Downtown, Memphis

To the east of Riverside Drive is Beale Street. Little remains of its charm in the days when the blues resounded from along the street. Almost all the old buildings have been pulled down and replaced by replicas, and the music heard in the present-day establishments is often a mere shadow of the real thing. Even so, it is worth paying a visit to W.C. Handy's house (325 Beale St.), Handy Park and especially A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store at No. 163, founded in 1876 with the motto "If you can't find it a Schwab's you don't need it!"

A short distance south of Beale Street, at 406 Mulberry Street, is the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr was shot in 1968. The building is now occupied by the National Civil Rights Museum, which traces the history of civil rights movements in the United States. Its centerpiece is the hotel room with the balcony on which Martin Luther King was killed.Exhibits at the museum include artifacts from the Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka case and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

On Mud Island (also known as Festival Island), in the Mississippi, is a 3/4 mi. long model of the course of the river from Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf of Mexico. The model is part of the Mississippi River Museum, the central feature of this family park on the island where the B-17 Bomber "Memphis Belle" can also be viewed.

One of the most recent additions to the skyline of Memphis is the Great American Pyramid at 1 Auction Avenue, on the banks of the river. The steel and glass facade of this 32-storey structure, modeled on the Pyramid of Cheops, encloses an auditorium with seating for 22,000 spectators.The Pyramid is a symbol relating Memphis to its namesake, the capital of ancient Egypt. The entrance to the Pyramid is guarded by a 20-foot tall statue of Pharaoh Ramses the Great.

Magevney House in Memphis is a small, white clapboard cottage that was built in the 1830's and was home to Irish immigrant, Eugene Magevney. It is furnished as it might have been in 1850 and features several personal possessions of the Magevney family. It is one of the oldest buildings in Memphis.

The Center for Southern Folklore in Memphis features films, exhibits, books, folk art and photography exhibits that provide a sense of regional music. Performances include blues, jazz, soul, country, folk and gospel music.

The Danny Thomas Alsac Pavilion is located on the grounds of St Jude Children's Research Hospital. The pavilion is dedicated to singer and entertainer Danny Thomas who is the founder of the hospital.

The Mallory-Neely House in Memphis is a three-story Italianate mansion that was built in 1852. The 25-room home contains stenciled and hand-painted ceilings, parquet flooring, and stained-glass windows purchased at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

(CLOSED)Ride the Ducks lets visitors tour Memphis by land and water in a replica WWII amphibious vehicle. The Captains include a U.S. Coast Guard sailor and all are experts on Memphis history - they provide a narrated tour.

The Woodruff-Fontaine House in Memphis is a French Victorian mansion that was built in the 1870's. The home has been restored and is furnished with antiques and 19th C textiles.

The Fire Museum of Memphis is housed in the 1910 Fire Engine House No 1. The museum has interactive exhibits and historic firefighting equipment on display.

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame features exhibits of local music legends including instruments, personal memorabilia, and rare recordings.