Don’t Miss the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis!
If you are planning a getaway to Memphis this spring, you won’t want to miss the annual Beale Street Music Festival that takes place in Tom Lee Park April 29 – May 1. This exciting event will give you the opportunity to see legendary musical artists live in concert while hearing new musicians that are bound to become favorites. This year boasts an impressive line-up including Jerry Lee Lewis, Cee Lo Green, Wilco, Cake and Ludacris. This festival has a long history of pleasing crowds each year, so you are sure to have a great time hearing some fabulous music!
During your stay in Memphis, you will want to visit one of the musical attractions in the area. The Gibson Guitar Factory Tour will provide you with a comprehensive view of how the legendary guitars are made. You will see the painstaking detail that goes into the production of each Gibson Guitar, and you will see why these beautiful instruments have been the favorites of greats like Elvis Presley and Eric Clapton. This fascinating tour will be interesting for the entire family, so be sure to include a tour at the Gibson Factory in your vacation plans.
If you are interested in learning about Memphis’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, you will love visiting the National Civil Rights Museum during your visit. This incredible museum sits in the very spot that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Inside the museum, you can see valuable artifacts related to Civil Rights events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. This incredible museum is sure to provide you with new insight into the Civil Rights Movement and the people who helped to improve American society by taking part in it.
Satiate Your Artistic Appetite in Memphis!
Vacationers come to Memphis each year to experience the variety of exciting activities and attractions in the area, but you will find that there are a number of great rotating art exhibits in Memphis as well. At the Brooks Museum of Art, you can see a fabulous exhibit celebrating food called “A Feast for the Eyes,” which will be on display through May. “A Feast for the Eyes” premiered February 1st and features images of food, people gathering for meals, still life drawings of produce and kitchen scenes. This unique exhibit has art works ranging from eighteenth century caricatures to modern paintings, so you are sure to see some interesting works of art celebrating food!
Come to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in Early February!
Memphis is most famous for the blues, and you can have the ultimate Memphis blues experience by attending the 2011 International Blues Challenge on February 1-5! Watch as blues musicians from all over the world do their best as they compete for cash and prizes. Since this event takes place in various venues on Beale Street, you are sure to have an exciting time as you attend various performances by the world’s most talented blues musicians including Clover Blue, Danny J. Buck, and The Breeze Kings. If you love the blues, this is an opportunity that you certainly won’t want to miss!
While you are in Memphis, you can learn about the history of the city with a visit to the Pink Palace Museum. This unique attraction chronicles the history of Memphis and features a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly, which is the first self-service grocery store. You can also learn about natural history at this museum with the Pink Palace’s dinosaur exhibits. There is nothing quite like the Pink Palace Museum, and with its various exhibits, people of all ages are sure to find something to enjoy!
Memphis is home to the notorious location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, and Memphis pays tribute to the Civil Rights leader with the National Civil Rights Museum. At the museum, which is located at the site where Dr. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel, you can learn about various events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement and about the many people who are responsible for various civil rights events, like Rosa Parks and Booker T. Washington. This museum is so detailed that it covers events from the years 1619 to the present day, so you are sure to find a lot of fascinating information!
Explore Memphis Museums and City History
Your favorite vacation destination in Memphis presents some of the most influential history in the 20 century through its wide selection of museums available to visit. Learn more about the Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., or discover exhibits of the pioneers of modern rock and soul. Its all available in Music City, the landmark of many of the top hits of the 1900′s.
Your first stop may be at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institute and featuring a 40 year history of top musical influences starting in the swinging 30′s. The musicians spoke life into their lyrics as they worked through tough economic, social, and racial barriers that constantly surrounded them. Also, you may spend hours exploring the vast selection of facts from artists in the “oldies” era.
For those interested in the Civil Rights Movement, you may want to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, the most prominent museum dedicated to the movement in the U.S. Walk to the Lorraine hotel within the museum, and see the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The four acre museum commemorates both King and the movement he led, honoring equality.
Take one last gander into the discovery of American heritage with a visit to the Stax Museum of American Music, home of famous artist artifacts from great musicians like Isaac Hayes and Booker T. The Stax helped boost their careers, entertaining thousands of music lovers through several generations.
You’ll love your summer excursion down to Memphis, home to both great music and a friendly, energetic atmosphere!
Museums in Memphis, TN are Diverse and Entertaining
For some educational fun, visit the variety of museums in Memphis, TN. These musuems offer everything from a children’s museum where children can play and learn through hands-on experience to exhibits at The Pink Palace where there are displays on the Piggly Wiggly and dinosaurs. There is something for everyone at the Memphis museums.
The Children’s Museum of Memphis is the perfect place to take your children while on vacation in Memphis. This museum features a hands-on experience that will allow you and your children to stay entertained while learning. There are fun exhibits like the City Friends exhibit which gives information on police officers and firefighters. There is painting, scultping and performing at the Smart Arts center at the museum. Play with your children or watch as they perform for you!
For an exploration of the musical history of Memphis, go to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. This museum was created by the Smithsonian Institute and is dedicated to musicians who overcame racial prejudice and socioeconomic challenges to create beautiful music that is still loved today. The exhibits at this museum are rich in the history of the growth of American music.
Another museum that has a great history of American music is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. This museum has over 2,000 artifacts for you to examine throughout the museum. The whole of this museum is dedicated to soul music and its journey in America. This is an interactive museum that music lovers of all ages can enjoy.
The National Civil Rights Museum is a landmark museum in the city of Memphis. This museum is was once the Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4th in 1968. It was renovated in his memory and now holds exhibits dedicated to the National Civil Rights movement. The people who shaped the Civil Rights Movement are represented there in various exhibits and artifacts.
The museum to visit if you really enjoy getting a wide variety of information in one place is the Pink Palace Museum. It’s name is a hint of the fun you’ll find inside. You can learn about the revolutionization of grocery stores, see dinosaur exhibits, and even see a miniature circus. This museum offers its visitors a little bit of everything.
Get a Full Taste of the Blues through Memphis’ Dining and Historic Sites
In addition to stunning sightseeing cruises and Elvis-themed sites, Memphis is known for its contributions to the heritage of the Southern United States. Much of this southern identity can be traced through the years of blues music performed in and around the city. On your next visit to Memphis, get a full taste of the Music City blues through the city’s variety of blues-themed attractions and historic sites.
Though first heard in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the 1930s or 1940s that blues music became a more recognized genre. Artists like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Elmore James perfected the genre with a series of top hits on into the 1950s. One only needs to walk down historic Beale Street in Memphis to be reminded of blues with street performers and night clubs. One such night club is B.B. King’s Blues Club. You can enjoy a breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this historic club, but the real fun takes place after the sun goes down. The club features live performances from local and national talents alike, including the occasional performance from B.B. King himself. Ribs, burgers, catfish, and other favorites in southern cuisine make up a full list of menu items.
Right across the street from B.B. Kings Blues Club is the Blues City Cafe, where the late Chef Bonnie Mack is remembered. The restaurant features mouth-watering ribs, steak, chicken, catfist, and more. The food alone is enough to draw a crowd, but the evening entertainment also keep guests coming back for more. The Band Box is a section within the restaurant where entertainers perform. The Free World, a local band, provides many of the sounds you can expect to hear during any given evening.
The Civil Rights Movement marked a time of African American opression and struggle, a major theme found within blues music. Perhaps no greater museum exists to help remember that struggle than the National Civil Rights Museum. With exhibits of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., among others, you’re sure to get an in depth look at some of the powerful moments in years past that have perhaps helped continue to spawn the complexities and emotions that make up blues music. The National Civil Rights Museum serves as a reminder and memorial to those very moments.
Holiday Weekend Ideas in Memphis, TN
It’s not too late to make reservations for a spectacular Fourth of July weekend spent exploring the unique city of Memphis. From dining on world-famous barbecue to visiting some of the area museums, you will find that Memphis offers a variety of attractions to keep you occupied. Check out the following recommendations for the weekend and start planning your holiday trip!
A dinner cruise on the evening of July 4th offers a great location from which to watch area fireworks shows. A dinner cruise is a romantic activity any time of the year, but cruising the Mississippi River on July 4th will make for an extra-special evening. The Memphis Riverboats Dinner Cruise provides an evening complete with dancing, live music, and a delicious Southern-style meal. You will also enjoy views of the Memphis skyline lit up, which is a truly beautiful sight.
With the special holiday weekend, the time is right to remember those who have given their lives to better America. The National Civil Rights Museum is dedicated to men and women who played important roles in America’s path toward civil rights. Located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, the museum honors his memory as well as pays tribute to other activists including Rosa Parks and Booker T. Washington. There are also exhibits on the March on Washington, the Little Rock 9, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A truly eye-opening experience for all ages, this museum is one of the most powerful attractions in Memphis.
One of the best things about America is its great food, and Memphis is full of excellent restaurants and diners, including a Hard Rock Cafe. With American music memorabilia and American favorites, the Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to eat and celebrate America at the same time. Memphis’ Hard Rock Cafe is dedicated to the music history of the area and includes artifacts from Elvis Presley, Stax Studios, and many other area artists and studios. In addition to the memorabilia, you can find your favorite American fare here, with everything from classic burgers to saucy barbecue. Your whole family is sure to have a meal to remember at this iconic American restaurant.
