My friend visited me in Memphis, so I took her to Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid…read more The interior has a really cool wilderness theme and feels way more grand and unique than a typical Bass Pro store. We also went up to the observation deck at the top, which was such a fun experience. The view over the city and the Mississippi River was amazing. The only thing I wish is that we had gone at sunset. It would've been even more beautiful. A Must-Visit for friend visiting!

The Pyramid is the only time where I will want to go into a Bass Pro Shop while on a trip. It's so…read moreworth it. Even though it is a typical Bass Pro Shop, they have so much more to offer. They have a sky deck that has an amazing view of Memphis. It only cost 8 dollars for the ride up. Besides the pyramid being a store, it's also a hotel, restaurant, aquarium and more. We loved our time at the pyramid. It is a must while visiting Memphis.

My spouse and I came here while we were in Memphis. For anyone who is interested in American…read morehistory, especially in the south. This is one spot you will want to check out as this was a house that was used during the underground railroad that runway slaves would come as a safe spot to hide before running off to the northern states. If you are in the area I would highly recommend visited it. [Review #722] (20th Review of 2024)

0 stars as this place is NOT open, IS abandoned and IS scary…read more The surrounding neighborhood is a little uncomfortable for two white women walking through. Seems to be a low income area. Yelp said this museum was open but clearly has not been for quite some time:

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

Aretha Franklin's birthplace…read more If you're in Memphis, you should definitely stop by to see the childhood home of Aretha Franklin. You can't go inside but are able to get out and view the outside. It was a wonderful experience and honor to visit the Queen of Soul's birthplace. However, as a historic place the city should clean up the area and street.

The Piggly Wiggly marker in downtown Memphis may not seem like much at first glance--just a humble…read moreplaque outside a historic storefront--but for anyone who's ever set foot in a modern grocery store, it's where the whole thing began. This was the site of the world's first self-service grocery store, opened by Clarence Saunders in 1916. Before this place, shopping meant handing your list to a clerk who fetched your items. But Saunders changed everything, letting customers roam the aisles, pick their own goods, and--revolutionary idea--read price tags. Standing there, you can almost picture early shoppers wandering through the aisles for the first time, baskets in hand, probably confused and delighted. It's a quiet spot on a busy street, easy to miss if you're rushing--but if you pause, it feels like standing at the start of something massive. Like someone invented not just a store, but a way of life. It's not flashy, but it's sacred ground for retail nerds, Southern storytellers, and anyone who ever enjoyed impulse-buying snacks at checkout. The Piggly Wiggly marker is a tribute to bold ideas and grocery carts--who knew a grocery store could have so much history?

Strange to see this marker in front of our hotel. I didn't realize Piggly Wiggly is from Memphis &…read morethey were America's first true self-service grocery store . Clarence Saunders founded the supermarket in Memphis, in 1916. In grocery stores of that time, shoppers presented their orders to clerks who then gathered the goods from the store shelves. Saunders, a dynamic & innovative man, noticed that this method resulted in time and expense wasted, so he came up with an unheard-of solution that would revolutionize the entire grocery industry. He created a way for shoppers to serve themselves. Piggy Wiggly supermarkets are still in business today.

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.

A little piece of history to explore when visiting Beale Street…read more From the 1920s to the 1940s, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Memphis Minnie, B. B. King, Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon and other blues and jazz legends played on Beale Street and helped develop the style known as Memphis Blues. There are 170 brass notes on the Walk of Fame on Beale Street which cover all music genres.

Mud Island Park in Memphis--sounds like a place where you'd expect to get your shoes stuck and your…read moreclothes ruined. Spoiler alert: no mud, just a whole lot of chill vibes and some seriously underrated views of the Mississippi River. You hop on the monorail, which feels like a low-key retro space mission, and zoom over the water with the Memphis skyline photobombing every shot. The Riverwalk--this giant scale model of the Mississippi--is like geography class got cool and decided to throw a party. Walking the entire river in flip-flops while dodging kids launching into the splash fountains? Perfect way to get your steps in and your funny stories ready. Bonus points for the picnic spots, perfect for pretending you're fancy while eating a sandwich you packed in your car. If you're in Memphis and want a little riverfront chill without the mud, Mud Island's your spot. Five stars and zero mud in sight!

Quality/Quantity - Memphis TN's welcome center suggested we walk over here and check it out…read more I bet in its heyday, this place was a great retreat from the "city." This place can use some love, but we still had a good time and enjoyed it. The tram was also out of order, but it was fun walking across the bridge. Atmosphere - An island off of Memphis. Most of this island needs love. Looked abandoned for a long time. Open 7 days a week from 7am to 5pm. Easy walk from the welcome center. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - If the city, county, and state were to invest a little $$ here, I can see how this could easily be 5 stars.

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.]

Pretty spectacular at sunset going over the Mississippi River. It connects Arkansas into the heart…read moreof downtown Memphis. The Hernando de Soto Bridge is a tied-arch bridge carrying Interstate 40 & was completed in 1973.

The Hernando de Soto Bridge was my crossing point of the Mississippi River on I-40 and connects…read moreTennessee and Arkansas. It was kind of Meh to be honest from an architectural standpoint and was covered in litter from my crossing as I went East to West. In fact the kind of dystopian bleakness vibe descended upon me once I crossed over into Arkansas (to be fair I am sure the state has lovely areas, but the I-40 corridor unlike Tennessee was meh Aside from that it is not like you have alot of choice in bridge selection lol

The cultural impact on the U.S. and the music recording industry being celebrated by this museum is…read moreextremely important! But there isn't much to the museum itself. With a 90-minute tour recommended, it's a very quick loop that can be made in about 20 minutes, even if you savor the exhibits. The on-stage clothing from various celebrities like Al Green, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash is all very interesting! The impact of black musicians is evident, something that should be heralded. Ike Turner's first piano is a pleasant surprise! And perhaps the crown jewel of the exhibit comes at the very end, the Ardent Studios soundboard that mixed albums for every group ranging from Led Zeppelin to Juvenile, old school rock to modern hip hop. But the tour is far too short to warrant the $16 entry fee.

Loved it. Interesting museum to check out if you're into rock and roll and the blues. This is an…read moreamazing place to visit. It is right next to the FedEx building, just off Beale Street, so very central. Excellent collection of old memorabilia from musical instruments, clothes,posters and the most amazing jukeboxes. There is a short video when you first arrive to introduce you to what you will see. I enjoyed the costumes of Reverend Al Green and Carla Thomas and others . Definitely worth checking out.A++++

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.