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    Pillow-Thompson House

    5.0 (1 review)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    11 years ago

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    Aretha Franklin Birthplace

    Aretha Franklin Birthplace

    4.3(3 reviews)
    50.8 miSouthside

    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.

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    Aretha Franklin Birthplace
    Aretha Franklin Birthplace
    Aretha Franklin Birthplace - Front view from street

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    Front view from street

    Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park - So beautiful

    Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park

    5.0(5 reviews)
    27.5 mi

    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!

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    Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park
    Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park
    Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park

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    Confederate Monument

    Confederate Monument

    2.5(2 reviews)
    39.9 mi

    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.

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    Confederate Monument
    Confederate Monument
    Confederate Monument

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    Pillow-Thompson House - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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