I came from Missouri to take a tour in June 2021. Kelly was our tour guide. She was amazing!! The…read moreLewis ranch is absolutely beautiful. I've been to Graceland several times and this is a completely different experience. Kelly made everything so personal and was so welcoming. The memorabilia displayed is one of a kind. By the end of the tour, between the stories and the home, I felt like I actually knew Jerry Lee ! Thank you Kelly and the Lewis Ranch for making my experience beyond what was expected.

Hands down an memorable, unique, and genuine experience. We were met by our tour guide who just…read morehappened to be Jerry Lee Lewis' best friend for over 50 years, Mr. Glenn Gosset. He was very happy to share intimate details about his friendship with Jerry and Jerry's life, the house, Jerry's belongings, and the history behind some of the household items. When we arrived, a room normally part of the tour was closed due to repairs so Glenn more than made up for it by showing us other areas not normally seen by outsiders. Glenn was a gracious and warm host. My girlfriend and I felt as though we were part of the family by the way he treated us and showed us around. Do yourself a favor and come check this place out.

John Elkington,envisioned attractions & amenities that would connect the street's rich past with…read morethe future. Elkington's idea for the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame offered this connection, as visitors from all over the world can read the names of the talented people who put Memphis music & Beale St on the map. There were brief biographies of the honorees, offering a glimpse into the lives of the musicians, composers, disc jockeys, promoters & music supporters whose names grace the sidewalks of Beale Street.

Beale Street wasn't always famous. It wasn't always such a tourist destination. And for a period,…read moreit wasn't anything much at all. That changed and these notes in the ground honor the people who helped make this area what it is - disc jockeys, promoters, musicians and music supporters. A few examples. Elvis Presley (1935-1977), the King of Rock and Roll. Robert Leroy Johnson (1911-1938). One of the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ranked as one #5 of the top 100 Guitarists of All Time. B.B. King (1925-2015). The "Beale Street Blues Boy" and Grammy Award winner. Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022). Wrote the "Great Balls of Fire" and continued performing late into life. Otis Redding (1941-1967). In 1962, Otis recorded "These Arms of Mine". Walk the walk. read the Notes and read up on these great folks. Nearly 200 Notes so far. [Review 19858 overall - 410 in Tennessee - 831 of 2023.]

After finding out Aretha Franklin's childhood home was somewhere we could visit, we decided to go!…read more The place needs a proper prayer and better sense of care than what it has become. The queen of soul was born here in Memphis, Tennessee. A woman that was raised here but became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only did she become a superstar winning Grammy after Grammy. She was a civil rights servant to so many individuals. She used her voice to and fame to keep the civil rights movement going. She performed free concerts and put gas in the vans for people to drive. This is where she came from, now she's watching from Heaven. This special lady, a preachers daughter. She is remembered always for her love and dedication to humankind. When you're in Memphis, Tennessee next time make sure and stop to see this.

Strolling up to 406 Lucy Avenue--a modest, boarded-up shotgun house in South Memphis--hits you with…read morea mix of reverence and heartbreak. This humble home is where the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, first drew breath on March25,1942 Despite being in a rough spot--windows boarded, weeds creeping, and parts collapsing--it still whispers history at every creak You can't go inside, but stepping onto the porch--or as close as allowed--fills you with awe. This is ground zero for gospel that would later shake the world. Aretha herself returned here in 2014 and recalled memories of her father preaching and her family gathering under a backyard tree with nostalgia and fondness The neighborhood, part of historic Soulsville, bears its own scars--decades of neglect and blight. But the house stands at the center of a hopeful revival. Local activists and preservation groups have fought zoning orders and demolition plans, and as recently as mid-2024, efforts to stabilize and restore the site gained traction--especially now that Anasa Troutman owns the property with the intent to honor its legacy in place

I love this house, since moving to the area I have been multiple times. The house is beautiful and…read moreyou can walk through the whole place. The man who takes care of the place is wonderful. If he is not busy he will give you a tour and he is very funny and personable. He knows a lot about the house and is very respectful of history. I have taken everyone who has come to visit me to tour this house. It is really a treasure.

It's easy to walk right past the marker on the corner of South Front Street and G.E. Patterson in…read moreMemphis without realizing you're standing where the city's very first telephone rang to life. Just a simple plaque, no fanfare. But lean in close, and the past starts talking. Back in 1877, before smartphones, before dial tones, before anyone could shout "Can you hear me now?", a railroad superintendent named Mike Burke picked up a brand-new contraption and made a call from his house to the train office. That call was the spark--Memphis's first step into the modern, buzzing world of communication. Now the marker stands quiet among trains, traffic, and city hum. It doesn't need neon lights or a museum around it. Its power is in its simplicity. It marks a moment when a voice crossed a wire and everything changed. Standing there, it's kind of wild to think: this little corner, now mostly walked past without a glance, is where Memphis first connected. Where someone spoke, someone answered, and the world got just a little smaller.

Cool little tidbit of history in Memphis. We take so much for history and now carry phones in our…read morepockets. This must have indeed been a big deal to Memphis, Tennessee back in the day. This landmark sign is located in front of the dog park.

When I lived east of the Mississippi River, one of my holiday traditions was to visit the…read moregravesites of American pioneers, trailblazers, and unsung heroes to be inspired by the history and stories that are occasionally lost to time. North Mississippi is home to two national heritage areas--the Mississippi Hills NHA & the Mississippi Delta NHA--and it's a great place to dive deeper into these stories even if the old guard would prefer to bury them. In fact, my alma mater has been extensively covered in national media for doing this exact type of research to performance project, Tales from the Crypt, in Columbus, Mississippi. I visited William Faulkner's gravesite for the July 4th holiday in 2020, where I reflected on the following line from Requiem for a Nun: "The past is never dead. It's not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity."

The grave of noted author William Faulkner is an often visited site in Oxford and fans will often…read moreleave a bottle of whiskey on the grave site. Most of the Faulkner/Falkner family is buried here and there is the variation on the name with some having the "u" and others not. In my Faulkner literature class at Ole Miss I was taught that William Faulkner added the "u" to the family name as he thought it seemed more distinguished. I used to live right next to St. Peter's Cemetery and I would jog and drive by William's grave daily and I would often stop by to see what new bottle of whiskey had been left and I would occasionally drink a toast to him and pour out a sip for him to share. This cemetery has many other interesting and old grave sites situated on rolling hills and makes for a pleasant place to walk through.

In 1980 the world's first bronze Elvis statue was unveiled on Beale Street, where the future King…read moreof Rock & Roll crafted his early musical style. It was taken down in 1994 & moved indoors to the downtown Memphis Tennessee Welcome Center. That left Elvis Presley Plaza with a big, empty spot. It was finally filled in 1997 with the arrival of a new, completely different bronze Elvis statue by sculptor Andrea Lugar. This Elvis, unlike the original, shows him as he would have looked on Beale Street circa 1955, wearing a stage outfit he might have bought at Lansky Bros. down the block.

"It's not how much you have that makes people look up to you, it's who you are." -Elvis…read more There is the Godfather of Soul, the Godmother of Rock & Roll, an artist simply named Prince but there's only "The King" aka the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis Presley (1935-1977). Widely considered the most influential and most famous musician of the 20th century. This statue on Beale Street depicts him with his knees bent and a guitar in hand. You can almost hear him singing one of his early tunes. The statue is surrounded by a low wall with signs prohibiting climbing over. So this is as close as you get. [Review 19855 overall - 407 in Tennessee - 828 of 2023.]

Very nice neighborhood park!…read more The Germantown East Neighborhood surrounds the park and is often used by the lovely neighbors for annual Easter Egg hunts, BBQ in the Park, etc. Bring your family for a picnic but please remember to leave the place better than you found it. Park is open during daylight only and it is patrolled regularly.

This historical site is just a small park. It is good for taking pictures and reading a little…read moreabout history. It is pet friendly and has a few parking spots. It is not large, therefore if you are looking for a place to walk or run, then don't come here.

Frank traveled from Memphis to "The Crossroads" in…read moreClarksdale, Mississippi. For fans of the Blues this is the legendary intersection of Highways 61 and 49 where blues musician Robert Johnson reputedly sold his soul to the Devil for musical mastery. Hell maybe even Keith Richards sold his soul as well but can't confirm. When you arrive it's marked by a monument of three HUGE blue guitars and sign. Forest Gump say's it is a major blues tourism site. OK, for some history or background the legend goes according to folklore, Robert Johnson, a young bluesman, met a stranger at this spot who took his guitar, tuned it, and returned it, enabling him to play with supernatural skill. Man the devil is real cause it worked ! Now after you sold your soul to Beelzebub stop over to ABE'S BBQ for some " Q "and soul food.. It was worth the journey to see Crossroad and grab a bite... Time to find an Exorcist for soul recovery cause FRANK sold his soul. I was kinda stoned so forgive me folks and it seemed like the thing to do at the moment...

The Crossroads is alleged to be where Robert Johnson met with the Devil and sold his soul in order…read moreto play the blues like he did. It is an interesting stop and would be rather unassuming without the sign. I love coming across these little tidbits of Americana and they definitely make my trips much more interesting and make my trip more delightful. If you are in the area, I would recommend coming here and seeing where an urban legend was born. Was Robert Johnson here and, if so, did he broker a deal with the Devil under a moon? I just found this a cool place to visit.

5* Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum Must-see visit…read moreThe history of rock 'n' roll and soul music two blocks from Beale Street

My son and I came here for his school field trip. This place is definitely worth checking out…read more Whether you live here or just visiting, stop by. They give you a "Walkman" to listen to each display. The entree price is reasonable. The staff is friendly and helpful. With that all being said, I don't think this is a good field trip for elementary school kids. They just aren't to the age to appreciate the history here and for a field trip with several kids that need to stand and listen to each display, they got bored real quick. I would have rather taken my son by ourself so we could enjoy it all better.