Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Historic Riverside Hotel: Blues Legacy & Civil Rights Preservation
Since 1944, our family has operated the Riverside Hotel, a historic landmark that stands as a testament to African American resilience and cultural heritage. Originally established as the G.T. Thomas Afro-American Hospital in 1915, our property transformed into a vital safe haven for traveling musicians during the Jim Crow era. We have hosted legendary blues artists like Muddy Waters and Ike Turner, who famously rehearsed the first rock and roll song, Rocket 88, in our basement. As stewards of this irreplaceable site, we combine historical preservation with immersive cultural experiences, maintaining the room where Bessie Smith passed as a sacred tribute.Our three-generation family commitment ensures this space remains a living museum of civil rights history, blues legacy, and African American entrepreneurship. Despite pandemic challenges and storm damage, we continue restoration efforts supported by National Park Service grants and community partnerships. Our guided tours and accommodations offer visitors unique access to Delta music history while preserving the Southern hospitality that has defined our establishment for nearly eight decades.
Services
Historical hotel accommodations
Guided heritage tours
Cultural preservation programs
Music history exhibitions
Civil rights era education
Details
- Year established: 1944
Highlights and features
- We are the only Black-owned historic blues hotel still operating in Clarksdale
- Our property houses the preserved room where Bessie Smith passed in 1937
- We received $499,500 in federal grants for historical preservation
- Our family has operated this cultural landmark for three generations
- We offer authentic Delta blues history experiences through guided tours
Associations and certifications
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant Program
What people say
Rich history
Authentic experience
Knowledgeable guides
Cultural treasure
Music legacy
Services
Historical hotel accommodations
Experience preserved 1940s-era rooms where blues legends stayed. Our accommodations maintain original architectural elements while offering modern comforts. Guests connect with Delta music history through curated room exhibits and family-led storytelling about the hotel's role in the transition from blues to rock and roll.
Guided heritage tours
Explore our National Register-listed property with family members who share personal stories. Tours cover Bessie Smith's final days, the Rocket 88 rehearsal space, and Green Book era history. Visitors learn about African American entrepreneurship during segregation through our three-generation family's experiences.
Civil rights education programs
Our programs examine the hotel's role across three civil rights eras. Through artifacts and oral histories, we demonstrate how this space supported African American mobility during segregation. Educational materials connect local history to broader national civil rights movements.
Music history exhibitions
Our exhibits showcase blues and rock and roll evolution through photographs, recordings, and memorabilia. Special displays highlight Ike Turner's rehearsal space and the hotel's influence on musical pioneers. Interactive elements connect visitors to the creative process that birthed new music genres.
Community preservation initiatives
We lead local history preservation through oral history collection and building restoration. Our initiatives train community members in historical documentation while securing grants for maintaining African American cultural landmarks in the Mississippi Delta region.
People
Zelena Ratliff
Co-Owner & Hospitality Director
Third-generation steward of the Riverside Hotel, Zelena preserves family legacy through daily operations and guest interactions. With decades of experience, she shares authentic stories about the hotel's musical and civil rights history while maintaining traditional Southern hospitality standards.
Sonya Ratliff Gates
Co-Owner & Preservation Officer
Leading preservation efforts, Sonya secures funding for historical restoration and manages grant programs. As a family historian, she documents the hotel's three-generation journey while advocating for African American cultural heritage protection in Mississippi.
Questions
What historical significance does the Riverside Hotel hold?
We preserved three eras of civil rights history, hosted blues legends, and were where Rocket 88 - the first rock and roll song - was rehearsed.
Can visitors tour the Bessie Smith memorial room?
Yes, we maintain her passing room as a sacred tribute with historical artifacts and memorials.
Is the hotel currently operational?
We're undergoing restoration after storm damage but offer guided tours and limited accommodations.
How is the hotel preserving blues history?
Through music exhibitions, artifact preservation, and oral history programs about Delta blues musicians.
What recognition has the hotel received?
We're listed as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
