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Tunica RiverPark Cashing In on New Exhibit
Confederate Currency Now on Display in Museum

Tunica, Mississippi (July 31, 2007)—The Tunica RiverPark museum is counting on a Confederate Currency new exhibit to teach thousands of visitors about a specific time of Southern history.

“We are thrilled the Pink Palace Museum is allowing us to borrow this Confederate Currency exhibit,” Jerlene Rhodes, executive director of the Tunica RiverPark, said.  “This currency is a very important part of our history in this area, and now visitors from around the world can see this exhibit in our museum, along with our interactive exhibits, large aquariums, an observation deck overlooking the Mississippi River, and sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Tunica Queen.” 

The Confederate Currency bills are part of a collection of 322 notes.  The government of the Confederate States of America began issuing its own currency in April of 1861, just before the Civil War broke out.  The South did not have the financial backing needed to fight a war, so they printed their own currency.  This currency, backed by cotton instead of gold, was issued to millions of Southerners. 

When the South surrendered and the Confederacy ceased to exist in 1865, the money became worthless, but it is now prized by collectors.  
“To see the exhibit is only $5.00 for adults and $4.00 for children and senior citizens, and that admission allows access to the entire museum as well,” Rhodes said.  
 
Since its 2004 opening, the Tunica RiverPark and museum has won the Southeast U.S. and Mississippi’s Travel Attraction of the Year in 2005, along with eight other national and regional awards since then, including several architectural awards. 

The Tunica RiverPark is open daily, except for Christmas Day. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Nature Trail and Park are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the museum are $5 for adults, $4 for children age 12 and under, and $4 for seniors age 65 and older. Group rates are available. For more information, call 866-517-4837 (toll free) or visit the website at www.tunicariverpark.com.  The Tunica Queen sails six days a week with three sightseeing cruises daily and a dinner cruise nightly April through November.  For more information, or to book a group, call the Tunica Queen office at 1-866-805-3535, or visit www.tunicaqueen.com. 

Tunica, an area where cotton, rice, soybean fields and catfish ponds still thrive, is “The South’s Casino Capital.”  Located 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tunica welcomes more than 15 million visitors annually to its nine world-class casino resorts, with more than 6,300 new hotel rooms, over 40 restaurants, three championship golf courses, outdoor recreation, museums, outlet and antique shopping, and much more. For travel information, please visit the Tunica website at tunicamiss.com or call Tunica toll free at 888-4-TUNICA.