Built in 1833, the Magevney home is one of the city's oldest homes, and the only structure still standing from Memphis' pioneering days. It was bought in 1827 by Irish immigrant Eugene Magevney In the shadow of the grand St. Peter's Catholic Church next door, and full of authentic furnishings from the mid-1800s, this is a great place to see what life was like for the middle class during the 19th century. The home was the site of numerous firsts, including the first school in the city and the area's first Catholic mass.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: We love this house for its simplicity and importance in Memphis history.
Sally's expert tip: The home is open only the first Saturday of the month from 1 - 4 p.m. and is not handicap accessible.
Occupying a pink marble mansion that was originally the home Clarence Saunders, founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain, the Pink Palace is a mix of museum and historic site. The museum boasts a fascinating collection of Saunders' own art and artifacts, as well as exhibits with a local theme. Offerings include a Civil War display, an exhibit on Memphis history, a mechanized, miniature circus, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, multiple stores and a snack bar. There's even an exhibit of the old grocery store for kids to play in. The museum also features a science/natural history exhibit on the first level that's a bit random, old-school-ish in its exhibits, but completely charming.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: The Pink Palace is just a gem that examines Memphis history and so much more.
Sally's expert tip: Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds of the old estate — there are plenty of shady spots in which to settle in on the west side of the lawn.
Memphis is still the largest spot cotton market in the world - although you will no longer find trucks filled with the just-harvested fluffy white bolls in downtown Memphis any longer. (Remember Tom Cruise jumping onto just such a truck in the movie 'The Firm?') The Cotton Exchange Building was home base for cotton trading, the surrounding buildings and alleys dedicated to cotton warehousing and transportation. The museum, housed on the first floor of the Exchange, recounts the fascinating history of cotton in Memphis, with excellent exhibits showing how trading was conducted, how cotton is graded, and films detailing the crop's history throughout the South.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: The Cotton Museum examines the realities of this crop, which was harvested by slaves and sold by the powerful.
Sally's expert tip: The museum's gift shop not only carries cotton-themed products, but you'll also find locally produced foods and crafts for sale â" a must-hit.
Victorian Village was the city's original affluent neighborhood, and just a few of its original Victorian homes remain today. Near Main Street, this quiet residential area offers glimpses into lovely homes with exquisite French Second Empire and Italianate Victorian architecture. The village houses several historic residences including the Mageveny House, the Woodruff Fontaine House and the Mallory Neely Home. In November 2012, the Mallory-Neely home reopened for tours; many are hoping that this renovation will be the beginning of many throughout the area. Currently, that home and the Mageveny home are open for tours; a self-guided walking tour and seasonal events are also offered. The nearby Mollie Fontaine house is now a hip bar that's also worth a visit.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: Victorian Village is making a comeback and offers a rare glimpse into the city's most affluent founding families.
Sally's expert tip: Download a walking tour map on the Victorian Village website.
Graceland is the second most visited historic home in the United States, hosting more than 600,000 visitors who come to pay homage to the King. How long one spends at Graceland really depends on one's level of interest in Elvis â" you can make a quick tour of the mansion and be out in an hour, or spend the day at all the associated exhibits across from the estate. For those truly committed, special exhibits change frequently. The mansion itself is really just a large family home, forever stuck in the design decade of the '70s. Elvis has a very deep interest in interior design, so he played a major role in choosing d�cor for the home, especially the basement. The infamous Jungle Room, where Elvis and his band actually recorded an album, is over-the-top tropical, featuring leopard spots, tropically-themed d�cor and green shag carpet on the floor and ceiling. Guests are never allowed to roam upstairs to view the Presley family's private quarters. Elvis' gravesite in the Meditation Garden is part of the mansion tour.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: This may not be the city's most historic site, but in terms of the history of Elvis, it's a must.
Sally's expert tip: The Meditation Garden is open free of charge every morning from 7:30 â" 8:30 am.
Once the center of black-owned businesses and nightclubs, Beale became the home of the blues at the turn of the 20th century - a waypoint along the trail from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago. W.C. Handy lived - and performed - here, and anyone who was anyone on the blues scene has performed in the clubs here, from Blind Mississippi Morris to B.B. King to Robert Johnson. Today, the clubs and restaurants on Beale proper still move to the beat of the blues. The FedEx Forum - home to the NBA's Grizzlies - sits just off Beale, and a variety of hotels, museums and eateries are within a short walk from the famous street. Blues fans can pay homage to W.C. Handy at the home and museum at the east end of the street, or visit the Center for Southern Folklore to explore storytelling and folk art in the South. Also nearby is the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and Gibson Guitar Factory. In Handy Park, a small stage is home to lunchtime and weekend concerts including some unscheduled jam sessions. For the best blues music, try B.B. King's, Rum Boogie or Alfred's.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: Beale is historic both for its musical influence and its African American history.
Sally's expert tip: Families are welcome on Beale Street, and generally, any of the restaurants with live music allow children as long as they are accompanied by adults. But once evening falls, most clubs and some restaurants limit their clientele to the 21-and-up crowd â" this isn't the place for kids after 9 p.m.
Mud Island is reached by an aerial tram (you may remember it from the Tom Cruise movie, The Firm) and features a to-scale model of the Mississippi River that one can walk along, noting the changing conditions of the river. The Mississippi River Museum explores the 10,000-year history of the Mississippi, noting how it developed and what the areas around it have drawn from the river. The Belle of the Bluffs, the reconstructed front half of a 1870s steamboat, complete with cotton bales stacked on the lower deck and water lapping at the hull. The Memphis Blues exhibit highlights the music of the Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, early rock 'n roll, and Elvis. Mud Island's pay-one-price package includes entry to the museum, a round-trip monorail ride, and a guided tour of the five-block scale model of the Mississippi.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: The museum does a fantastic job of telling the story of the river and how it shaped the city's history.
Sally's expert tip: Kids (and adults) can feel free to splash in the giant fountain at the end of the river display - so think about a change of clothing.
Read more about Mud Island River Park & Mississippi River Museum →
Sun Studio is a tiny spot - but really, really big events in the history of music happened here. The most famous of all, of course, was Elvis Presley recording 'That's Alright, Mama' in 1954; within a year, he was a superstar and the Sun label was known throughout the world. Those whose names would become synonymous with rock, country and even the blues recorded at Sun including Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and B.B. King. The famous Sun facade is one of the most photographed sites in Memphis. A 1950s-style diner/gift shop offers up snacks a selection of music souvenirs.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: Sun is an important piece of Memphis music history, and not just for Elvis.
Sally's expert tip: Tours begin every hour on the half hour from 10:30 am. Children under four are not allowed on the tour at Sun Studio.
One of the most emotionally moving museums in America, the National Civil Rights Museum chronicles the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike â" right in the very building where King was standing when gunned down. Exhibits in the Lorraine Motel, where King and his entourage were staying, and the boarding house across the street â" where gunman James Earl Ray camped out â" tell the history of the civil rights movement, leading up to the assassination of King and the hunt for his killer. In addition, the pioneers of civil rights are profiled in a special exhibit dedicated to those the museum recognizes in its annual human rights awards.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: This Lorraine Motel portion of the museum is one of the country's most important historic sites of the 20th century.
Sally's expert tip: A good read before visiting the museum is Hellhound on His Trail by Memphian Hampton Sides. It tells the back story of James Earl Ray and offers a fantastic historical perspective of the assassination.
The lesser known of Memphis' major musical attractions, Stax is one of the richest experiences in the city for music lovers. Home to what became known as the Memphis Sound, Stax is where Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, Booker T. and the M.G.'s, the Staple Singers and many others recorded hundreds of Top 100 hits in the 1960s and early '70s. Known as Soulsville USA, the excellent museum traces the history of soul music from its roots in the blues and gospel, and offers a fantastic history of American pop culture form the 70's â" including Isaac Hayes' tripped-out Cadillac and a hall of gold records which astounds with its depth of talent and hits. Keep an eye out for multiple Grammy winner Kirk Whalum; the soulful sax man, a Memphis native, is now the director of the Stax Foundation and frequently on premises.
Recommended for Historic Sites because: Stax oozes history and gets our vote for the best historic experience in Memphis.
Sally's expert tip: One of our favorite things to do is at the display of Hayes' fancy Cadillac - lean over the rail a bit to hear the late, great soul man admonish 'Don't touch my ride!'