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Memphis Attractions
Art Museum of the University of Memphis
3750 Norriswood, Communications & Fine Arts Bldg
Memphis, TN 38101
Phone: 901-678-2224
Located on the campus of the University of Memphis, this museum features a permanent collection of Egyptian antiquities. Also featured is the Neil Nokes West African Art Collection. The main gallery displays a variety of exhibits throughout the year. Visitors wishing to discover which exhibit is currently being featured should call ahead.
Beale Street Historic District
203 Beale St., Ste. 300
Memphis, TN 38103
For any visitor to Memphis with even a casual interest in music, specifically the Blues, a visit to the Beale Street Historic District is a must. Whether your interest is purely for entertainment purposes or if you want to immerse yourself in the history of Blues in the South, you will find plenty to do here. Music history buffs may want to explore the rich heritage of Beale Street, where W.C. Handy, B.B. King, Albert King, and Bobby "Blue" Bland all have left their mark. Visitors can spend time viewing the street's "Walk of Fame", strolling through historic Church Park, or taking a peek at the statue dedicated to W.C. Handy. The district also features a variety of shops and boutiques, where visitors can browse for memorabilia and souvenirs. If all of that activity leaves you hungry, never fear. The District also features numerous restaurants treating patrons to a wide variety of food. Those who truly seek to find the heart and soul of the District can find it later in the evening, when the musical spirit of the area shows it is still alive and well. Various nightclubs and frequent outdoor concerts feature music ranging from Rock 'n Roll, Jazz, or R&B to the ever present favorite: Blues. Needless to say, there is entertainment here for every kind of palate, musical or otherwise.
Graceland
3734 Elvis Presley Blvd
Memphis TN 38116
Phone: 901-332-3322 or 800-238-2000
TDD: 901-344-3146
With a nickname like "The King", you know Elvis Presley had to do things in style. Here at Elvis' southern mansion you can take a tour and see the lifestyle that the King lived. Tour the mansion itself, board his custom jet, the "Lisa Marie", and see the King's 1955 pink Cadillac in the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum. Visitors can see the collection of Elvis' gold records, which just happens to be the largest private collection in the world. Memorabilia from the King's performing days are also on display, including jewelry and costumes. Graceland also offers extensive shopping and fabulous restaurants. The combination of food, fun, and history promises to make a visit to Graceland a uniquely entertaining experience.
Libertyland
940 Early Maxwell Blvd
Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: 901-274-1776
Looking for entertainment that's a little on the lighter side? Here's an attraction that is suitable for the whole family. Roller coaster enthusiasts can take a ride on the Kamikaze, the Revolution, or the Zippin Pippin. If you're not quite that daring, maybe the Sea Dragon, the Double Water Slide, or the Log Flume is your speed. For the younger kids in the crowd, perhaps a carousel might be in order. Whichever way you take your thrills, more than twenty exciting rides are guaranteed to make a day at Libertyland fun for the whole family.
Memphis Botanic Garden
750 Cherry Road
Memphis, TN 38117-4699
Phone: 901-685-1566
Featuring almost one hundred acres of beautiful outdoor greenery, the Memphis Botanic Garden includes such highlights as the Herb, Rose, Daylily, Sculpture, Azalea, and Perennial Gardens, as well as the Japanese Garden of Tranquility. Also located here is the Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, featuring a porcelain collection, art exhibits, and horticultural shows. More detailed information on the myriad of greenery within the gardens can be found within the horticultural library.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame
97 S. 2nd St
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-525-4007
If a visit to the Beale Street Historic District doesn't satisfy your craving for musical history, drop into one of the best-developed museums devoted solely to music history. You will find displays and artifacts from over a century of Memphis Music. Extensive exhibits on blues, rock 'n roll, R&B, and soul are on display.
The Memphis Zoo
2000 Galloway
Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: 901-276-WILD
There are more species of animals here than even Tarzan could handle. Housing over four hundred species and almost three thousand animals, a trip to this century old zoo is not exactly a walk in the park. Visitors can expect to see exotic and endangered animals, as well as exhibits such as Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Madagascar, and the Dragon's Lair. Visitors will also find a wide variety of concessions and children's rides, as well as a gift shop featuring replicas of the zoo residents that might be a bit safer to take home than the real thing. Most folks don't realize that they are most likely familiar with this zoo's most famous former resident: Volney, otherwise known as the MGM lion.
Memphis Queen Riverboats
45 South Riverside Drive
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-527-5694 or 901-527-BOAT
Take a sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River the way it used to be done: via paddle wheeler. Trips include hour-long sightseeing tours or daylong tours. If you want something different, take a dinner cruise and see the sights and sample some delightful Southern cuisine at the same time. On weekends, the entertainment doubles, with moonlight cruises accompanied by live local bands.
Mud Island
125 N. Front St
Memphis TN 38103
Phone: 901-576-7241 or 800-507-6507
This 52-acre park includes Mississippi River Museum, a 5,000 seat amphitheater, and Tennessee's largest swimming pool. The River Walk area is a scaled model of the Mississippi from its upper reaches all the way to the Mississippi Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors reach the park via monorail, leaving plenty of energy for browsing through the many shops or sampling the offerings of the various restaurants.
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Memphis, TN, 38103
Phone: 901-521-9699
Once the Lorraine Motel, the National Civil Rights Museum is located at the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. The Museum is the first museum of its type, dedicated solely to the American Civil Rights Movement. Various interactive exhibits and displays trace the history of the civil rights movement and its leaders and proponents, including Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. himself.
The Pyramid
1 Auction Ave
Memphis, TN 38105
Phone: 901-521-9675
Standing 32 stories tall, this pyramid has the distinction of being the third largest pyramid in the world. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the base of the pyramid would cover six football fields. This amazing structure contains a sports and entertainment complex. Visitors can take a daily tour, partake of catered lunches, or arrange for private parties.
Celebration Station
5970 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134
Phone: 901-377-6700
Located just off I-40, this may be Memphis' number one entertainment center for family fun. With miniature golf, bumper boats, and over a hundred of the latest arcade games, there is no limit to the fun available for the whole family.
Union Planter's IMAX Theater
3050 Central Ave
Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: 901-763-IMAX
Located within the Memphis Pink Palace Museum & Planetarium, the Union Planter's Imax Theater is a facility all in itself. Featuring entertaining and educational movies that change every few months, the giant screens will serve as windows to entirely new worlds.
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