Memphis

The region that is today called Memphis has been home to humans for over 1,000 years, and has been a site of many important events in American history. The Pink Palace Museum & Planetarium, once the residence of Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders, charts the area’s history in this entertaining hodge-podge of a complex that features everything from fossils up to an exact replica of the 1st Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store built in 1916. Some wonderful antebellum houses have been preserved for public view, such as the Woodruff-Fontain House, Magevny House, and the Slavehaven/Burke House, which is believed to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Lorraine Motel was the site of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King and today is home to the National Civil Rights Museum. For art history visitors should check out the Brooks Museum of Art, which features exhibits of everything from cave art to cartoons.

The history of American music is represented just as well (or maybe better). Beale Street between 2nd and 4th is a home to countless clubs, restaurants and shops that pay homage to the city’s blues roots. The Orpheum Theater features major concerts and shows as well as the blues musicians’ Walk of Fame. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum examines the social and cultural history of the Mississippi Delta that was the genre’s incubating chamber. Visitors to Beale Street may enjoy a ½ hour tour at Gibson Beale Street Showcase, where the legendary Gibson Guitars are made. Sun Studio isn’t on Beale Street, but this one studio has as much history as Beale’s famous 2 blocks. Sam Phillips recorded scores of legends in Sun Studio, including Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, just to name a few.

In a city with so many wonderful things to see and do, it is arguably dubious as to whether Elvis’ mansion, Graceland, deserves its status as the city’s most famous and most visited attraction. Then again, some would say, several million Elvis fans can’t be wrong. Graceland includes the home where Elvis lived for 20 years, a memorabilia collection and car and aircraft museums, with guided tours past some of the King’s favorite home furnishings, like his fake waterfall, shag-carpeted ceiling and 15-ft. couch.