Memphis Highlights
Named for the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile, Memphis is best known for the rise and fall of two men who led vastly different movements. Elvis Presley rocketed to fame here in the mid-1950s. And it was here on April 4, 1968, that the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
Memphis culture draws heavily on claiming responsibility for giving birth to the blues in the early 20th-century. Favorite son WC Handy composed the first published blues tune just before WWI, making Memphis, and the jumpin' Beale Street, the home of the blues.
Plan Your Trip
Top Memphis Attractions
See all- 1 Graceland
- 2 Memphis National Civil Rights Museum
- 3 Beale Street Historic District
- 4 Overton Park
- 5 Sun Studio
What's Happening Now
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