mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Tuesday, we took a look at Memphis and covered only the musical landmarks. There’s much more to enjoy and learn about in Memphis.
The Mississippi River itself is quite an impressive landmark. You can take a ride on the Memphis Queen riverboat or enjoy a concert at Mud Island, where you can also explore a scale model of the entire Mississippi River.
The Lorraine Motel at 450 Mulberry Street, just a couple of blocks from Beale Street, was the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. King was in town to support the sanitation workers strike, and had just given his famous “Mountaintop” speech the night before. The Lorraine went into foreclosure in 1982, and was bought by a group of prominent Memphians who founded The National Civil Rights Museum on the site. The museum is open every day.
Yet more Memphis, after the jump.
The Peabody Hotel on Union Avenue opened in 1925. The famous Peabody Ducks still swim in the hotel’s fountain each day, escorted to the lobby from their penthouse apartment by the Peabody Duckmaster. See a video of the ducks here.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded by Danny Thomas in 1962 in response to a vow he made to build a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. The hospital serves children with cancer from all over the world with no regard for their family’s ability to pay, if they fit into their current research protocols.
A. Schwab’s Dry Goods at 163 Beale Street is the oldest business on the street, in operation since 1876. You can still get everything from underwear to voodoo spells at Schwab’s.
In 1991, the city of Memphis built The Pyramid Arena, a 32-storey civic center in tribute to the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The Pyramid is home former home to the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team and the University of Memphis basketball program. It also hosts concerts and other big events.
And you can’t go to Memphis without a visit to the Memphis Zoo, home of pandas Ya Ya and Le Le. You can follow them online with the Panda Cam.
For more on Memphis, see Tell the Truth Travel and the city’s official site.
Comments (6)
Comment
The Pyramid is the former home of the Grizzlies and Tigers. They are at Fedex Forum now. Not much goes on there currently, but it’s a neat part of the skyline.
posted by DW on 6-27-2007 at 8:09 am
Thanks, DW! The Pyramid should update their official site.
posted by Miss Cellania on 6-27-2007 at 8:15 am
I’ve lived just outside of Memphis for all my short life, and in it for a small portion. It’s ok to visit, but make it a short trip. There are too many bad areas of the city nowdays, and you can’t go too many places without having to go through them to get to where you’re going, provided you aren’t looking for something in a bad area! The Pyramid is nice on the skyline, but really a waste of money since nothing is being done with it.
I’ve never even had a desire to see Graceland (in a bad area). Beale Street is ok, but can get really over-crowded. As for Memphis in May’s MusicFest: I went twice because a friend (who didn’t live here long) begged me to go with her. It was hot, muddy, and full of drunks. I’ve vowed never to go back. BBQ Fest is ok, but not much fun unless you know someone with a booth.
I recommend Southaven SpringFest if you want a small-town Fair feel, and Old Towne Olive Branch has tons of antique stores & lovely little shops.
Plan your trip here well, and be careful where you go at night- don’t go alone.
posted by Jennifer- Southaven, MS on 6-27-2007 at 8:55 am
I’ve lived in Memphis for 23 years, it’s a wonderful place to visit & reside. My daughter and I spend quite a bit of time downtown and it’s always enjoyable. I can’t imagine anyone with even the slightest interest in music or BBQ not having a good time here. By the way, downtown Memphis has a lower crime rate than most of the surrounding areas, including Jen’s hometown. FYI … when someone throws out the term “bad area” around here, it usually has more to do with the racial composition of the residents of that area than actual crime. Anyway, that’s been my observation.
posted by DW on 6-27-2007 at 12:46 pm
I used to live about 90 minutes from Memphis, and my then-husband worked there for some time. I was enchanted by the southern charm and the sense of history there. And the music!
posted by Miss Cellania on 6-27-2007 at 10:18 pm
Memphis has cleaned up the downtown area very nicely. The whole Beale/Peabody area is well lit and safe. I have to go to memphis for work once in a while. Ten years ago it was a nasty place - now I look forward to it.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 8-22-2008 at 7:01 pm