the handle on mississippi
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The very first Holiday Inn was opened in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1952. The idea was conceived by Kemmons Wilson, who was inspired to create an affordable, family-friendly hotel chain after a frustrating family road trip. The chain eventually grew worldwide.
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The University of MS Medical Center in Jackson made history with the South's first lung transplant in 1963, and the world’s first heart transplant was attempted there by Dr. James Hardy just a year later. These groundbreaking surgeries put Mississippi on the map in medical innovation.
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The original formula for Pine-Sol, a popular household cleaner, was developed in 1929 by Harry A. Cole, a chemist from Jackson. Initially, it was made using pine oil derived from the state’s abundant pine forests.
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Mississippi has produced some of America's most celebrated writers, including William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Richard Wright. Oxford, MS, Faulkner’s hometown, even celebrates "Faulkner's Birthday" annually and is home to the famous Square Books, a bookstore that's a pilgrimage spot for literature lovers.
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Vicksburg, Mississippi, was the first place in the world to sell Coca-Cola in bottles. In 1894, a Vicksburg candy maker named Joseph Biedenharn had the idea to bottle the popular soda, changing the beverage industry forever.