monde on Decatur Street, the original French Market Coffee Stand established in 1862 and legendary home of the classic beignets, puffy square French doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. (These are similar to zeppole, traditional Italian fried dough pastries served warm and dusted with powdered or cinnamon sugar.)

Intercontinental Hotel on Charles St in New Orleans, LA

All ACL sailings include a complimentary pre-cruise hotel night in the departure city, This ensures cruise passengers have time to get to the departure destination. The cruise line picks up passengers for transport to the ship the following morning.

Our travel route is from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN

Our cruise will traverse the lower Mississippi River from New Orleans, LA, to Memphis, TN. The itinerary includes stops and excursions in Vacherie, St. Francisville and Vidalia, LA; Natchez and Cleveland, MS; and Memphis, TN. We return to Boston April 18 after a transfer in Atlanta, GA.

This will be our second cruise after the Alaska land-sea adventure last fall and our first-ever river cruise. After traveling abroad for the past couple of years, we wanted to experience U.S. waterways and small ship cruising and wanted to cruise the mighty Mississippi.

American Cruise Lines (ACL), founded in the early 1970s, is headquartered in Guilford, CT, and operates the largest river and small-ship cruise line in the U.S. with a motto of Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly. The line has 28 small U.S. flagged ships with 5 riverboats on the Mississippi River and 8 on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Each vessel is USA-built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, and is American-flagged and crewed. The ships travel with between 90 and 180 passengers maximum. The series of 6 modern American riverboats all have musical names — American Melody, American Jazz, American Song, American Harmony, American Serenade and American Symphony. 

American Melody was launched in 2021

We're sailing on the five-deck American Melody. Launched in 2021, it has 91 staterooms, all with private balconies and full-length sliding glass doors with an average room size of 350 square feet. The ship has several lounges, fitness center, large dining room, café for casual dining, sun deck, library and a four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. What it purposefully lacks are casinos, buffets, gift shop's, photographers, swimming pools, water slides, large crowds, nickel-and-diming for extras like wi-fi and drinks, included with the cruise cost. The emphasis is on a relaxed atmosphere with no formal nights or loud, high-energy activities.

American Melody flip-up bow

The unique ship’s unusual flipped-up bow is an attention getter with a crucial function. It opens to extend a retractable gangway for passengers to comfortably walk on or off the ship. And, with its shallow draft and unique bow, the ship can dock in places other ships might have to bypass. The upper deck offers a walkway with ever-changing sights as the ship cruises the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River is a massive waterway flowing approximately 2,350 miles Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico ending in Louisiana, just south of New Orleans. The river's name comes from the Ojibwe (or Chippewa) word Misi-ziibi meaning Great River. The river is some 20 feet wide at its source, expanding to over 11 miles at its widest point. It's the second-longest river in the U.S. after the Missouri River at 2,341 miles passing through 10 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana). One of the most important commercial waterways, it also serves as a major migratory flyway for 60% of North American bird species. 

We won't be cruising full time as shore excursions are included in the cruise itinerary with at least one included in every post stop; others have an added charge. Our selections included many of the included excursions. Here's some of the sights we will experience.

Live Oak trees form a canopy leading to the Big House mansion

Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, LA, is a historic site is famed for its 800-foot canopy of 300-year-old live oak trees planted in the early 1700s years before the mansion they lead to was built. The 28 evenly spaced live oak trees form a path from the Mississippi River to a Greek Revival mansion. In 2021, winds from Hurricane Ida's significantly damaged the historic oak trees in what was described as a significant pruning. Branches were blown off, but the trees remained stable.

The Big House mansion was built in 1829

Known as the Big House, the mansion was built in 1839 for sugar planter Jacques Roman who was known as the King of Sugar and one of the wealthiest men in the South. It was constructed by enslaved labor and first named Bon Séjour (pleasant stay). The mansion is renowned for its 28 Tuscan columns surrounding the entire structure. The property has seen different uses in its over 200-year history from a prosperous sugarcane plantation, an abandoned investment property and a cattle ranch in the 1920s. Now, a National Landmark, it's been open to the public since 1976 and is managed by Oak Alley Foundation.

The Myrtles was renamed after the crape myrtles on the grounds

The Myrtles Plantation is a historic home and former antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, LA, built in 1796 by General David Bradford. It was originally named Laurel Grove. In the 1830s, new owners renamed it The Myrtles after the crape myrtles that grew in the vicinity. In the early history of the property, it was worked by enslaved people. Reportedly haunted, the mansion has been featured on TV shows of paranormal activity. The Myrtles Plantation has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Vicksburg (MS) National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS, preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. It borders the Mississippi River, and commemorates the greater Vicksburg Campaign that led up to the battle. The park has many reminders of the 47-day siege that ended in the city's surrender. Victory here and at Port Hudson, farther south in Louisiana, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

This nearly 1,800-acre park includes 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of historic trenches, reconstructed forts, a 16-mile tour road, 12.5-mile walking trail, 2 antebellum homes, 144 cannons, the restored gunboat USS Cairo (sunk in December 1862) and Grant's Canal site, where the Union Army attempted to build a canal to let their ships bypass Confederate artillery fire. There's also a national cemetery with more than 17,000 Civil War graves. 

The national military park was established in February 1899, to commemorate the siege and defense of Vicksburg. The park and cemetery were transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service (NPS) in August 1933.

Cleveland, MS was named for a former President

Cleveland, MS, is a cultural hub in the Delta known for its deep musical heritage, and has the only Grammy Museum outside Los Angeles, CA. 

This 26,000-square-foot facility features interactive exhibits on Mississippi musicians and American music.The city was named after U.S. President Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president, who served from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893. The town was officially renamed in 1886, during Cleveland's first term in office, to coincide with the development of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad running through the area. (Cleveland wasn't a MS native, and was born in Caldwell, NJ, our home state.)

Cleveland was named one of the best small towns in the South by both Southern Living and Smithsonian Magazine. The downtown historic area was listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Gateway to the Blues Museum housed in a former train depot in Tunica, MS

The Gateway to the Blues Museum and Visitors Center in Tunica, MS, is dedicated to Mississippi Delta blues featuring displays on history, art, and famous musicians. Located on Highway 61, it's the first place many people see when they come into town. The museum features interactive exhibits, artwork and a recording studio. The museum tells the story of how The Blues was born and the role Tunica played in building its legacy.

Housed in a rustic 1895 train depot, It had been used as a grain storage facility for years. The train tracks it served were pulled up some 40 years ago. It remains the last original train depot in Tunica County.  W.C. Handy, a popular blues bandleader often played at the depot.

Beale Street in downtown Memphis is the most popular tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee. This renowned National Historical Landmark is considered the Home of the Blues and includes three blocks, about 1.8 miles, of live music clubs, restaurants and shops.

The street was created in 1841 by entrepreneur and developer Robertson Topp who later named it Beale Avenue in honor of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a naval officer, frontiersman, rancher and diplomat who fought in the Mexican-American War, emerging as a hero of the Battle of San Pasqual in 1846.

W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues

In 1916, American composer and musician William Christopher (W.C.) Handy penned the influential piece, Beale Street Blues, which played an important role in the decision to change the street's name from Beale Avenue to Beale Street.

Handy, who referred to himself as the Father of the Blues, was one of the most influential U.S. songwriters. One of many musicians who played the distinctively American blues music, he didn't create the genre but was one of the first to publish music in the blues form, taking the blues from a regional music style (Delta blues) with a limited audience to a new heights of popularity.

In the 1920s to 1940s, Beale Street saw performances of legendary musicians Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Memphis Minnie, B. B. King and others. Their contributions shaped the musical style known as Memphis Blues. B. B. King was introduced as the Beale Street Blues Boy during his early career.

Beale Street holds great historical significance for the city and the blues music genre. In recognition of its importance, the stretch of the street spanning from Main to 4th Street was designated as a National Historic Landmark on May 23, 1966. In the present day, the blues clubs and restaurants along Beale Street are major attractions for tourists visiting Memphis.

Presley note

Elvis Presley spent a lot of time with musicians on Beale street. Their music made a great influence on his own style. Presley bought his trademark black and pink suits, jackets, and bluesman-inspired clothes from Lansky Bros. Clothing, which remains open in the original location at 126 Beale Street. 

If time allows, we'll look for Presley's name on the Brass Notes Walk of Fame between Second and Fourth Streets. The 127 musical notes that line the sidewalks honor mothers and fathers of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. Created in 1986, it connects the street's rich past with the future by celebrating artists, producers, and others who put Memphis music on the world map.

Posting and blog commenting will be on hold during our adventures. We'll be relaxing and enjoying the sights on the river. This post was a brief intro of our first 2026 major travel. We invite you to come along as more adventures are planned this year and we hope you will take us along on any of yours.

And, it seems we're leaving NH just in time as light snow is forecast for early today a.m will winter never end. in New England?

Friday Flag Day 🇺🇸

Annual flag display in Hudson, NH, from Memorial Day to Independence Day

The usual Friday Funnies have been given today off to commemorate Flag Day, today, June 14. It's not a national holiday and government offices like courthouses and United States Post Offices are open as are public offices and schools. While many Americans may be unaware of this day, others will have flags on display.

The U.S. flag that often is referred to as the Stars and Stripes was adopted on June 14, 1777 by the Continental Congress as the official American flag during the Revolutionary War. Until that time, Colonial troops fought under different flags with various symbols including rattlesnakes, pine trees, and eagles with slogans like "Don’t Tread on Me," "Liberty or Death" and "Conquer or Die" to name some.

The Flag Resolution of 1777 stated: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

Interestingly, it wasn't an American who labelled the U.S. as the Stars and Stripes. That credit was given to a French nobleman and military officer, the marquis de Lafayette, who volunteered his aid to the Continental Army led by General George Washington.

Did you know that . . .

There's an entire vocabulary of terms associated with flags?

Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general. Someone who studies flags is a vexillologist, one who designs flags is a vexillographer, and the art of designing flags is called vexillography. A hobbyist or general admirer of flags is known as a vexillophile.

Dr. Whitney Smith

That terminology is due to a New Englander fascinated by flags from his childhood. The term, vexillology, was coined by a Massachusetts teenager in 1957. Whitney Smith, Jr combined the Latin word vexillum (a kind of square flag that was carried by Roman cavalry) with the Greek suffix logia (the study of) and coined vexillology. In 1961, he co-wrote The Flag Bulletin, the world's first journal about flags. The following year, he established The Flag Research Center at his home serving as its director.

Dr. Smith, a Harvard graduate, who later taught political science at Boston University, credited his interest in flags to youthful memories of Massachusetts Patriots' Day celebrations (unique to his home state). Later, turning his childhood passion with flags into a scholarly discipline. Dr. Smith became the preeminent scholar on the history, symbolism, and significance of flags amassing newspaper articles, flag-related publications and flags. Over time, this collection of documents and tens of thousands of books, pamphlets, engravings, electronic files, and flag-related artifacts was the largest in the world. 

Dr Smith died in 1976 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. The Whitney Smith Flag Research Center Collection is now housed at The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin. It is now the world’s oldest institution dedicated to interdisciplinary research initiatives on all aspects of flags, flag histories and flag usage.

When asked why flags should be taken seriously, Dr. Smith’s standard reply was: "People kill for flags. People die for flags. It is incumbent on us to try to understand how a piece of cloth can incarnate that power."

So, today on Flag Day in memory of a New Englander who felt so strongly about all flags, this post has many facts that apply specifically to the U.S. flag.

Street art mural in Nashua, NH

The U.S. Flag Code

On June 22, 1942, Congress passed a joint resolution amended in December 1942, that has come to be known as the U.S. Flag Code, a federal law that sets forth guidelines for the appearance and display of the U.S. flag by private citizens. These guidelines specify times and conditions for display of the flag, manners and methods of display, and buildings where such display should occur.

What's seen as the most important guideline involves how U.S. citizens should behave around the flag. For example, members of the armed services and veterans are asked to stand at attention and salute when the flag is passing in a parade or being hoisted or lowered; civilians should place their right hand over their hearts.

The flag should never touch anything beneath it, like the ground, floor, water or merchandise. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. It should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery, too often it has been used for these purposes.

Violating the flag code isn't illegal even though the U.S. Flag Code is a federal law. Guidelines are only stated within the voluntary and non-binding language such as, "should" and "custom," meaning there is no penalty for violating any of its provisions.

General Guidelines for Displaying the Flag

• When the flag is hung vertically on a wall, window, or door, the union (blue section) should be to the observer’s left. When the flag is hung horizontally or vertically against a wall, the Union should be to the observer’s left.
• In a procession, the American flag should be to the right (the flag’s own right) of any other flag or, if in a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
• When displayed from a staff from a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff.
• When the flag is displayed otherwise than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out; or so suspended that its folds fall as freely as though the flag were staffed.
• When displayed over a street, the flag should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
• On a platform, the flag should be above and behind the speaker, with the union uppermost and to the observer’s left.
• When displayed from a staff in a church or auditorium, the flag should occupy the position of honor and be placed at the speaker’s right as he/she faces the audience.
• When the flag covers a casket, the union should be at the head and over the left shoulder.

When to Display the Flag

As a symbol of respect, honor, and patriotism, the flag can be displayed any day of the year according to the following guidelines. The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open; however, if illuminated, it can be displayed at night. It should not be displayed in inclement weather. The flag should be displayed every day, especially:

• New Year’s Day, January 1; Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
• Lincoln and Washington's birthdays; National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29
• Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Sunday; Mother’s Day and Father's Day
• Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)
• Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4
• National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27
• Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day, second Monday in October
• Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11
• Birthdays of states (date of admission); state holidays
• Other days as proclaimed by the President of the United States

Also, the flag should be displayed at every public institution, in or near every polling place on election days, and at schoolhouses during school days.

“America’s Tall Ship” the USCGC Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes 

Displaying the U.S. Flag Alongside Other Flags

• In the U.S., no other flag should be placed above the American flag or, if placed on the same level, to the right of the American flag.
• The United Nations flag may not be displayed above or in a position of superior prominence to the U.S. flag, except at the United Nations Headquarters.
• The flag, when displayed with another against a wall should be on the right (the flag’s own right), and its staff should be in front of the other staff.
• The American flag should be at the center and the highest point when displayed with a group of state flags.
• When flags of states, cities, etc., are flown on the same halyard, the American flag should be at its peak.
• When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height, and the American flag should be hoisted first and lowered last.

Some U.S. Flag No-Nos

• The flag should not be dipped to anyone, including government officials or the President.
• The flag should never be displayed with union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress.
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it: the ground, floor, water or merchandise.
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
• The flag should never have anything placed on it.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose, nor embroidered on cushions or handkerchiefs, printed on paper napkins or boxes or used as any portion of a costume.

How to Properly Dispose of an American Flag

• If the U.S. flag does touch the ground, it does not need to be disposed of (this is a myth) just ensure the flag is washed or dry-cleaned.
• When the flag is in torn or in a condition no longer fitting its status, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning.
• Most American Legion posts will conduct an annual ceremony, often on Flag Day to retire old or worn flags. Contact your local chapter if unable to dispose of the flag yourself. Boy Scout or Girl Scout groups also might have information about retiring a flag.

Admittedly, I didn't know a lot about flag etiquette (very little) before doing this post. Even though I am not a native of New England, it was that connection with Dr. Smith that led to this post. 

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Happy Father's Day to fathers stepfather, grandfathers and others

and in memory of our fathers as well