While speaking on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. You can relive history here by visiting the balcony and Dr. King's room, restored as it was when he was here to support the sanitation workers' strike. Through interactive multimedia exhibits you participate in the civil rights movement and learn its history from the 1600s through Rosa Parks and the freedom riders until today.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located on the site of Stax Records which is known to have much significance in the music industry. The company is known to have launched the careers of many successful musicians. There are around 2000 exhibits that include videos, artifacts, films, photographs, and more. Apart from the exhibits, the museum regularly plays host to events like live concerts, educational programs, and fundraisers.
The Dixons were a childless couple who collected art, both fine and decorative and left it all to the city when they died. The travelling exhibits, are often spectacular and have included Faberge eggs, glassworks by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly, and an explosion of color from Raoul Dufy. The 17-acre (7-hectare) garden is usually open for strolling, except during outdoor concerts, picnics, or theater productions. The museum shop often has items from Memphis' Great Wonders exhibits! The museum is free for everyone on every Saturday between 10 am to noon.
The 2800 animals from over 400 species here have cared for in environments as close to their native habitats as possible. From African veldt to Asian temple ruins, Peruvian rain forests or Jamaican caverns, the animals roam free. Young children will enjoy the "Once Upon a Farm" exhibit and the amusement rides. The whole family will love watching the apes and monkeys in Primate Canyon. Do not miss the lions and tigers in Cat Country. Trams make getting around the park easy; wheelchairs and strollers can be rented.
This tiny house stands as a reminder of both a dark period in American history and the efforts of many to remedy the wrongs of slavery. A merchant named Jacob Burkle, who ran a stockyard before the American Civil War, provided a haven for many runaway slaves on their journey through the Underground Railroad. Here you can see where they waited for the instructions that helped them find their way across the Mississippi River to freedom.
Not so much a museum as an educational indoor playground, this place is full of interactive activities for kids. Youngsters can climb a skyscraper, explore a fire engine or "ride" a police motorcycle. Children especially love the miniature grocery store, where they can push their carts and "shop" for staples, and the playing bank, where they can write checks. Special exhibits and activities are also offered every month, including puppet shows and live music.
While speaking on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. You can relive history here by visiting the balcony and Dr. King's room, restored as it was when he was here to support the sanitation workers' strike. Through interactive multimedia exhibits you participate in the civil rights movement and learn its history from the 1600s through Rosa Parks and the freedom riders until today.
The Central Gardens is a beautiful area which forms a neighborhood of Midtown in Memphis. Designated as one of North America's best 'Old House Neighborhoods', it shows a mix of architectural styles. Encompassing an area of 511 acres (206.79 hectares), the neighborhood is home to 1540 structures which contribute to its historic nature. The major architectural styles seen in Central Gardens include Colonial Revival, Prairie School, Mediterranean Revival, Tudor Revival and American Craftsman styles. The neighborhood has been preserved well and was added to the National Register of Historic Places owing to its significance in history.
Main Street Collierville includes the town's historic town square and its surroundings. It is also the recipient of the Best Main Street in America award in 2014. This quaint area is a shopping hub as well as a major tourist attraction. Shop at unique stores or dine at charming restaurants. Check out the antebellum architecture steeped in history. Other interesting sights include the Train Depot, Morton Museum, Train Museum and Biblical Resource Center Museum.
Located inside the Memorial Park Cemetery, Crystal Shrine Grotto dates back to 1937. It is the product of the imagination and creativity of Mexican sculpture Dionicio Rodriquez. Rodriquez was known to create magic out of mere concrete, and the biblical scenes painted inside these caves are testimony to this talent. After Rodriquez, many other artists also added to the beauty of the caves. A dramatic sculpture marks the entrance of the cave, as you proceed inside you will notice the ceiling which is lined with Arkansas crystals, thus the name of the shrine. The cave illustrates various scenes from the Bible, and wooden and limestone sculptures bring these scenes to life.
The Dixons were a childless couple who collected art, both fine and decorative and left it all to the city when they died. The travelling exhibits, are often spectacular and have included Faberge eggs, glassworks by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly, and an explosion of color from Raoul Dufy. The 17-acre (7-hectare) garden is usually open for strolling, except during outdoor concerts, picnics, or theater productions. The museum shop often has items from Memphis' Great Wonders exhibits! The museum is free for everyone on every Saturday between 10 am to noon.