Beale Street
Blues capital of the world — W.C. Handy, B.B. King all played here
Best time
March-May, October-November (avoid hot humid summers), Memphis in May festival
Currency
USD
Language
English
Mid-range / day
USD 120
Safety for Black Travelers
Memphis has elevated crime rates. Beale Street, South Main Arts District, and Midtown are tourist-friendly. The National Civil Rights Museum area is safe. Exercise caution in other parts of the city.
Neighborhoods to Know
South Main Arts District
National Civil Rights Museum, trolley cars, galleries and restaurants
Orange Mound
One of the first neighborhoods in the US built by and for African Americans
Midtown
Cooper-Young restaurant district, Sun Studio nearby
Must-Visit Places
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
Where MLK was assassinated — one of the most moving and important museums in America
Memphis, Tennessee
Blues Hall of Fame Museum
Celebrates the African American roots of the blues
Memphis, Tennessee
Sun Studio
Where Elvis recorded his first sessions — but also where Black artists like BB King laid the foundation
Memphis, Tennessee
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken Black-Owned
Legendary Memphis fried chicken — pilgrimage-worthy
Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland
Elvis's home — important for understanding how Black music shaped mainstream culture
Memphis, Tennessee
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Where Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and the Staple Singers recorded — soul music's ground zero
Memphis, Tennessee
Visa
No visa required for US citizens
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