Memphis: Music Hotbed
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| Beale Street at Night1 |
ORIENTATION
Located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee, Memphis is just east of the Mississippi River in the east central United States. Memphis is minutes away from Arkansas and Mississippi, virtually extending to the border of both states. Inside Tennessee, Memphis is 91 mi (146 km) from Jackson and 215 mi (346 km) from Nashville. Little Rock, Arkansas, is 140 mi (225 km) west of Memphis, and Jackson, Mississippi, is 211 mi (340 km) south.
HISTORY
The history of Memphis began when the Chickasaw Indians settled on the high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. The first European to arrive in the area was Spanish explorer Hernando de Sotom, who crossed the Mississippi in 1540. Robert Cavelier de La Salle claimed the region for France in 1673, and the site's first permanent structure, Fort Assumption, was erected by the French in 1739. The settlement passed through British hands before becoming the property of the United States in 1797, and in 1819, with the help of John Overton, James Winchester and Andrew Jackson—who would later become president of the United States—Memphis was officially founded.
With an exceptional harbor on Wolf River, Memphis became a major port and the largest slave-trade market in the central South as river commerce flourished in the 1800s. One of the 11 Southern states that separated itself from the United States to form a coalition called the Confederate, Memphis fought against the Union—the 22 Northern states—during the Civil War. Memphis was an integral part of the Confederate's supply chain during the Civil War, but in 1862 Union gunboats conquered the Confederate fleet and seized the city, retaining control for the remainder of the war. Crippled from the lack of river trade during the war, the city plunged into economic decline. Memphis' situation became dire as yellow fever epidemics claimed a large portion of the population and caused many others to flee. Despite enduring such hardships, Memphis was well on its way to recovery a decade later, firmly buttressed by the growing cotton and lumber industries.
As Memphis developed economically, it also blossomed musically, establishing a reputation as the home of the blues—a style of soulful ballads initially composed and sung by slaves. In the 1950s, Elvis Presley ignited a blues-inspired rock-n-roll craze that swept the nation, drawing national attention to Memphis.
Today, Memphis is often referred to as the capital of the Mississippi Delta, serving as a major commercial center and cultural hub for Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Modern skyscrapers, expressways, countless cultural venues and large suburban areas are all part of the landscape.
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| Climate
data from the Southern Regional Climate Center |
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With a moist, continental climate, Memphis experiences four distinct seasons with hot temperatures in the summer months of June, July and August, and cold temperatures in the winter months of December, January and February. The weather is often somewhat unpredictable in spring and autumn, with a possibility of severe conditions—such as thunderstorms and strong winds. Visitors are advised to bring rain gear. In the summer, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico results in humid conditions, making it feel hotter than it is, although the temperature rarely exceeds 90°F (32°C). Summer temperatures average 81°F (27°C), while winter temperatures can be quite cold, averaging 41°F (5°C) and falling below freezing fairly often. Although Memphis receives plenty of rain—54 in (1372 mm) of precipitation each year—the majority of its days are sunny.
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| Main Street Trolley2 |
Visitors traveling to Memphis have a number of transportation options. Memphis is served by domestic and foreign airlines through the Memphis International Airport. By car, Memphis can be accessed by I-55, from the north and the south, and I-40, from the east and the west, as well as several U.S. Route Highways. Amtrak railway trains and Greyhound Bus Lines run daily to Memphis from a host of major U.S. centers.
Once inside Memphis, taxis, limousines and shuttles provide transportation to hotels and other points of interest. For visitors that enjoy more freedom, rental cars are readily available. Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) buses operate daily inside the city limits. For a more exciting transit experience, tour the city on the vintage electric trolley cars of the Main Street Trolley, which operate along the Main Street Mall between Auction and Calhoun Streets.
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Memphis Rock
& Soul Museum3
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Music Attractions
A must see for rock fans, the Memphis
Rock & Soul Museum captures the magic that ignited rock-n-roll—a movement
that changed the attitudes and ways of the world. The museum's Rock'n'Soul:
Social Crossroads exhibition is an in-depth chronology of musicians that shaped
the Memphis sound—Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Otis Redding and others—complete
with artifacts, pictures, stories and, of course, music. Visitors have the chance
to hear rare interviews with dozens of prominent figures in rock and soul history.
No trip to Memphis is complete without touring the Graceland Mansion of Elvis Presley, the 14-acre estate of the King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Presley. A digital audio guide featuring the voices of Lisa Marie and Elvis plays as visitors tour the living room, music room, kitchen and Elvis' trophy room, which houses his extensive collection of gold records, awards and career mementos. The tour concludes at the Meditations Garden, where Elvis and members of his family are buried.
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| Stax Museum of American Soul Music4 |
Another site of immense musical importance, Sun Studio, is a small facility that has seen some of the biggest names in music. A host of legendary performers, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King and Roy Orbison, began their recording careers at Sun Studio. In the later part of the 20th century, a number of celebrated groups and musicians recorded albums here, including Def Leopard, U2 and Bonnie Raitt. Guided, 30-minute tours are available, and for an additional fee, visitors can make their own custom recording.
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| Memphis Brooks Museum of Art5 |
Cultural Venues
Art Galleries and Museums
For visitors that appreciate art, several galleries
showcase works ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary styles. The
Memphis
Brooks Museum of Art, established in 1916, offers an exceptional collection
of art dating from antiquity to present, including Italian Renaissance and Baroque
paintings and sculpture, European and American paintings, and English portraits.
Specializing in French and American Impressionist art, the Dixon
Gallery features hundreds of pieces and 17 acres of formal and informal
gardens. Modern art fans appreciate the Art
Museum of the University of Memphis, which offers a schedule of contemporary
exhibits and a permanent collection of West African artifacts and Egyptian antiquities.
The
National Ornamental Metal Museum, devoted exclusively to the promotion
and preservation of fine metalwork, displays a variety of historic and contemporary
metal objects and provides live metalworking demonstrations.
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| Memphis Pink Palace Museum6 |
Receiving over 200,000 visitors a year, the Memphis Pink Palace Museum—named after the mansion's ornate pink marble facade—delves into the region's natural and cultural history, and also offers exhibits about birds, insects, fossils and geology. In addition, the site features an Imax theater, a planetarium and laser rock-n-roll shows. At the National Civil Rights Museum, significant moments of civil and human rights struggles are brought to life through interpretive exhibits and audio/visual displays. Another historical point of interest, the Woodruff-Fontaine House, is a restored, three-story Victorian mansion built in 1870. The home showcases a large collection of antique furniture and features changing exhibits that often include period clothing.
Parks and Recreation
With over 150 parks
and a number of recreational facilities, sports and outdoor enthusiasts find
no shortage of resources in Memphis. The city's largest park, Overton,
covers 350 acres and houses the Memphis
Zoo, a nine-hole golf course, a lake, picnic grounds and walking trails.
Golfers have over 10 public
courses to choose from, and tennis players enjoy the use of over
100 public courts. Located just north of Memphis is Meeman-Shelby
Forest State Park, the city's premier recreational area, where horseback
riding, swimming, boating, camping and hiking are popular activities.
Sports
While in Memphis, sports fans have the chance to attend an array of events.
The excitement of live greyhound racing is offered at Southland
Greyhound Park, located 10 minutes from downtown Memphis, in West
Memphis, Arkansas. Memphis
Motorsports Park, a 600-acre facility, features automobile racing from
March to November. For baseball fans, the Memphis
Red Birds minor league baseball club plays at AutoZone
Park from April to early September. Competitive college football and
basketball games attract thousands of fans eager to cheer on the University
of Memphis Tigers.
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| Memphis in May Barbeque Festival7 |
Memphis' Mid-South Fair is a tradition that dates back over 100 years. Live entertainment, educational exhibits, diverse culinary experiences and carnival rides are all part of this late-September extravaganza. Another event not to be missed is the Memphis Music Heritage Festival. Held on Labor Day weekend (the first weekend of September), this event showcases performances by local blues, jazz, country, pop and bluegrass artists.
The city's monumental Memphis in May International Festival is a month-long celebration comprised of four distinct events: the Beale Street Music Festival, which attracts leading jazz and blues players for performances at Handy Park; Desti-Nations International Family Festival, a cultural celebration honoring a different country each year through exhibits and performances; the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, a pork barbeque of epic proportions laden with pig-related activities, perhaps the most entertaining of which is the Ms. Piggie Competition, where grown men dress up in snouts and tutus; and SunTrust Sunset Symphony, a musical performance wrapping up the month's festivities in a relaxing day of outdoor fun.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Beale Street at Night; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Main Street Trolley; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Memphis Rock & Soul Museum; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Stax Museum of American Soul Music; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Memphis Pink Palace Museum; Memphis, TN, USA
- Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau; Memphis in May Barbeque Festival; Memphis, TN, USA
