This article pertains to what one can do in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. And yes, there are many things that you can do here in this remarkable center for commerce, education, media, art, and entertainment.
The city has long had a prominent music scene, with historic blues clubs on Beale Street originating the unique Memphis blues sound during early 20th century. The city’s music has continued to be shaped by a mix of African-American and White influences across the blues, country, rock n’ roll, soul, and hip-hop genres. Memphis barbecue has achieved international prominence due to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, which attracts over 100,000 visitors to the city annually.
On other things other than music, one may visit Lorraine Motel, the place where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The motel is surrounded and connected to the National Civil Rights Museum. Two other buildings and their adjacent properties, also connected with the King assassination, have been acquired as part of the museum complex.
The museum reopened in 2014 after renovations that increased the number of multi-media and interactive exhibits, including numerous short movies to enhance the features of the museum. The National Civil Rights Museum is owned and operated by the Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation, based in Memphis. The Lorraine Motel is owned by the Tennessee State Museum and leased long term to the Foundation to operate as part of the museum complex.
On October 21, 2016, the museum was honored by becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate museum.
On other things than this rather important museum. There are also multiple annual festivals that occur inside the city, Memphis Italian Festival and Carnival Memphis being prime examples of this. There are also music festivals.
The biggest event in Memphis is Memphis in May. The month-long series of events promotes Memphis’s heritage and outreach of its people far beyond the borders of the city. The four main events in this celebration are the Beale Street Music Festival, International Week, The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Great River Run. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the largest pork barbecue-cooking contest in the world.
You can also visit Beale Street, a national historical landmark. It is a significant location in the city’s history, as well as in the history of the blues music genre. Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are major tourist attractions in Memphis that you too, should visit. Festivals and outdoor concerts periodically bring large crowds to the street and its surrounding areas.
On the subject of music, you can visit the Graceland Property here in Memphis. What is the Graceland Property you may ask? Well, it contains a mansion. And why is this mansion important? That mansion was the residence of the legendary Elvis Presley in Memphis.
A fan of animals? Not a problem, you can visit Memphis Zoo to see the different and unique kinds of wildlife there.
Speaking of animals, there is also Peabody Hotel, famous for its “Peabody Ducks” located on its rooftop.