The city is located in the southern part of the United States, on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is a large trade center, agriculture has become the main area of development, but there are also several large industrial plants in the city.
Many music lovers consider Memphis the birthplace of the blues, because one of its streets, called Beale Street, was sung in his song by W.K. Handy himself. One of the most notable places is the Lorraine Hotel. The fact is that M. L. King was killed in one of his rooms. Today in this room is a museum dedicated to the most famous activist for the rights of African Americans. City attractions include the Chukalissa Indian Village Museum, the Brooks Art Gallery, Confederate Park, the Museum of Natural History and Industry, the City of Memphis Museum, and the Victorian Quarter.
Memphis has many interesting galleries; fans of painting will be interested in visiting Jestine Gallery. It contains an interesting collection of paintings by African American artists, and the gallery often hosts photo exhibitions. It differs from ordinary museums in that visitors can buy literally all works of art and photographs they like. The entrance to this gallery is absolutely free.
Memphis is home to the world famous Graceland estate, which once belonged to Elvis Presley and his wife. The king of pop was buried on the grounds of his own estate, which is now visited by hundreds of his fans and tourists every day. The estate has an interesting thematic museum dedicated to the life and work of the musician; the main part of its exposition is made up of personal belongings of Elvis Presley.
Fans of exploring historical sights will be interested in the Cathedral of St. Mary, it was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This cathedral, built of light stone, is an exact replica of the 13th century Gothic church seen in Bavaria. A very symbolic monument is hidden within the walls of the cathedral; it depicts nurses who, during an epidemic of yellow fever, died at the end of the 19th century, having become infected from their patients.
A very interesting place for walking will be the historic Cooper Young district, once it was the most beautiful in the city. Many old houses have been preserved here, which were built in the 19th century. Popular shops and restaurants are located in chic Victorian mansions today.
Nature lovers in Memphis should definitely visit the Botanical Garden. It covers an area of about 96 acres and is divided into several thematic zones for the convenience of visitors. There is a Japanese Garden with incredibly beautiful bridges and artificial ponds in which goldfish swim. Of great interest is the Sensory Garden, where you can not only admire the plants, but also touch them. Travelers who visit Memphis in May and June will have the opportunity to stroll through the Rose Garden, which bloom at this time of year.
Overton Park is a great place for outdoor recreation. On its territory there are picnic areas, golf courses, tennis courts and playgrounds for children, and in the territory of this huge park there are several interesting museums.
Memphis was founded in 1819 and was named after the ancient capital of Egypt. A young and beautiful city, Memphis is not distinguished by an abundance of historical sights, but there will be enough interesting and iconic places in it for several eventful sightseeing days. Memphis is the birthmark of the “king of rock and roll” Elvis Presley, on one of the central streets there is a monument to the world famous musician.
Music lovers from all over the world come to the city to visit the legendary Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley recorded his albums. Continuing the story about the musical sights of the city, it is worth mentioning the Graceland mansion, where Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla lived. Today the musician’s house has been converted into a museum, which houses a collection of his personal belongings, beautiful stage costumes and records. There is also a small souvenir shop on the territory of the mansion, where you can buy interesting memorable gifts.
You should definitely visit the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, which invites visitors on an unusual, musical excursion. At the entrance to the museum, all visitors receive headphones and subsequently examine the exhibits with pleasant musical accompaniment. An equally interesting institution is the Pinc Place Museum, which was opened in the picturesque mansion of billionaire Clarence Saunders.
You should definitely visit the Botanic Gardens – Hardin Hall, which contains an amazing collection of exotic plants. During the excursion, visitors will be told a lot of fascinating facts about the representatives of the local fauna and will be shown rare specimens of plants and flowers brought from distant countries. The city zoo (Memphis Zoo) will be a great place to relax for the whole family.
