Page 270 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

268  THE SOUTHEAST

Luther King Jr. was tragically
assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Room 306 is preserved as it
was on the day of his killing
and a memorial wreath rests
outside the window. Across
the street, the assassination
scene is re-created in the
bathroom from which James Earl
Ray apparently fired his
fatal shot.

E Memphis Rock-N-Soul
A neon B.B. King’s Blues Club sign on Beale Street Museum
Fedex Forum, 191 Beale St. Tel (901)
h Memphis rivaling New Orleans’ Bourbon 205-2533. Open 10am–7pm daily.
Street (see p348) in popularity. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 24 & 25. &
* 657,000. ~ £ @ n 3205 Elvis 7 ∑ memphisrocknsoul.org
Presley Blvd, (901) 543-5333. Restaurants, nightclubs, saloons,
∑ memphistravel.com and shops line a four-block The intersection between history
stretch. Many statues also and race, and its expression
Memphis sits on the banks of the punctuate the strip on either in song, is explained with
Mississippi River at Tennessee’s side. There is one of Elvis Presley outstanding musical accom-
southwestern corner, where it opposite the Orpheum Theatre, paniment at this museum. It is
meets the states of Arkansas and one of W.C. Handy stands located opposite the Gibson
and Mississippi. The city is at the entrance to a plaza where Guitar factory, which offers a
most closely associated with many outdoor festivals take fascinating tour. The exhibit
two very different American place. A block away, W.C. is sponsored by the Smithsonian
icons – Civil Rights leader Dr. Handy’s Home, a tiny white Institute and examines the
Martin Luther King Jr., and the shotgun shack, is now a blues and country roots of
singer Elvis Presley. museum to the man who has rock ’n’ roll with a fascinating
Since the early 20th century, often been called the “Father of movie, and displays of old
Memphis has been synonymous the Blues.” At the center of the instruments as well as vintage
with music. As the birthplace strip stands the A. Schwab’s Dry jukeboxes, stage costumes,
of rock ‘n’ roll, which originated Goods Store at 163 Beale. This and profiles of artists. A digital
from blues (see p361), the shop has been open here audio tour features more than
city celebrates this since 1876. Many five hours of fabulous music.
legacy in its many nights Beale Street is Music fans may also want to
nightclubs and closed to traffic, and travel 10 minutes south to the
saloons, and out on the people come to listen to Stax Museum of American
streets. Even its festivals live music emanating Soul Music, in the old Stax
mostly revolve around from every door. Records recording studio.
music. Highlights include A short walk from Beale
Elvis’s birthday on January Street, AutoZone Park is P Mud Island
8; “Memphis in May,” a the red and green sta- 125 N Front St. Tel (901) 576-7241.
month-long series of dium of the Memphis Open early Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm
concerts and cookouts B.B. King, Rock-N-Soul Redbirds baseball Tue–Sun. & 7
(Memphis is also Museum franchise. It ∑ mudisland.com
famous for its barbe- lies across from the Reached via monorail, Mud
cue); the W.C. Handy Awards, the landmark Peabody Hotel at 149 Island holds the Mississippi
blues answer to the Grammys, Union Avenue, where the River Museum, which tells the
also in May; Elvis Week or famous ducks march twice a day story of the river with artifacts
“Tribute Week” around August to and from the lobby to the such as an 1870 steamboat
16; and the Music and Heritage fountain where they can be seen replica. The museum also has
Festival on Labor Day weekend. frolicking all day (see p278). many Native American exhibits
and galleries on the origins of
= Beale Street E National Civil Rights the blues as an influential
A thriving commercial center Museum musical form. The most
for the city’s African-American 450 Mulberry St. Tel (901) 521-9699. engaging exhibit, however, is
community, Beale Street’s Open 9am–5pm Mon–Sat, 1–5pm located outside where water
heyday was in the first half of Sun. Closed Jan 1, Easter, courses through a replica of
the 20th century. After a period Thanksgiving, Dec 24 & 25. & 7 the Mississippi for a five-block-
of decline, this historic street ∑ civilrightsmuseum.org long stretch, ending at a
was resur rected as the heart of The museum was once the swimming pool shaped like
a vibrant entertainment district, Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin the Gulf of Mexico.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp276–8 and pp279–81

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm