#Things to do this weekend in memphis tn free

Luckily, like so many historic areas of the US, Beale Street has been revitalized and is once again a hub for music and the arts, restaurants, and nightlife. However, the area began to decline in the 1950s and by the 1960s, many parts of it had closed. Grant also made visits to the church!ĭuring the first half of the 1900s, Beale Street served as a source of inspiration for many blues musicians and some of the century’s most famous artists played on the street there including Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong, and B.B. You will be following in some pretty famous footsteps if you do – Teddy Roosevelt and Ulysses S. Located at 379 Beale St, the church is still standing and worth a visit today. The newspaper was headquartered in the First Baptist Church, which was built by a congregation of freed slaves between 18.

#Things to do this weekend in memphis tn free

The park had a 2,000 seat auditorium and quickly became a major gathering point for blues musicians.īy the end of the 19th century, Beale Street was flourishing with many black-owned businesses, restaurants, shops, and clubs as well as Free Speech, an anti-segregationist newspaper. One of his many contributions was Robert R. Robert Church, a former slave, acquired land there and began to invest in the area. When yellow fever swept through the city in the 1870s, the population was hit badly and lost its charter in 1879. The neon guitar signs and the “Home of the Blues” archway give visitors a pretty good idea of what lies behind the storefronts but not many people know the fascinating history of the area.īy the start of the Civil War, Beale Street had become a hub for black businesses and culture. Beale Street Historic Districtīeale Street was established in 1841 and has become one of the country’s most iconic streets. Music genres as diverse as rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, and rock and roll have roots in Memphis and there are a few places that every music lover must visit on a trip here including the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Soul Museum, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins recorded songs in the city’s recording studios. The music industry went from strength to strength and musical legends such as Roy Orbison. It was here on Beale Street that the electric guitar made its debut in 1945 and rock and roll got its start. Handy, also known as the “Father of Blues”, who played this unique musical style in the clubs on Beale Street with his band way back in 1909. Enslaved blacks passed down traditional African musical styles through the generations, and this became the basis for many 20th century musicians such as W.C. At the start of the 1900s, Memphis was one of the hubs of African-American commerce and culture. When people think of Memphis, they often think of the city’s long connection with the music industry. There is a lot to see in Memphis so to help you get your planning started, we have put together our list of the top Memphis attractions! The locations are quite spread out but there is a decent public transportation system available if you don’t have access to a car. The history of Memphis’ music scene and African American culture are tightly intertwined making the city a must-visit destination not only for music lovers but for anyone interested in United States history.ĭowntown Memphis is home to some great attractions including the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, Tom Lee Park, and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum while Overton Park, the Memphis Zoo, and Brooks Museum of Art are located in Midtown. Many runaway slaves found refuge in the city as part of the Underground Railroad and rather fittingly, the Civil Rights Movement began in Memphis. However, there is a lot more to Memphis than music. The city is well known for its vibrant music scene. Memphis, Tennessee is a large city located on the banks of the Mississippi River.