10 Sights & Landmarks in Memphis That You Shouldn't Miss

March 31, 2022 Moriah Teneyck

Memphis is a pilgrimage for those wanting to visit the birthplace of the blues, of soul and of rock 'n' roll. On Beale Street, W.C. Handy put down on paper the first written blues music. Elvis, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash all recorded at the historic Sun Records, which is now a museum. Graceland, the second most-visited home in America, welcomes visitors from around the world who yearn for a peek into the life of "the King." Beyond the music, Tennessee's largest city also offers much more. It has more sunny days each year than Miami, and combines southern tradition and hospitality with modern amenities. You'll enjoy great dining (be sure to sample the barbecued ribs), art galleries and exciting nightlife.
Restaurants in Memphis

1. National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel

450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN 38103-4214 +1 901-521-9699 [email protected] http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org
Excellent
82%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8,750 reviews

National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel

At the place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'S death in 1968 in Memphis, TN, the National Civil Rights Museum is a renowned educational and cultural institution. The Museum chronicles the American Civil Rights Movement with compelling presentations of iconic exhibits, oral histories of lesser-known civil rights foot soldiers, and visceral, in-the-moment experiences. Visitors will learn through emotionally charged, multi-user, multi-touch interactives, and a visually engaging, contemporary exhibit design that guides you through five centuries of history. Bring the whole family.

Reviewed By annmarieduffy - New York City, United States

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorrainne Motel. Chilling seeing this famous site as we turned the corner to enter. Site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. etched in our memories. Amazing exhibitions, chronologically bringing you through-the Slave trade, many hero’s including educators & pastors, the Civil War, 13, 14 & 15 Constitutional Ammendments , Jim Crow, Rosa Parks, with both her bus & the burnt out bus of the Freedom riders & of course MLK & his speech’s, the hotel room to Obama’s election. It finished with all the Civil Rights hero’s throughout the world & then award winning Civil Rights workers including many different fields such as Gore for the environment, Marlo Thomas for St Judes children’s hospital, Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, Gorbachev & of course Mandela. One of my biggest shock was that 5 million Africans were captured & enslaved in Brazil & another 5 million brought to the Caribbean. 388,000 were brought to North America & 9,000 to Europe. Now looking at the Slave Trade Database 10.7 million survived of the 12.5 million people transported. Horrific history.

2. Rhodes College

2000 N Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112-1690 +1 901-843-3000 http://www.rhodes.edu
Excellent
94%
Good
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6%
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5.0 based on 18 reviews

Rhodes College

3. Historic Mason Temple

938 Mason St, Memphis, TN 38126-5219 +1 901-578-3800 http://cogic.net/cogiccms/default/cogic-history/th
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

Historic Mason Temple

4. Graceland

3717 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116 +1 901-332-3322 [email protected] http://www.graceland.com/
Excellent
63%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 19,143 reviews

Graceland

Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, is the home of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Elvis Presley's Graceland is open daily with tours of Graceland Mansion, Elvis’ custom jets and our new entertainment and exhibit complex, Elvis Presley’s Memphis. The complex includes a new automobile museum, Presley Motors, and Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, the world’s largest and most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world, as well as many more exhibits, restaurants and shops. The tour of Graceland Mansion features an interactive, iPad tour with additional enhancements including photos, video and more. Continue your experience with the all-new Graceland Exhibition Center, which features three rotating exhibits, the TCB Food Hall and Jungle Room Bar.

Reviewed By SpanishNeedle - Memphis, United States

A must do - if you're an Elvis fan...or not! The tours include - house tour, private plane viewing, meditation garden, then head across the street and select Elvis keepsake to memorialize your visit. Take lots of pictures that last a lifetime. Wonderful staff and service in addition to amazing tour guides! Great for all ages.

5. Fire Museum of Memphis

118 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38103-2012 +1 901-636-5650 [email protected] http://www.firemuseum.com
Excellent
58%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 188 reviews

Fire Museum of Memphis

Memphis' Hottest Attraction!!! America’s premier interactive fire museum is in the legendary Fire Engine House No. 1 in downtown Memphis. Step back in time to a turn-of-the-century firehouse. Fight the flames of a burning skyscraper from a snorkel basket simulator. Take a look at the horse-drawn era of firefighting from the horse’s perspective! Test your ability to find an escape route to survive a fire. Feel the heat of the FEDEX Fire Room. Learn about the most devastating fires in the history of Memphis. Discover the proud history of Memphis’ first African-American firefighters. And many more hot attractions!

Reviewed By ronp227 - Boca Raton, United States

For all ages especially for children, Fire safety learning at its best The hands on fire simulation is very impressive and a must stop for all fire house enthusiasts.

6. Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum

826 N 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38107-2302 +1 901-527-3427 http://www.slavehavenundergroundrailroadmuseum.org/
Excellent
68%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
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4.5 based on 689 reviews

Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum

Visitors can tour the tunnels used by runaway slaves who stopped at this plantation, one of the stations of the Underground Railroad.

Reviewed By 24Long

Fascinating and heartrending story of a German immigrant businessman who offered his home and possibly his livelihood to provide a haven for runaway slaves during the run-up to the Civil War. Both guides, Greg and Asia, shared stories covering the slave trade, Memphis’ slave markets, how the Underground Railroad worked, to the system Mr.Burkle used to get runaways safely to Cairo, IL and beyond. Fascinating look at mid-18th century life in Memphis. Please create a pamphlet about the history this house represents. This story needs to be heard.

7. Sun Studio

706 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103-3218 +1 901-521-0664 [email protected] http://www.sunstudio.com
Excellent
79%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
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4.5 based on 11,405 reviews

Sun Studio

Sun Studio - The place where an 18 year old Elvis Presley recorded his first song. It’s well-known in the music industry as "The Birthplace of Rock 'N' Roll" and the most famous recording studio in the world. Opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips in 1950, this national Historic Landmark is where superstar musicians like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and countless others started their recording careers. Today, Sun Studio still serves as a recording studio in the evenings while hosting public tours during the daytime hours.

Reviewed By Sharonmarierose - Gardiner, United States

Made a visit to Sun Studios w my 10 year old Elvis obsessed son .. We Lucked out & got Lhana as our tour guide .... such an amazing spirit & she’s super passionate about the music & history of Sun. A great experience & memory , well worth everything :)

8. Woodruff-Fontaine House

680 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105-4902 +1 901-526-1469 [email protected] http://www.woodruff-fontaine.com/
Excellent
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Good
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Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 158 reviews

Woodruff-Fontaine House

An elegant, 16-room mansion built in 1870 and featuring period furnishings and mannequins displaying the fashions of the era.

Reviewed By GreenEyedWonderWoman

I have been visiting the Woodruff-Fontaine house for several years now, and each time I visit I discover something new. The staff is always changing up their exhibits, and they have different kinds of events going on all the time. I have literally been to visit during every kind of weather from bright & sunny to dark & dreary. It is extremely enjoyable no matter the weather! This is a great place for all those who love history, fashion, and unique experiences. I highly recommend.

9. Stax Museum of American Soul Music

926 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN 38106-3338 +1 901-261-6338 http://staxmuseum.com/
Excellent
68%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
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4.5 based on 2,040 reviews

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music, is a 17,000 square-foot museum offering interactive exhibits, videos, vintage musical instruments used to create the Stax sound, stage costumes, photographs, records, and approximately 3,000 other items of memorabilia that tell the unique story, from beginning to present, of American soul music, particularly that of Stax Records and the Memphis Sound.Artists highlighted include Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, Booker T. & the MGs, Johnnie Taylor, Little Milton, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and hundreds of others. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have special safety precautions in place, such as mandatory mask-wearing for all employees and guests, social distancing, no large groups, and, for now, cashless transactions only.

Reviewed By 0259dlsQ

Starts with a short film about the history of Stax, then proceeds to a self guided tour with lots of cool artifacts from the studio. Go at your own pace and take in as much or as little as you like. Very reasonably priced, including the gift shop, Isaac Hayes' totally audacious gold plated Cadillac Eldorado is a scream. Great tour, totally recommended.

10. Full Gospel Tabernacle

787 Hale Rd, Memphis, TN 38116-6240 +1 901-396-9192 http://prestonlauterbach.com/2011/03/10/al-greens-full-gospel-tabernacle-church/
Excellent
76%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
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Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 130 reviews

Full Gospel Tabernacle

Reviewed By nikkio736 - Los Angeles, United States

TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONES when you’re in a church, people. They went off three times - and one clueless lady just let her tropical ringtone keep going... amplified with church acoustics. So disrespectful. The service we attended was very joyous in tone (no homophobic messages) and warm and welcoming to outside visitors. The band - with guitar, bass, drums, organ and piano - is amazing. One of the female solo singers was a great blues/soul singer. My husband and I are musicians and not particularly religious. Al Green was in really good spirits until the cell phones. But be prepared that 1) the service can take 2.5 hours and you can’t get up and leave, there’s no break (but we thought the time flew by.) 2) do NOT use flash photography and maybe just try to be in the moment and don’t photograph at all. 3) this is a Sunday sermon for the local parish where local events will be addressed - the focus is not to be a tourist attraction. 4) other pastors will be leading the service for the first half before Al Green begins to talk (and sing!) Show respect, set aside ample time, turn off your phones, and have a really cool and uplifting experience.

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