ACBL Bridge Museum Home to one of the world’s largest collections of bridge game memorabilia, the museum inside American Contract Bridge League headquarters includes interactive displays that guide visitors through the oddities and notables of this game, which started in the 1930s. The largest trump indicator collection in North American and ACBL Hall of Fame round out the exhibits. 662-253-3100 |
American Dream Safari
It’s all about the journey — in a vintage 1955 Cadillac — with a 23-year veteran of guiding safaris across the back roads of America. Buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a ride of cultural exposure, language, historical perspectives, and the sting of a blues guitar in a hot juke joint. Tour themes and destinations are limited only by your imagination. 901-527-8870 |
American Queen Steamboat Company
Cruise the Mississippi River aboard the largest and most luxuriant steamboat in the world while experiencing the history, heritage, and culture of America’s heartland. Visit charming towns and vibrant Mississippi River cities, explore historic ports of call, and relax amid magnificent amenities. All aboard! 888-749-5280 |
AutoZone Park Home of the Memphis Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate, this state-of-the-art stadium offers behind-the-scenes tours that include the press box, clubhouse, and training facilities. Voted Top Minor League Ballpark in 2009 by Baseball America, AutoZone Park features a picnic terrace, baseball-themed children’s play area, party decks, luxury suites, and a 60-by-60-foot HD video board. Corner of Third and Union, 901-721-6000 |
Backbeat Tours Tours as unique as our hometown. Conveniently located on Beale Street, offering daily sightseeing tours — including the live music Memphis Mojo Tour (the highest-rated tour of the city) and a new Memphis Highlights Tour — as well as walking tours of historic Downtown and evening Ghost Tours. All tours led by professional guides who use music, comedy, and song to create a one-of-a-kind touring experience. Office: 901-529-9415, Tickets: 800-979-3370 http://www.backbeattours.com |
Beale Street Entertainment District Home of the Blues at the crossroads of Rock ‘n’ Roll, playing the blues for more than a century. Four historic blocks of nightclubs, specialty shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues host millions of visitors annually. Live music nightly, special events, and annual festivals. The No. 1 tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee! 901-526-0115, 901-529-0999 http://www.bealestreet.com, http://www.bealestreetmerchants.com |
Beale Street Landing A modern docking facility, restaurant, and civic space that connects people to the Mississippi River in a unique riverfront setting. The landing is the place to access the water’s edge; a safe way to embark on a riverboat journey; a casual dining experience at the river’s edge; and an appropriate park amenity offering shade, seating, water features, and restrooms to complement Tom Lee Park. Riverside Drive and Beale Street 901-901-312-9190, |
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art A world-class collection of Asian and rare Judaic arts. Permanent exhibit includes creations for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911): intricately carved jade sculptures, crafted enamelware, rare objects carved in ivory, and impressive ceremonial and historical pieces. Also includes fossils, minerals, contemporary European art glass, and Russian lacquer boxes.119 S. Main, Concourse Level. 901-523-ARTS |
Blues City Tours Explore the adventures in Memphis with shuttles and tour operations. Graceland, Mississippi riverboats, shopping, Memphis music, casinos, museums — there’s a place for everyone and a reliable way to get there. Also offers limo/sedan service, airport shuttles, and charters. 901-522-9229 |
Carriage Tours Take a fun, charming, horse-drawn carriage tour through Downtown with knowledgeable and courteous drivers who point out historic sites, share city stories, make recommendations, answer questions, and suggest what to see and where to be seen. Pickup available at any Downtown hotel or restaurant, or just walk up to any carriage you see! Carriage Co. of Memphis: 901-507-2587 Carriage Rides of River City: 901-463-7942 Carriage Tours of Memphis: 901-527-7542 Memphis Carriage Rides: 901-482-9496 Uptown Carriages: 901-496-2128 |
Center for Earthquake Research and Information A two-room museum and educational outreach program on the University of Memphis campus provides visitors with earthquake information about the New Madrid seismic zone through interactive displays, maps, and computer programs. Printed information also available. Open by appointment only. 901-678-2007 |
Center for Southern Folklore In the heart of Downtown, the Center’s Folklore Hall showcases folk art, photography, and live performances. The Folklore Store is a colorful, one-of-a-kind regional marketplace for folk art, crafts, books, music, and photographs. Tastes of authentic Southern cuisine. Live music, catered parties, and tours. The Memphis Music & Heritage Festival rocks out every Labor Day weekend. 119 & 123 S. Main, 901-525-3655 |
Children’s Museum of Memphis Hands-on excitement and fun! Be a pilot in a real airplane cockpit, explore the Mississippi River, watch a train zoom down the tracks, generate your own tornado or earthquake, drive a fire engine and police car, disco dance, climb inside a tree house and skyscraper, become a “star” on stage, and more! Educational programs offered all year. 2525 Central, 901-458-2678 |
Chucalissa C.H. Nash Museum This prehistoric American Indian archaeological site dates back to the 15th century. The site features a Mississippian mound complex, nature trail and arboretum, hands-on archaeology lab, and exhibits that explore the history and life-ways of Native Americans and traditional cultures of the historic and prehistoric Southeastern United States. 1987 Indian Village 901-785-3160 |
Cooper-Young Historic District Historically hip Midtown neighborhood centered around Cooper, Young, and Central features antiques and specialty shops, vintage clothing stores, and award-winning restaurants and bars. Monthly First Thursday Night Out: retail bargains, food and beverage discounts, and live music. Every September, the Cooper-Young Festival hosts hundreds of artisans, stage performances, and refreshment stands. 901-276-7222 http://www.cooperyoung.biz, http://www.cooperyoungfestival.com |
Cotton Museum at The Memphis Cotton Exchange At the historic Cotton Museum in Downtown Memphis, rediscover the American South and hear the dynamic story of the plant that built the Bluff City. Learn all about how the fabric of our lives influenced the cultural fabric of the Midsouth, and see the stunning Memphis Cotton Exchange and original trading board restored to its 1939 heyday. 65 Union, 901-531-7826 |
Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion The Pavilion celebrates the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the vision of its founder, the late entertainer Danny Thomas. Interactive displays trace Thomas’s notable career, ALSAC’s fundraising efforts on behalf of St. Jude, and the hospital’s pioneering achievements in the fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. 262 Danny Thomas Place, 901-595-4414 |
Davies Manor Plantation Museum Shelby County’s oldest log house open to the public. Dogtrot-style log home, circa 1830, with period furnishings in a country setting that includes trails and several outbuildings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Trail. Open April thru mid December. Off-season by appointment only. 9336 Davies Plantation, 901-386-0715 |
Dixon Gallery and Gardens Set amid 17 acres of formal and informal gardens, this former private estate is home to a renowned collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, 18th-century porcelain, exhibitions of fine and decorative arts, beautiful gardens, and a full schedule of art and horticultural programs. The museum store offers unique gifts and jewelry, many created by local artisans. 4339 Park, 901-761-5250 |
Elmwood Cemetery Historic 1852 cemetery with a unique collection of Victorian funeral art. Many influential Memphians are buried in the area’s first garden-movement cemetery. Eighty acres of rolling hills, stately trees, statuary, and beautiful gardens surround the quaint Victorian Gothic office. Relax with a picnic in the beautiful blend of nature and art. Audio tours and walking maps. 824 S. Dudley, 901-774-3212 |
FedEx Forum Home to the NBA Memphis Grizzlies, University of Memphis Tigers basketball, and top concerts and family shows, the Midsouth’s premier sports and entertainment facility includes a Memphis-themed motif, restaurants, outdoor entertainment plaza, suites, club boxes, party areas, and more. It also houses the Smithsonian’s Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and plays host to special events. Corner of Beale and Third, 901-205-1234 |
Fire Museum of Memphis A hot time for all ages! Slide down a firehouse pole, play in real fire trucks, and experience a virtual house fire. Essential lifesaving information, antique trucks, firefighting history, and one of the largest U.S. collections of firefighting toys. A life-size talking horse tells how firefighting began. Outside, a poignant, 27-foot-tall memorial honors fallen Memphis firefighters. 118 Adams, 901-320-5650 |
Gibson Guitar Factory and Showcase Experience the incredible craftsmanship that goes into every guitar. Factory tours by appointment include up-close looks at the intricate process of building guitars. See magic in the making! Special group rates and times available. One block south of historic Beale Street, the Gibson Retail Store offers the largest selection of Gibson and Epiphone instruments in Memphis. 145 Lt. George W. Lee, 901-543-0800 |
Graceland Experience Elvis’s fascinating journey to superstardom at his famous home, a designated National Historic Landmark. Exciting videos, displays of authentic clothing, personal mementos, his amazing showcase of gold and platinum awards, and more. Exhibits include Elvis’s Hawaii: Concerts, Movies, and More, Elvis Through His Daughter’s Eyes, and Elvis: Live From Vegas. Stay at Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel. 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd, 901-332-3322, 800-238-2000 |
Levitt Shell at Overton Park This open-air theater first opened in 1936 giving Memphis a venue for entertainment under the open skies. Elvis Presley’s first paid concert happened here in 1954. The Mortimer Levitt Foundation, a family charity dedicated to reviving band shells, brought this unique venue back to life in 2008. The Levitt Shell presents 50 free, family-friendly concerts each year in the spring and fall. 1930 Poplar in Overton Park behind the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, |
Lichterman Nature Center A nature center for the 21st century is located in the middle of metropolitan Memphis. Explore 65 acres of forest, lake, and meadow, and learn about preservation. Includes the Back Yard Wildlife Center, three miles of trails, boardwalks across the lake, picnic facilities, gift shop, and environmental and interactive multimedia exhibits. 5992 Quince, 901-767-7322 |
Magevney House Built in the 1830s by Irish immigrant Eugene Magevney — the first permanent schoolteacher to reside in Memphis — this small clapboard cottage is furnished as a typical middle-class antebellum home and features several personal possessions of the Magevney family. It is one of Memphis’s oldest remaining residences. 198 Adams, 901-523-1484 |
Mallory-Neely House One of Memphis’s oldest and most important historic homes was built in 1852 and renovated in the 1890s. The 25-room Italianate mansion in Victorian Village contains stenciled and hand-painted ceilings, parquet flooring, and stained-glass windows purchased at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. It is the only historic property in Memphis to retain most of its original furnishings. 652 Adams, 901-523-1484 |
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Bordering the Mighty Mississippi, two-thirds of this 13,467-acre park is bottomland hardwood forests. The park also contains two lakes, miles of hiking trails, a museum and nature center, boat ramp, 200 species of birds, and other wildlife. Cabins, camping, swimming, and picnic facilities also available. 910 Riddick, Millington, 901-876-5215, 800-471-5293 |
Memphis Botanic Garden Ninety-six acres of specialty gardens in the heart of Memphis. Features My Big Backyard family garden, new Herb Garden, monthly art exhibits, special events, seasonal plant sales, farmers market (April–October), wine tastings, summer camps, educational programs, and Fratelli’s Cafe. Facility rental available for weddings, parties, and special events. 750 Cherry, 901-576-4100 |
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art A center of culture in the heart of Memphis. Outstanding collections of fine art dating from antiquity to present and superb international traveling exhibitions. Permanent collection includes Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculpture, and European and American paintings. Brushmark Restaurant and Museum Store. Full schedule of films, lectures, family activities, and special events. 1934 Poplar, 901-544-6200 |
Memphis Grizzlies NBA Basketball This Western Conference team began in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, migrated to Memphis in 2001, and now roars through regular season home games October–April in the state-of-the-art FedExForum. FedExForum, corner of Beale and Third, Tickets: 901-888-HOOP |
Memphis International Raceway Roar into the action at this 342-acre, state-of-the-art, multi-faceted raceway that includes three complete tracks: a high-performance road course, a historic drag strip, and a 3/4-mile paved tri-oval. 5500 Victory Lane, Millington, 969-7223 |
Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum Step off Main Street or the trolley at Central Station and experience the lore and romance of railroading — both past and present. Exhibits and model railroad layouts tell the history, explore the technology, and stimulate the imagination about railroading. Artifacts, murals, ledgers, flashing crossing lights, and shrieking train whistles — railroads tied the country together and turned Memphis into a hub of transportation and culture. All aboard! 545 S. Main, 901-590-3099 |
Memphis Redbirds Baseball This unique, not-for-profit baseball team is the Triple-A affiliate of the 2011 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Redbirds play April–September in the heart of Downtown at AutoZone Park, named Best Minor League Ballpark in 2009 by Baseball America. 200 Union, 901-721-6000 |
Memphis Riverboats A wide variety of sightseeing cruises with concessions and commentary on the sights and history of the Mississippi River. Evening music/dinner cruises, holiday cruises, and private charters. Wheelchair access on most trips. Closed January–February except by appointment. Foot of Monroe at Riverside Drive, 901-527-BOAT, 800-221-6197 |
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum This Smithsonian Institution exhibition tells the story of music pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the world. A comprehensive Memphis music experience, from the rural music of the 1930s through Memphis’s musical heyday in the ‘70s to its global musical influence today. Audio-guided tour and gift shop. FedExForum, corner of Beale and Third, 901-205-2533 |
Memphis Trolleys Restored to the elegance of their 1912–1940 predecessors, today’s trolleys run from the South Main Historic Arts District to the Pinch District, along the picturesque riverfront, and from Downtown to the Medical Center. Passengers may board at any of 35 handicapped-accessible stations. Enjoy the sights of Downtown as you travel to your next trolley-served attraction. 901-274-6282 |
Memphis Zoo The 76-acre zoo provides naturalistic homes to more than 3,500 animals representing 500 species. Get nose-to-nose with polar bears and sea lions in the Northwest Passage. Take a breathtaking trip to China and visit giant pandas Le Le and Ya Ya, and experience Yellowstone Park with grizzly bears and gray wolves at Teton Trek. Overton Park, 2000 Prentiss Place, 901-276-WILD |
Mississippi River Memphis’s signature “welcome sign” in the west plays host to numerous festivals, concerts, and other major events throughout the year. Interactive water sports available, and parks along the riverfront make Ol’ Man River the perfect backdrop for picnics, kite flying, strolling, and other family outings. The River Walk provides a panoramic view of Memphis’s crown jewel. Riverside Drive. |
Mississippi RiverKings Hockey Proud members of the Central Hockey League, two-time President’s Cup champions, and the longest-running professional sports franchise in the Midsouth takes to the ice for thunderous play and exciting games October–March. Landers Center, I-55 and Church Rd, 662-342-1755 |
Mississippi River Museum World-class museum with 18 galleries showcasing 10,000 years of Lower |
National Civil Rights Museum Located at the Lorraine Motel, the assassination site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the museum chronicles key episodes in, and the legacy of, the American civil rights movement from 1619 to present day. The museum’s collections, exhibitions, research, and educational programs exist to broaden the understanding of and inspire participation in civil and human rights globally. 450 Mulberry, 901-521-9699 |
National Ornamental Metal Museum The only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the exhibition and preservation of fine metalwork. Changing exhibitions range from jewelry and hollowware in precious metals to architectural wrought iron. Metalworking demonstrations and classes in on-site smithy. Bring a picnic and enjoy the spectacular view of the Mississippi River from the grounds. 374 Metal Museum Dr, 901-774-6380, 877-881-2326 |
The Orpheum Theatre Built in 1928, the 2,500-seat Orpheum is one of the few remaining elegant movie palaces of the ’20s. Each year, it hosts Broadway shows, concerts, movies, operas, and ballets. Many celebrated entertainers have graced its stage, including Cary Grant, Andy Williams, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Robert Plant, Patti LaBelle, Robert Goulet, Jerry Seinfeld, and Harry Connick Jr. to name a few. Main at Beale, 901-525-7800, Tickets: 901-525-3000 |
Overton Park This 342-acre public parkwas one of the city’s first parks, dating to 1902. Nine-hole golf course, 1.4-mile fitness trail, playgrounds, open play fields, wooded trails, picnic pavilions, Rainbow Lake formal gardens, and Veterans Plaza. Also home to Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Zoo, and the Levitt Shell, where Elvis performed his first paid concert. 2080 Poplar, golf course: 901-725-9905 |
Overton Square Arts & Entertainment District On stage in the heart of Midtown Memphis, professional and local theater troupes perform in venues that range from a state-of-the-art performance hall to a former movie theater (where Elvis used to go)! Between Madison and Union on Cooper, 726-4656 |
The Peabody Memphis Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond historic Downtown landmark first opened in 1869. Local developer Jack Belz restored the legendary hotel to its original splendor, kicking off Downtown’s revitalization when it reopened in 1981. The South’s Grand Hotel includes the famous march of the Peabody Ducks, rooftop Duck Palace, gift shops, restaurants, retail, and history. 149 Union, 901-529-4000 |
The Pinch District Memphis’s first neighborhood, settled by Irish immigrants in the mid 1800s, is reborn as a shopping and entertainment area. Given its name from the gaunt appearance of the immigrants who resided there after fleeing the great potato famine in Ireland, The Pinch includes live music, pubs, coffee shops, specialty stores, and more. North Main and Jackson, east of The Pyramid. |
Memphis Pink Palace Museum Everything you see and do in Memphis makes more sense when you begin here. The marble, 1922 Pink Palace Mansion built by Piggly Wiggly grocery magnate Clarence Saunders houses the IMAX Crew Training International Theater, Sharpe Planetarium, and exhibits that include Memphis history, geology, America’s first self-service grocery store, Clyde Parke Miniature Circus, and visiting displays. 3050 Central, 901-636-2362 |
Sharpe Planetarium This 130-seat planetarium hosts astronomy shows, educational programs, stargazing, and laser light concerts inside the Memphis Pink Palace Museum.3050 Central, 901-636-2362 |
Shelby Farms Park The largest metropolitan park in the country provides picnic shelters, as well as meeting rooms.Iincludes 31 fishing lakes; walking and biking trails; bird watching; 54-acre lake for sailing, wind surfing, and pedal boating; off-leash dog area; herd of American bison; disc-golf course; horse stables; Agricenter International’s exhibition center and Show Place Arena; and farmer’s market. 500 N. Pine Lake, 901-767-PARK |
Slavehaven Underground Railroad Museum Explore this way station on the Underground Railroad at Burkle Estate. A secret cellar and trap doors reveal the escape route of runaway slaves. Startling displays of ads, auctions, and artifacts help tell the story of the slave era this 1856 antebellum hideaway. 826 N. Second, 901-527-3427 |
Soulsville USA Historic neighborhood birthplace of musical luminaries as Aretha Franklin, David Porter, Memphis Slim, Memphis Minnie, and others. Home to Royal Studios, where Hi Records recorded soul greats Al Green, Ann Peebles. The 17,000-square-foot Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the only soul music museum in the world, stands at the original site of Stax Records.926 E. McLemore, 901-942-SOUL |
South Main Historic Arts District Where culture, style, and charisma fuse. Anchored by historic Central Train Station on the south and Orpheum Theatre on the north, the city’s official historic arts district offers a diverse neighborhood of fine arts, specialty shopping, restaurants, bars, and live music. Monthly Art Trolley Night, every last Friday. Outdoor Memphis Farmers Market every Saturday, mid April through |
Southland Park Gaming & Racing Enjoy the excitement of live greyhound racing, simulcast greyhound and thoroughbred racing, multi-line, multi-denomination, multi-reel games, electronic craps, video poker and poker room, blackjack, and live entertainment. Indulge in the World Market Buffet and the new Bourbon Street Steakhouse Grill. Eat, play, and win big. Minutes from Downtown Memphis! I-40 & I-55, Exit 279A, West Memphis, AR, 870-735-3670, 800-467-6182 |
Sun Studio Guided tours of the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Hear session outtakes, touch Elvis’s first microphone, see loads of memorabilia, and relive the history of the musical careers launched here: Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and other legends. America’s only recording studio designated a National Historic Landmark. 706 Union, 901-521-0664, 800-441-6249 |
Tom Lee Park Named to honor a black riverworker who heroically saved 32 people from a sinking steamboat in 1925, this 30-acre park stretches one and a half miles along the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. Home to a number of festivals and concerts, the parkhosts the five-mile River Walk and includes two Tom Lee Memorial monuments. Riverside Drive between Beale and Georgia |
Tunica Just 30 miles south of Memphis, the South’s Casino Capital shimmers with Vegas-style gaming, including nine world-class casinos, 6,000 luxurious hotel rooms, fine-dining restaurants and buffets, headline entertainers, championship golf and tennis, award-winning museums, lavish spas, and outlet/antique shopping. U.S. Highway 61, 888-4TUNICA |
Victorian Village Historic District This Downtown Memphis neighborhood is known for its grand 19th century Victorian homes and mansions, which sit among stately trees and shaded lawns. Visit the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum at 680 Adams. Drive by private homes and churches on Adams, Jefferson, and Washington between Orleans and Neely streets and relive elegant times of old. 901-523-0235 |
W.C. Handy Home Recapture the flavor of old Beale Street at the turn-of-the-century home of the “Father of the Blues,” William Christopher “W.C.” Handy. A small, wood-frame house displays artifacts and memorabilia that give insight into this musical genius’s life and music. 352 Beale, appt. only: 901-527-3427 |
W.C. Handy Performing Arts Park This outdoor amphitheater, located in the heart of Beale Street was dedicated to the “Father of the Blues,” William Christopher “W.C.” Handy, in 1931. The park plays host to live music, festivals, and catered events. 200 Beale, 901-526-0115 |
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery The works of legendary photographer Ernest C. Withers documents, preserves, and shares decades of African-American history in the South: Civil Rights Movement, Memphis music, Negro baseball, Beale Street, politics, and more, in the former icon’s photography studio. 333 Beale, 901-523-2344 |
Woodruff-Fontaine House This restored 1870s French Victorian mansion in the Victorian Village Historic District showcases 18 rooms exhibiting 19th and early 20th century furniture, textiles, and decorative arts. Gingerbread Playhouse and museum shop in the mansion. 680 Adams, 901-526-1469 |