Navasota Blues Alley

Navasota Blues Alley is an amazing store that should capture the attention of almost anyone in some particular way.  My wife and I have poked around in here several times and even took some Japanese and Norwegian friends from Belgium by here while they were visiting Texas (yes, at the same time, that's a long story!)   :)  

I don't know what to call this place, a music hang out, an art show, a local private museum, a collectibles store?    I dunno.  It seems to have all that.   When we were walking by it was a little hot outside and they opened the door and invited us in to relax.   We sat down on the couches in the front lobby and enjoyed some free iced tea.   The owner, a lady from Jamaica told us to be sure to look at everything if we wanted and once we were cooled down, we did in fact.  

The first section contained a lot of blues music photos, albums, CD's, T-Shirts and hats for their annual Blues Fest that is the second week in August (this weekend at the time of this writing!).    Then we found some old coin and money collections that were fun to look at.   Getting deeper in we found some antique home items like kitchen sets and glasses and bottles.  Really too much to mention.  

Finally we got to the back of the store and found something that is at least in my opinion, a beautiful well hidden secret of local lore.   There is a room dedicated to the African American cotton crews that made this town rich enough to still be on the map to this day.   What is interesting is that while it shows the pretty severe working conditions they must have endured, complete with actual real working tools, photographs and letters and stories, it ties in with the music of the town, Blues, which were brought to Navasota by the "overseas" workers.  

You just have to see it youself.   A really authentic part of Texas history, and the history of Blues Music.   The store also serves as the HQ for the annual Navasota Blues Festival (second weekend in August, like this weekend!) and claims that Navasota is the Blues "Capital of the World".   It's a must see in my opinion.    See you there this weekend.  :)