Attractions
A Tour of Possibililies
Share the historical and cultural gems that African Americans have contributed to Memphis, including a site that documents the history of the Underground Railroad, the location of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous last speech, the museum of the Civil Rights Movement, and one of a few museums in the world dedicated to Soul Music. Choose from a two-and-a-half-hour Overview Tour, A Tour of Tasteabilities that feeds your mind, body and soul, or a private Grand Tour customized for you and up to 10 guests.
119 N Riverside Dr • 901-326-3736
Agricenter International
The world's largest urban agricultural research, education, and conservation facility annually attracts 1.3 million visitors who enjoy concerts, expos, trade shows, rodeos, horse shows, a fair, and a circus! In summer, shop the oldest-running seasonal farmers market in the state. In autumn, thread through the Mid-South Corn Maze. In spring, pick your own strawberries.
7777 Walnut Grove Rd. • 901-575-7777
AutoZone Park
Home of the Memphis Redbirds baseball team, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, this state-of-the-art stadium offers behind-the-scenes tours that include the press box, clubhouse, and training facilities. Voted Top Minor League Ballpark in 2009 by Baseball America.
B.B. King and Union • 901-721-6000
Backbeat Tours
Every tour is a one-of-a-kind experience and an entertainment extravaganza complete with music, comedy, and laughter. Daily sightseeing tours include the live-music Memphis Mojo Tour, Graceland Tour, and Memphis Discovery Tour — as well as the Historic Memphis Walking Tour and evening Ghost Tour.
143 Beale • 901-527-9415 • tickets: 877-230-0331 /p>
Bass Pro Shops
This immersive retail experience and grand hotel offers something for everyone. Pyramid guests can explore a cypress swamp, 10 aquariums, alligator habitat, restaurants, 13 lanes of underwater-themed bowling, the tallest freestanding glass elevator, and observation decks.
1 Bass Pro Shops Drive
800-227-7776
Beale Street Entertainment District
Home of the Blues at the crossroads of Rock ‘n’ Roll, playing the blues for more than a century. Four historic blocks of nightclubs, specialty shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues host millions of visitors annually. Live music nightly, special events, and annual festivals. The No. 1 tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee!
901-529-0999 • bealestreetmerchants.com • 901-526-0117 • bealestreet.com
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art
A world-class collection of Asian and rare Judaic arts. Permanent exhibit includes creations for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911): intricately carved jade sculptures, crafted enamelware, rare objects carved in ivory, and impressive ceremonial and historical pieces. Also includes fossils, minerals, contemporary European art glass, and Russian lacquer boxes.
119 S. Main • 901-523-ARTS
Big River Crossing
The longest public pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi river is also the country's longest active rail/bicycle/pedestrian bridge. At 1 mile long, it serves as a connection between Downtown Memphis and West Memphis, AR and offers dramatic views of the ever-changing river landscape.
Harahan Bridge at Channel 3 Drive • bigrivercrossing.com
Blues City Tours
Explore the adventures in Memphis with the premier tour-bus company of the Midsouth. Graceland, Mississippi riverboats, shopping, Memphis music, casinos, museums — there's a place for everyone and a reliable way to get there. Customized group tours and hop-on, hop-off tours available.
901-522-9229 • bluescitytours.com
Blues Hall of Fame
Inside the Blues Foundation’s headquarters, it educates and entertains with ten individualized galleries, interactive touchscreen displays, three master databases, music, videos, stories, and one-of-a-kind iconic memorabilia highlighting more than 400 inductees.
421 S. Main • 901-527-2583
Broad Avenue Arts District
Located in the historic commercial area of the Binghampton community of Memphis, it is home to more than 70 unique local businesses, including boutique shops, art galleries, artist studios, services, restaurants and bars. The district also hosts several events through the year including First Fridays, Art Walks, and Sidewalk Sales.
Broad Avenue/Sam Cooper Boulevard
Brooks Museum of Art
The oldest and only major collection of world art in Tennessee and the region has a permanent collection of more than 9,000 works including ancient Greek and Roman works, Renaissance masterpieces, English portraiture, American painting and decorative art, a survey of African art, and traveling exhibitions. Full schedule of films, lectures, family activities, and special events.
1934 Poplar • 901-544-6200
Carriage Tours
Take a fun, charming, horse-drawn carriage tour through Downtown, with knowledgeable and courteous drivers who point out historic sites, share city stories, and answer questions. Pickup available at many Downtown hotels or on Beale — or just walk up to any carriage you see!
Center for Southern Folklore
Enjoy exhibits, films, cultural tours, and music shows in Downtown Memphis. The Folklore Store offers photos, CDs, DVDs, folk art, and delicious Southern delicacies. The center's signature event is the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival, held Saturday and Sunday on Labor Day weekend.
119 & 123 S. Main • 901-525-3655
Children’s Museum of Memphis
Children ages 1 to 12 play to learn with hands-on exhibits, programs, props, and learning explorations including adventures from the FedEx airplane cockpit and disco room to the H2Oh! Splash park and Outdoor PlaySpace. Now home of the historic Memphis Grand Carousel.
2525 Central • 901-458-2678
Chucalissa C.H. Nash Museum
This prehistoric American Indian archaeological site dates back to the 15th century. The site features a Mississippian mound complex, nature trail and arboretum, hands-on archaeology lab, and exhibits that explore the history and life-ways of Native Americans and traditional cultures of the historic and prehistoric Southeastern United States.
1987 Indian Village Drive • 901-785-3160
Cooper-Young Historic District
Historically hip Midtown neighborhood features antiques and specialty shops, vintage clothing stores, more than 20 award-winning restaurants and bars, and weekly special events. Every September, the Cooper-Young Festival hosts hundreds of artisans, stage performances, and refreshment stands.
901-276-7222
Cotton Museum
Cotton traders once stood at the center of the global cotton economy, and only the elite members of the Exchange were allowed to enter. Today, witness the dynamic story of cotton, the crop that created empires, transformed American culture, and changed the history of a nation and the world.
Memphis Cotton Exchange • 65 Union • 901-531-7826
Crosstown Arts
Inside the award-winning vertical urban village Crosstown Concourse, an iconic red staircase leads to Crosstown Arts. This contemporary arts center includes an artist residency program, a shared art-making digital lab as well as a gallery and large-scale exhibition spaces. Four music venues feature a diverse selection of live music, lectures, programs, films, and plays. There is also a café and an Art Bar.
1350 Crosstown, Ste 280 • 901-507-8030
Davies Manor Plantation Museum
Dogtrot-style log home, circa 1830, with period furnishings in a country setting that includes trails and several outbuildings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Trail. Open April through mid December. Off-season by appointment only.
9336 Davies Plantation • 901-386-0715
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
This former private estate is home to a renowned collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, 18th-century porcelain, fine and decorative arts, 17 acres of beautiful gardens, and a full schedule of art and horticulture programs. The museum organizes and presents 8–10 special exhibitions annually.
4339 Park • 901-761-5250
Elmwood Cemetery
Historic 1852 cemetery with a unique collection of Victorian funerary art. Many influential Memphians are buried in the area’s first garden-movement cemetery. Eighty acres of rolling hills, stately trees, statuary, and beautiful gardens surround the quaint Victorian Gothic office. Audio tours and walking maps.
824 S. Dudley • 901-774-3212
Fire Museum of Memphis
A hot time for all ages! Slide down a firehouse pole, play in real fire trucks, and experience a virtual house fire. Essential lifesaving information, antique trucks, firefighting history, and one of the largest U.S. collections of firefighting toys. A life-size talking horse tells how firefighting began. Outside, a poignant, 27-foot-tall memorial honors fallen Memphis firefighters.
118 Adams • 901-636-5650
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Graceland
Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Elvis’s famous home, a National Historic Landmark, showcases exciting videos, authentic clothing, personal mementos, his gold and platinum awards, and more. Experience Elvis Presley's Memphis, the 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art entertainment and museum complex.
3717 Elvis Presley • 901-332-3322 • 800-238-2000
Grizzlies NBA Basketball
This Western Conference team began in 1995 as the Vancouver Grizzlies, migrated to Memphis in 2001, and now roars through regular season home games October–April in the city's cutting-edge sports and entertainment facility.
Beale and Third at FedExForum • 901-888-HOOP
Historical Haunts Tours
Who doesn't love a good ghost story? Murders, disasters, hauntings, mysterious legends — Memphis has it all. Step into the supernatural world with the Walking Ghost Tour, Haunted Pub Crawl, or exclusive ghost tours including paranormal investigations and overnights at historic locations.
546 S. Main • 901-497-9486
Levitt Shell at Overton Park
This open-air theater opened in 1936, giving Memphis a venue for entertaining under the spacious skies. Today, the renovated Shell presents diverse, family-friendly concerts that feature high-caliber musicians from around the world. Grab a blanket, friends, and family, and enjoy music under the stars!
1930 Poplar in Overton Park • 901-272-2722
Lichterman Nature Center
A nature center for the 21st century located in the middle of metropolitan Memphis. Explore 65 acres of forest, lake, and meadow, and learn about preservation. Includes the Backyard Wildlife Center, three miles of trails, boardwalks, picnic facilities, and environmental and interactive multimedia exhibits.
5992 Quince • 901-767-7322
Magevney House
Built in the 1830s by Irish immigrant Eugene Magevney — the first permanent schoolteacher to reside in Memphis — this small clapboard cottage is furnished as a typical 1850 middle-class home and features several personal possessions of the Magevney family. It is one of Memphis's oldest remaining residences.
198 Adams • 901-523-1484
Mallory-Neely House
One of Memphis's oldest and most important historic homes built in 1852 and renovated in the 1890s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 25-room Italianate mansion contains stenciled and hand-painted ceilings, parquet flooring, and stained-glass windows purchased at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The only historic property in Memphis to retain most of its original furnishings.
652 Adams • 901-523-1484
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Bordering the Mighty Mississippi, two-thirds of this 13,467-acre park is bottomland hardwood forest. The park also contains two lakes, miles of hiking trails, a nature center, boat ramp, 200 species of birds, and other wildlife. Cabins, camping, biking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, and picnic facilities available.
910 Riddick, Millington, TN • 901-876-5215
Memphis 901 FC
Founded in 2018, this American professional soccer team made its debut in the United Soccer League Championship in 2019. The name refers to the region’s area code with a logo that pays homage to Memphis’ historic Beale Street. Memphis 901 FC will play a 34-match regular-season schedule in the Eastern Conference running Mar–Oct.
200 Union at AutoZone Park • 901-721-6000
Memphis Botanic Garden
Ninety-six acres of specialty gardens in the heart of Memphis. Features My Big Backyard, Herb Garden, Sensory Garden, Asian and Nature Photography gardens, monthly art exhibits, special events, seasonal plant sales, farmers market (April–October), wine tastings, summer camps, educational programs, and restaurant.
750 Cherry • 901-636-4100
Memphis Escape Rooms
Offers a thrilling live adventure game where players step into a world of mystery and excitement. They put their wits to the test in an unforgettable, heart-pounding hour of fun. Featured rooms include The Grizzlies Room and Lost Pyramid Room.
530 S Main • 901-646-1376
Memphis International Raceway
The Midsouth's premier racing destination is a state-of-the-art motorsports attraction that includes a high-performance road course, 1/4-mile historic drag strip, and 3/4-mile paved tri-oval. Nonstop action includes national and weekly fan favorites, February–November.
5500 Victory Lane, Millington, TN • 901-969-7223
Memphis Music Hall of Fame
Meet the greatest musicians of all time, who shaped modern music and changed the world forever. Fun, fascinating, and educational exhibit includes never-before-seen memorabilia, rare video performances, interviews, and interactive exhibits. Special combo pricing with the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.
126 Beale • 901-205-2532
Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum
Meet the greatest musicians of all time, who shaped modern music and changed the world forever. Fun, fascinating, and educational exhibit includes never-before-seen memorabilia, rare video performances, interviews, and interactive exhibits. Special combo pricing with the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.
126 Beale • 901-205-2532
Memphis River Parks
Located in Central Station, the museum is dedicated to documenting the local history of the Railroad and the Memphis Trolleys. Three new exhibits are being planned for the reopening in October. These include timeline murals, a Fairmont M9 motor car to tell the story of Lonnie Smith, a longtime signal maintainer, and a 1900 riverfront model which recreates the beginning of Casey Jones’s trip to the promised land. This custom-built display provides a vision of downtown Memphis in 1900.
545 S Main St, Ste 121 • 901-590-3099 • mrtm.org • @memphisrails
Memphis Riverboats
A wide variety of sightseeing cruises with concessions and commentary on the sights and history of the Mississippi River. Evening music and dinner cruises, holiday cruises, and private charters. Wheelchair access on most trips. Closed November–February except by appointment.
Beale Street Landing • 251 Riverside • 901-527-BOAT
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
This Smithsonian Institution exhibition tells the story of music pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the world. A comprehensive Memphis music experience, from the rural music of the 1930s through Memphis’s musical heyday in the ’70s to its global musical influence today. Audio-guided tour and gift shop.
191 Beale • 901-205-2533
Memphis Trolleys
Restored trolleys run from the South Main Historic Arts District to the Pinch District, and along the picturesque riverfront. Passengers may board at any of 35 handicapped-accessible stations. Enjoy the sights of Downtown as you travel to your next trolley-served attraction.
901-274-6282
Memphis Zoo
Provides naturalistic homes to more than 3,500 animals representing 500 species. Get nose to nose with polar bears and sea lions in the Northwest Passage, take a breathtaking trip to China and visit giant pandas, and experience Yellowstone Park with grizzly bears and gray wolves in Teton Trek. The new Zambezi River Hippo Camp includes Nile crocs, okapi, patas monkeys, and fish.
2000 Prentiss Place in Overton Park • 901-333-6500
Metal Museum
The National Ornamental Metal Museum is the only institution in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the advancement of the art and craft of fine metalwork. Changing exhibitions range from jewelry and hollowware in precious metals to architectural wrought iron. Metalworking demonstrations and classes held in the on-site smithy.
374 Metal Museum Drive • 901-774-6380
Mississippi River
Ol' Man River is Memphis’s signature welcome mat. Parks along the riverfront make The Big Muddy the perfect backdrop for festivals, concerts, and events, as well as picnics, kite flying, strolling, and family outings. Beale Street Landing, riverboat rides, and the Riverwalk provide unparalleled views of Memphis’s crown jewel.
Riverside Drive • memphisriverfront.com
Mississippi River Museum
Showcases 10,000 years of Lower Mississippi River history and features more than 5,000 artifacts, traveling exhibits, and special events, as well as a full-scale reproduction of the front third of an 1870 steamboat, re-creation of a Civil War river battle, full-scale reproduction of a Union gunboat, galleries highlighting Delta music, and 4,000-gallon aquarium. Recently updated to make it more modern and engaging with more streamlined, modern signage and a new gallery featuring rotating exhibits on modern Memphis. Open May–October.
125 N. Front in Mud Island River Park • 901-576-7241
Mud Island River Park
America’s premier Mississippi River park and museum is a unique historical, cultural, and educational facility dedicated to telling the Mighty Mississippi’s story. Walk the half-mile scale model of the Lower Mississippi. Visit the Mississippi River Museum. Jog, bike, or picnic in green spaces or play in the Gulf of Mexico model. The 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater features concerts. Open April–October.
125 N. Front • 901-576-7241
National Civil Rights Museum
Located at the historic Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, is the only museum of its kind in the country that gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from 1619 to the present — bringing the movement to life, placing the events in a historical perspective, and providing a focus of national remembrance.
450 Mulberry • 901-521-9699
Old Dominick Distillery
Immerse yourself in the Memphis spirit. Old Dominick's 100-year-old story is ready to be shared through tours and tastings. See the state-of-the-art distillery, learn recipes from experts, and experience what makes Old Dominick so special.
305 S. Front St. • 901-260-1250
The Orpheum Theatre
The "South's Finest Theatre" was built in 1890 as the Grand Opera House. The current renovated, expanded Orpheum was built in 1928 but has kept its ornate, intricate detailing. The Orpheum and the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education, next door, present touring Broadway productions, concerts, comedians, an annual summer movie series, educational programming, and special events.
Main at Beale • 901-525-7800 • tickets: 901-525-3000
Overton Park
This 342-acre public park, managed by the Overton Park Conservancy, was founded in 1901. Amenities include the Old Forest State Natural Area, a nine-hole golf course, playgrounds, wooded trails, picnic pavilions, Rainbow Lake, formal gardens, and Veterans Plaza. The park is also home to the Levitt Shell, Memphis Zoo, and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
2080 Poplar • 901-214-5450
Overton Square Arts & Entertainment District
Overton Square — the heart of Midtown — is packed with unique shopping, live music, one-of-a-kind restaurants, performance theaters, a cinema house, and a wide selection of exercise studios, all within walking distance.
Midtown: Madison Ave. from Cooper to Florence • 901-866-1137
The Peabody
This Downtown landmark first opened in 1869. Local developer Jack Belz restored the legendary hotel to its original splendor, kicking off Downtown’s revitalization in 1981. The South’s Grand Hotel includes the famous march of the Peabody Ducks, rooftop Duck Palace, gift shops, and award-winning restaurants.
149 Union • 901-529-4000
The Pinch District
Memphis’s first neighborhood, settled by Irish immigrants in the mid 1800s. Given its name from the gaunt appearance of the immigrants who resided there after fleeing the great potato famine in Ireland, The Pinch includes live music, restaurants, specialty stores, Bass Pro Shops, and diverse residential communities.
North Main and Jackson, east of The Pyramid
Pink Palace Museum
Everything you see and do in Memphis makes more sense when you begin here. The marble Pink Palace Mansion, built in 1922 by Piggly Wiggly grocery magnate Clarence Saunders, houses the four stories tall CTI 3D Giant Theater, the 145-seat theater-in-the-round Sharpe Planetarium, and exhibits that include Memphis history, geology, America’s first self-service grocery store, Clyde Parke Miniature Circus, and visiting displays.
3050 Central • 901-636-2362
Redbirds Baseball
This baseball team is the Triple-A affiliate of the 11-time world champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Redbirds play Apr.–Sep. in the heart of Downtown at AutoZone Park, named Top Minor League Ballpark in 2009 by Baseball America magazine.
200 Union at AutoZone Park • 901-721-6000
Shelby Farms Park
Explore walking and biking trails, horse stables, award-winning playground, 20+ fishing lakes, off-leash dog park, disc golf course, paintball, laser tag, treetop adventure course, and a buffalo herd. Heart of the Park features a world-class visitor and event centers, farm-to-table restaurant, boat and bike rentals, picnic shelters, and a wetland walk at the edge of a 70-acre lake.
6903 Great View Dr N • 901-222-7275
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
Walk through history at this Underground Railroad way station. Descend stairs into the dark, damp cellar, and peer through trapdoors and hidden passages where fugitive slaves were harbored. Startling displays of ads, auctions, and artifacts help tell the story of the slave era at this 1856 antebellum home hideaway.
826 N. Second • 901-527-3427
South Main Historic Arts District
Creative, quirky, energetic, and entrepreneurial, it is anchored by The Orpheum Theatre and Central Station. Enjoy the galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Trolley Night is on the last Friday of every month, when it comes alive with art and music, and the trolleys are free. Outdoor farmers market every Saturday morning, April–October.
Southland Casino Racing
Just a short drive from downtown, Southland Casino Racing offers more than 80,000 square feet of gaming action with 2,000 slots, in addition to live table games including blackjack, craps, and roulette, a high limit room, and stadium gaming. It also hosts one of the top greyhound racing programs in the country — boasting the highest purse in the North American market. Dining options include the Bourbon Street Steakhouse Grill.
I-40 Exit 279A & I-55 Exit 5, West Memphis, AR • 870-735-3670
St. Jude's Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion
Reflects the cultural heritage of its benefactors — the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities. Exhibits detail the hospital's pioneering research and treatment of childhood cancer, as well as the entertainment career and humanitarian work of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie, are entombed in the adjoining memorial garden.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital • 332 N. Lauderdale • 901-595-4414 stjude.org
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
State-of-the-art museum at the original site of Stax Records in the heart of Soulsville USA. Memorabilia, videos, interactive exhibits, stage costumes, recreated recording studio, circa 1906 country church, all telling the unique story of Stax and American soul music, from its humble gospel roots to launching the careers of icons such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Booker T. & the MGS, and many others.
926 E. McLemore • 901-261-6338
Sun Studio
Guided tours of the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Hear session outtakes, touch Elvis’s first microphone, see memorabilia, and relive the history of the musical careers launched here: Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and other legends. America’s only recording studio designated a National Historic Landmark.
706 Union • 901-521-0664
Tunica, MS
Just 30 miles south of Memphis, the South’s Casino Capital shimmers with Vegas-style gaming, including world-class casinos, luxurious hotel rooms, fine-dining restaurants and buffets, headline entertainers, golf and tennis, and museums.
U.S. Highway 61 • 888-4TUNICA
Victorian Village Historic District
This Downtown Memphis neighborhood is known for its grand 19th century Victorian homes and mansions, which sit among stately trees and shaded lawns. Visit the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum at 680 Adams. Drive by private homes and churches on Adams, Jefferson, and Washington between Orleans and Neely streets and relive elegant times of old.
901-523-0235 • victorianvillageinc.org
W.C. Handy Memphis Home & Museum
Recapture the flavor of old Beale Street at the turn-of-the-century home of the Father of the Blues, William Christopher “W.C.” Handy. A small, wood-frame house displays artifacts and memorabilia that give insight into this musical genius’s life. A narrated tour traces Handy's Southern roots to the world music stage.
352 Beale • 901-527-3427
W.C. Handy Performing Arts Park
This outdoor amphitheater located in the heart of Beale Street was dedicated to the Father of the Blues, William Christopher “W.C.” Handy, in 1931. The park plays host to live music daily, festivals, and catered events.
200 Beale • 901-526-0115
Withers Collection Museum & Gallery
The works of legendary photographer Ernest C. Withers in the former icon's photography studio document, preserve, and share decades of African-American history in the South, including the American civil rights movement, Memphis music, Negro baseball, Beale Street, and politics.
333 Beale • 901-523-2344
Woodruff-Fontaine House
This restored 1870s French Victorian mansion in the Victorian Village Historic District showcases 18 rooms exhibiting 19th- and early 20th-century furniture, textiles, and decorative arts. Gingerbread Playhouse out back and museum shop in the mansion.
680 Adams • 901-526-1469
Memphis Downtowner Magazine • Memphis, TN
