by Jennifer Flood

Created on: March 17, 2009

While Graceland may be the first place that people think of when they think of Memphis, the history of Memphis did not begin with rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. In fact, Elvis was not even the first king of Memphis.
That title belongs to cotton.

Within the historic districts of Memphis, there are many historic homes, historic cemeteries, and museums depicting various aspects of the history of Memphis.

One of the most famous homes in Memphis is the Burkle Estate. This home is now a museum called Slave Haven and gives information on the slave trade and the Underground Railroad. In 1978, the Burkle family revealed that the family home had been a stop in the Underground Railroad in Memphis.

The National Civil Rights Museum located at the former Lorraine Motel is the perfect stop after visiting Slave Haven. It will continue your education in African American struggles as this museum depicts the movement of Civil Rights in America from the beginning. Being located at the site of Martin Luther King's assassination helps bring the history to life.

The musical influence of the area is depicted through many of the museums, homes, and manufacturing plants in the area. A tour of Memphis would not be complete without delving into the rich musical past of the area.

The most famous historical music attraction in Memphis is Graceland, the home of the King of Rock and Roll. A tour of Graceland will take you on a trip through the life of Elvis Presley from his humble beginnings to his historic rise to fame. You will be treated with videos, pictures, and memorabilia from his professional and private life. Graceland marks its 70th anniversary in 2009 you can be sure that special exhibits will be opened to celebrate this occasion.

The history of music in Memphis is depicted in the Memphis Rock n Roll
Museum, Soulsville: Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and Sun Studio. Sun Studio is the recording studio I known as the "birthplace of rock n roll" as it is the studio that launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins among others.

Memphis is not only the birthplace of rock n roll, it is also where soul music was made famous. A visit to the Stax Museum is a must for soul fans wanting to pay tribute to the great soul artists that recorded at Stax Studios. Soul musicians from all over are honored at this Memphis museum since it is the only soul museum in the world.

If you need a rest during your site-seeing trip in Memphis, you should visit the Peabody Hotel, especially if the rest is needed at 11:00 am or 5:00 pm. It is definitely necessary if you are travelling with children. Not quite as famous as the Boston ducks in "Make Way for Ducklings", you will find the march of ducks to be a site worth seeing. The ducks march from their penthouse home to the fountain at 11:00 and back again at 5:00. This procession can be crowded, but it is worthwhile if you are able to get there early. If not, watching the ducks in the fountain is very relaxing and can be seen any time between 11:00 and 5:00.
Ducks have been making this march at the Peabody for 75 years.

If you like to roam around in old cemeteries then you need to pay a visit to Elmwood Cemetery. This is the oldest working cemetery in Memphis and a lot of history can be seen by reading the tombstones. Veterans from every American war have been laid to rest in this cemetery. If you want to be sure to find the resting places of all its famous residents, be sure to take one of the walking tours.

Historic sites abound in Memphis. Whether you are interested in musical history, African American history, or the history of the land there is something for everyone in Memphis.

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