The interpretive center is exceptional, providing detailed historical information along the civil…read morerights trail.rț

This amazing piece of property is steps away from the Sumner courthouse, and we all know what it's…read moreknown for. When I think about '55-- My paternal great-grandfather worked here then, living his humble grocer's life, a Chinese liaison bridging Black and White tensions, lending to his Black customers until they could get paid from the cotton work. It was a rotten, hard filled with racism. And now it's the interpretive center. The space was rather large, clean, sparse. The photos and his grocery sign and all of the sad memory that is commemorated here-- set and opened with the intention of starting dialogue of racial reconciliation. It was one of the most sobering moments of my life. The kind young man working here told me that my jin was very good to him and his family as he grew up, and he told me some stories of being a kid and buying snacks here. He let me walk every inch of the place, trying to imagine my relatives living in the rear of their store. I aim to head back for a visit, whenever it is "safe" to.

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.

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.

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.

A quiet little neighborhood in the heart of Germantown holds a treasure from the past. If you're…read moreinto history or the civil war and in the Germantown area at least stop and look. There is not a lot to see but the diagrams on the signs will carry your imagination into the past. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this place but definitely something I would visit if lived in the area.

On the corner of Park Street and West Street, sits a sign commemorating a part of the Mississippi…read moreBlues Trail. This sign remembers area musicians who helped solidify Memphis as an important part of the blues scene in the 1920's. I love discovering these markers that bring the past to life. The blues is a strictly American creation and this little pocket of America brought this music to what would not only be a major city in blues, but a city that would help create rock and roll.

The restrooms on-site are outhouses (toilet seat is there, on top of a deep hole to catch your…read morewaste). This is a very beautiful historical park if you enjoy nature and/or like reading about its history. If you're not a history enthusiast or don't remember much about the Louisiana Purchase from your 8th grade history class...then you might find this state park to be boring. This park offers informational spots/posts along the way. When I visited, it was mostly dry so I didn't see any aquatic animals, no snakes, however there were plenty of birds in the trees singing. This park is located a couple minutes from a major highway. It offers a few parking spaces and there is no fee to enter/park.

This was a stop along a road trip to Dallas. The stop did add about an hour and a half to our…read morejourney. It's about 30 minutes off the highway. When we arrived there was only one other car in the parking area. This was slightly concerning because we appear to be in the middle of nowhere and you just never know the intent of others. As such, I do NOT suggest visiting this place solo. This landmark is a well maintained boardwalk above a swamp. The boardwalk leads you to the focal point of the swamp which is a monument that indicates the initial point from which all surveys of property acquired through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 originated. If you are like me, it's been a long time since I had a history lesson. With that being said, there are several educational exhibits on the boardwalk to allow you to brush up on the Louisiana purchase. I enjoyed walking the boardwalk. It is a short distance to get to the end. I suggest taking your time to be still and listen to the sounds of the swamp. We saw a few birds and frogs along the way The signage indicates that alligators have been spotted in the swamp, but we did not see any during our visit. If you have an opportunity to visit, go for it!

Springhill Cemetery (Hernando, MS) was established in 1836. It was the public burial ground for…read moreresidents of the town, free and slave, until churches and other groups established separate cemeteries. There are probably 500-1000 burials on the site even though there are only about 100 headstones present because graves were usually marked wood boards or posts, plantings, or earthen mounds decorated with the deceased's cup, bowl, bottle, or other personal items. It also encases victims of the 1878 yellow fever epidemic that nearly destroyed the town of Hernando, so much that it lost its city charter. After this, the cemetery declined. For years, cattle roamed the cemetery and broke off many of the tombstones. It was covered over by kudzu, briars, and honeysuckle before Mayor Ferguson and others undertook its restoration. Here's a link that explains some of the tombstones and their history! http://m.desototimes.com/news/a-walk-among-the-dead/article_5b1816de-dbd1-11e8-8d84-eb4af7cf397f.html

The monument was not here??? We followed the map and there…read morewas the water commission building there, but no monument!

Well, I was surprised to still be able to find a confederate monument still standing, especially in…read morethese days and times, but here it is. I have not heard about many calls to have this one taken down either. It is on the Old Capitol campus, to the left of the building, in front of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. It is in a little plaza area with some nice landscaping and benches to sit on. The monument, which was built in 1891, features a soldier standing on top of an obelisk and some statute, I believe to be of Ex-Confederate President Jefferson Davis, behind a cage and glass inside the bottom of the obelisk. You will also see a few marble plaques with crossed muskets, Canon, and shield, the letters CSA (Confederate States of America) on it as well. The monument was placed on National Register of Historic Places in 1969. It is interesting to note that the bottom use to be open, but was closed with the cage and glass to prevent vandals from striking. The statue is well traveled, After it began deteriorating from exposure to the elements, it was moved inside the Old Capitol, where it remained until its removal following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2009, the statue was placed back in its original location, where it currently sits, as part of the Old Capitol renovation." The plaza area that the monument is in is relatively nice and would be a very good spot to relax. My take on this attraction does not reflect any personal or political opinions on the monument and is based purely on the monument itself. There is a weathered information placard in front of the monument that gives a brief synopsis of its history. It is still legible though and provide good info. There is free street parking within a reasonable walking distance from the memorial, if you are driving and wanted to park to get a closer look. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, I was there less than 10 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would probably couple a visit here with one to the Old Capitol Building and War Memorial Building. Fun Fact: Confederate soldiers were in attendance at the actual dedication.

Beautiful and spacious park. Very clean and upkept…read more Huge playground and lakes, restrooms as well. Great place for a picnic

Inspired by the obscenely pleasant weather we've had over the past few weeks, I stopped by…read moreGermantown Municipal Park. Municipal Park is one of my long-time favorite suburban hang outs. No matter when I visit, it never seems crowded. There are tennis courts, a pond (with ducks), a pavilion, a playground, and a big open field that's perfect for playing. It's also the home of a historical home. The John Gray house is one of the oldest brick residences in Shelby County. It was originally located in Eads, but was moved to Municipal Park in 1989 for preservation. I've never been inside; every time I've been at the park, its doors have been locked. After a bit of enthusiastic jumping up and down (I'm short, and the windows are high up), I can report that the house is furnished as it probably would have been when it was built in the mid-1800s. Municipal Park is right next to the Germantown public library, which makes it a perfect place to catch up on your reading. The open field is perfect for picnics, and the playground has a huge jungle gym and swings.