Memphis on the Mississippi

Memphis is a well-known city that sits on the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee. It is famous for influencing the beginnings of the blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Beale Street is a historic street running for around two miles from East Street to the Mississippi River. It is one of the top Memphis attractions with many restaurants and blues clubs. It also plays host to outdoor concerts and festivals. Beale Street was built in 1841 and became a venue for traveling musicians in the 1860s. Many legendary blues and jazz musicians performed here between the 19201 and 1940s.

Sun Studios is known as the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll. It opened its doors in 1950. In 1954 Elvis walked in through the doors and made this one of the most famous studios in the world. The building is now a museum where you can take a tour, listen to a few of the recording sessions, see the microphone Elvis used, and just get a feel of the amazing vibes all around that launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and others. In the gift shop, you can see old posters and other memorabilia.

Take a stroll to Graceland the charming mansion that was home to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley. He died in 1977 but you can bet his spirit still roams the rooms here. His daughter Lisa Marie Presley opened the house to the public and it has become a pilgrimage site for thousands of Elvis fans.

There are guided tours available of all the rooms in which Elvis lived and have been preserved and unchanged Among the interesting ones is the Jungle Room. Take a tour of the trophy building where you can see Elvis’ gold and platinum records and other memorabilia from his movies and charitable activities. At Graceland, you can celebrate his birthday, Christmas, and other special occasions.

Cooper-Young Historic District is the home of artists, musicians, freethinkers, and those who admire beauty. It is a fun place to explore and look at the homes that were built at the beginning of the 20th century. There are 60 galleries, antique shops, coffeehouses, vintage stores, restaurants, and bars. You can enjoy the Cooper-Young One-Day Festival in September.

The Memphis Botanic Garden stretches for 96 acres in Audubon Park. It features 28 different gardens like the Anne Heard Stokes Butterfly Garden, the Blue Star Memorial Marker and Garden, the Japanese Garden of Tranquility with its red drum bridge, and so much more.

One of the most popular gardens is My Big Backyard. This is a family garden where children can play and adults can relax in the great outdoors. It features special events like The Family Egg Hunt and the Daffodil Dash Race.

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is the largest and oldest art museum in Tennessee. It was built in 1916 and designed in the Beaux-Arts style. A cylindrical extension was added in 1955. There are 29 galleries, a research library, an auditorium, and classrooms. The permanent collection includes artworks from the Italian Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist, and 20th Century periods.

The National Civil Rights Museum was established in 1991 and shares the lessons learned from the American Civil Rights Movement and how this period in the nation’s history influenced and shaped the freedom and equality of all men today. The museum is housed in the former Lorraine Motel building where Dr. Martin Luther King was killed in 1968. The has galleries with historic collections, interactive multimedia exhibits, special speakers, and events.

The Memphis National Cemetery once originally known as the Mississippi River National Cemetery was established during the American Civil War after the Union Army took control of Memphis. There are many soldiers buried here like Union soldiers liberated from Confederate POW camps who died when their steamboat Sultana exploded, casualties of the Battle of Fort Pillow from both sides. This is a lovely landscaped cemetery with notable monuments like the Illinois Monument.

The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum was established by the Smithsonian Institution in 2000. It tells the story of the birth of rock and soul in Memphis. The museum portrays the lives of musical pioneers and their music went on the change the world. It is located at the FedEx Forum complex. The audio tour has 300 minutes of information that includes over 300 songs. Visitors can take a look at all seven galleries.

The Pink Palace Museum is a history and science museum that is part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums. It is housed in a mansion that was built in 1923 and was the former residence of Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly. Collections here include pre-Columbian artifacts, dinosaurs, fossils, Native American pottery, and exhibits on the history of Memphis.

The Children’s Museum of Memphis is a hands-on museum that is dedicated to helping children learn through enjoyable experiences. It was established in 1990 and is housed in the former National Guard Armory. There are over 20 hands-on exhibits. It hosts many events throughout the year.

The Woodruff-Fontaine House is a historic museum that was built in 1871 and once belonged to Amos Woodruff, a carriage maker. It is a popular venue for weddings. Tours of the French-Victorian house are available and there are different exhibits and events.

The Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art is located in the Pembroke Square Building in downtown Memphis. Its collection of Chinese art is the largest in the southern US and there are over 900 outstanding objects. The Judaica collection has artworks by some of Israel’s best contemporary artists.

Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country. It stretches for more than 4,500 acres and has many ponds and lakes that are great for boating and fishing. There are green rolling hills and flowering meadows and you can go hiking or biking. Woods and gardens surround the lakes.

The Dixon Gallery and Garden is an art museum that was established in 1976. It has one of the best collections of Impressionist art in the country. It has found its home in the former house of the late Hugo and Margaret Dixon, who have the house and gardens as a gift to the city of Memphis. You can enjoy strolling through the gardens and looking at Greco-Roman sculptures.

AutoZone Park is a baseball stadium in downtown Memphis. It is home to the Memphis Redbirds, a Minor League Baseball Team of the Pacific Coast League. There are special amenities here like the Family Leisure Picnic Pavilion with seating for 500 people as well as additional seating on the grassy lawn. There are also 48 suites with a total of 700 seats and several bars and restaurants.

The Levitt Shell is an open-air amphitheater that was built in 1936.It was modeled after similar band shells in New York, Chicago, and St. Louis. This is one of the few band shells that was built by the WPA that is still in use. It was used for musicals, light operas, and orchestra performances during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1954 Elvis performed here and this was considered to be the first rock and roll show in history.

The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum is a historic house museum. It is known as the Burkle Estate which was built in 1849 by German immigrant Jacob Burkle. He was a strong supporter of the anti-slavery movement. Starting around 1855 this antebellum home, near the banks of the Mississippi became a haven for slaves who boarded boats heading for the Northern states. The house features artifacts, trap doors, and hidden passages.

Historic Elmwood Cemetery was established in 1852 and is the oldest active cemetery in the city. It is also the first example of a garden cemetery in the South. In the park-like setting, there are monuments, old trees, and scenic vistas. Many veterans are buried here from the American Revolutionary War up to the Vietnam War.

The Withers Collection Museum & Gallery is a collection of photography documenting the history of African Americans. The collection covers more than 60 years of 20th-century history through the photos of Ernest Withers, a native of Memphis and renowned photojournalist. The museum also hosts public events like workshops, lectures, and seminars.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is dedicated to soul music and the museum is a replica of the Stax recording studio, formerly the Capitol Theater. The museum features interactive exhibits, original instruments, stage costumes, films, videos, and other memorabilia. It offers education outreach programs to at-risk youth.

The Blues Hall of Fame is a music museum established in 1980 by the Blues Foundation. It is dedicated to people who have documented, recorded, or performed blues music. Since 1980 Induction ceremonies have been held here. The well-known inductees are B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Bessie Smith, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Billy Holiday, Etta James, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Bonnie Raitt, Little Richard, and many others.

The Memphis Zoo was established in 1906 and is located in Overton Park. The zoo features more than 3,500 animals that represent over 500 species. The animals are separated into three zones with 19 exhibits. The East Zone has the exhibits African Veldt, Crocodile Cove, and Teton Trek. Central Zone features Animals of the Night, Commercial Appeal Cat Country, and Primate Canyon. The West Zone has the Aquarium, Once Upon a Farm, and the Tropical Bird House. The zoo has many educational outreach programs.