US Highway 61 travels from the South, starting in New Orleans, through Memphis and Iowa, to the North through Deluth to Canada, and right smack through the Mississippi Delta.  Originally the highway was 1,714 miles long, later shortened to 1,400 miles ending in Wyoming, Minnesota.  Along the famous route are the crossroads at 61 and 49 where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil.  Many southerners made the trek to St. Louis via US 61.  The original blues diva, Bessie Smith died in a car accident on 61.  Ike Turner drove 61 from St. Lou to Memphis.  Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters were among the bluesmen that traveled US 61 North to Chicago.  US 61 is the blues highway!