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Memphis Maps & Attractions Guide
Memphis maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Memphis
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Memphis
Attractions - Things to do
1. Ride The Ducks
Ticketing and departure: Third Street and Union Avenue,
downtown Memphis
www.memphisducks.com |
What is it? See Memphis by land and water aboard one
amazing vehicle, an amphibious D.U.K.W. Ducks are vehicles that
were designed for use during WWII to transport troops and supplies
from ship to shore. The history, humour, and heroes of the town can
be discovered through the entertaining and informative narration on
board Ride The Ducks, which cruise the streets of downtown as well
as the waterways of the Mississippi. The unique sightseeing
attraction offers a fun and fascinating expedition of downtown
Memphis.
Hours of Operation: Daily tours depart frequently from April to
November
Phone:(901) 521 3825, or toll-free 1877 88 78225 |
2. Graceland
Elvis Presley Boulevard
www.elvis.com |
What is it? Memphis' biggest attraction is the
second-most visited house in the United States after the White
House. The Graceland Mansion and its attendant buildings and
attractions were home to the 'King of Rock 'n Roll', Elvis Presley,
who died in 1977. Thousands of fans of all ages still make
pilgrimages here to tour the house, grounds and visit his grave.
Mansion tours are offered with audio players describing the rooms
and memorabilia. Also open for viewing is the Elvis Presley
Automobile Museum housing the star's renowned 1955 pink Cadillac, a
collection of Elvis' personal belongings, and a re-creation of an
airport terminal where the singer's two private jets are on
display. As of March 2006, Graceland joins the White House, Mount
Vernon and Monticello as a National Historic Landmark, the USA's
highest designation for historic properties, usually accorded to
the homes of American presidents. Long live the
King.
Hours of Operation: Open daily. Ticket office open Monday to Saturday
8.30am to 5pm, and Sunday 9.30am to 4pm (From November to February
hours are daily 9.30am to 4pm). The mansion tour is closed on
Tuesdays (November to February). All operations are closed on
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Phone:Reservations office: (800) 238 2000 |
3. Sun Studio
706 Union Avenue
www.sunstudio.com |
What is it? Visitors who come to Memphis to pay homage to
Elvis Presley inevitably are also keen to visit the legendary
recording studio in Union Avenue where the King of rock 'n roll's
career, and that of numerous other stars, began. The story is that
Elvis first walked into the Sun Studio in the early 1950s to record
a song as a birthday present for his mother. The rest is musical
history, now enshrined in the studio that also launched the likes
of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis on the road to
stardom. Visitors to the studio can hear outtakes from recording
sessions, touch Elvis' first microphone, view a great deal of
memorabilia and listen to anecdotes. Alongside the studio is the
Sun Studio Café, a diner that retains its 1950s style and is still
a favourite musician's hangout.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 6pm, with public tours starting every
hour on the half-hour, beginning at 10.30am
Phone:(901) 521 0664 |
4. Memphis Rock ?n Soul Museum
FedExForum Plaza, one block south of Beale
Street
www.memphisrocknsoul.org |
What is it? A collection of rare recordings, vintage
films and musician interviews along with photographs, and
interactive exhibits makes up the "Social Crossroads" exhibition
put together by the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition fills
seven galleries and covers the development of American popular
music over the past century, from gospel to blues and rock, with
exhibits such as costumes and guitars from performers like Elvis
Presley, Ike Turner's piano and B.B. King's 'Lucille' guitar. An
audio guide is available and takes visitors on a tour of the music
that was the biggest influence on culture and lifestyle in the 20th
century.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am and 7pm; tours are one hour
Phone:(901) 205 2533 |
5. Pink Palace Museum
3050 Central Avenue
www.memphismuseums.org |
What is it? The Pink Palace, a soubriquet bestowed on
this elaborate pink marble Memphis mansion by the locals, was
intended to be a luxury home for the founder of the Piggy Wiggly
chain of supermarkets, Clarence Saunders, when he began building it
back in the 1920s. Before the ostentatious mansion that dominates
Central Avenue was completed Saunders declared bankruptcy, and the
homestead ended up in the hands of the city of Memphis for use as a
museum. The Pink Palace Museum is devoted to culture and natural
history, it's origins preserved in the form of a replica of the
first self-service grocery store in the country, Saunders' Piggly
Wiggly. Visitors can also explore dioramas, exhibits and
audio-visual displays that trace Memphis' development from the
arrival of the Spanish explorers through the Civil War and yellow
fever epidemics. Dinosaurs and fossils also feature, as does an
excellent medical-history section. The museum includes a
planetarium and an Imax theatre.
Hours of Operation: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am until 5pm, and
Sunday from 12pm until 5pm. Closed Christmas Day, Christmas Eve,
New Years Day and Thanksgiving
Phone:(901) 320 6320 |
6. Mud Island River Park
125 North Front Street
www.mudisland.com |
What is it? Mud Island in the Mississippi River offers a
fascinating insight into the famous river with a series of fun and
informative attractions. The island emerged in the river in 1900
and was turned into a 52-acre park. Main attractions on the island
are the Mississippi River Museum, an amphitheatre where touring
acts perform during summer, a huge swimming pool and a display of
the Memphis Belle, a famous B-17 bomber from World War II. The
highlight of a visit to Mud Island, however, is the unique and
fascinating River Walk, a scaled down replica of the lower
Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois to New Orleans in Louisiana.
The River walk is five blocks long and represents a journey of
1,000 miles.
Hours of Operation: 8 April to 26 May and 5 September to 31 October
10am-5pm; 27 May to 4 September 10am-6pm. Closed Mondays. Last
admission is one hour before closing
Phone:(800) 507 6507 or (901) 576 7241 |
7. Memphis Botanic Garden
750 Cherry Road
www.memphisbotanicgarden.com |
What is it? The Memphis Botanic Gardens are a sensory
delight through which to stroll at any time of year. The 96-acre
site at Audobon Park, in the east of the city comprises 22 formal
gardens each focussing on a theme or species, ranging from a
tranquil Japanese garden to the magnificent Municipal Rose Garden,
an organic vegetable garden and a tropical conservatory. Highlights
are the Ketchum Memorial Iris Garden, at its best in April and May,
and a Sensory Garden designed to be enjoyed by the
disabled.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm
(April to October); Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm, Sunday 11am
to 4.30pm (November to March)
Phone:(901) 685 1566 |
Memphis Holidays guide
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Transport -As most residents own a car, public
transport is not very reliable and the most efficient way to cover
the sprawling city is by car, although traffic congestion can make
it slow, even more so during rush hours.
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