Brief History of Memphis

The first inhabitants of Memphis were Native Americans who lived and traded along the Mississippi River. It would be almost a thousand years after the Indians had been living there before the first foreigners would arrive. The first European to arrive at the Mississippi was the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto who crossed the river near what is today Memphis in 1541. One hundred years later French explorers arrived. The first fortification was built in 1682 and named Fort Prudhomme, then in 1739 a garrison was built a called Fort Assumption. England gained control in 1763 after the French and Indians had fought a bloody war between themselves.

Coexistence between Indians, French, Spanish and English existed for over twenty years with all parties trading along the Mississippi with the odd skirmish taking place. In 1790 Tennessee became a part of the US territory and then later a state in 1796. The land legally belonged to the Chickasaw Indians at this time, however the new settlers would eventually claim it as theirs. In 1818 they officially relinquished the territory including the land that the city of Memphis would be built on.

The city of Memphis was surveyed and designed in 1819 at its conception Memphis was only four blocks wide and had a population of fifty. The first immigrants to arrive in Memphis were from Germany and Ireland who established businesses and built the first church. The first Mayor of Memphis was Marcus Winchester who was the son of General Winchester. From its early beginnings Memphis has been an important location for trade and markets with its river connections.

The rich soil content around Memphis has always been ideal for crops and a major economic centre of the cotton trade. The labourers who worked these fields were all slaves brought from West Africa. Memphis today is a totally multi racial city with deep roots crossing Europe and Africa.

Transportation in MemphisDays Inn Graceland

The transport system in Memphis is value for money as little as 30 cents will take you along the Main Street and Riverfront trolley line. For those arriving by car into Memphis there is parking for up to 40,000 cars. Over 1 million tourists a year ride the five-mile loop along Main Street and the Mississippi River front. From almost anywhere in the metro Memphis area to reach downtown is no more than a ten-minute ride away.

Dinning Downtown in Memphis

If you love your food than your gonna love downtown Memphis, with more than 160 eateries to choose from. Whatever your dinning requirements are, Memphis can offer it whether its fine dinning are casual eats you will not be disappointed. Here are just small samples we recommend for evening dinning try Chez Phillipe, Mckewans, Grill 83, Cielo, or Felicia Suzannes. Snacks or casual bites then try, The Blue Monkey, Harrys Detour, Hueys Shack, or the Five Spot. If you’re looking for something more exotic then why not try out some Japanese at Sekisui or some traditional German cooking at Erika’s. And last but not least if you fancy some great barbecue food then you try out the Cozy Corner or Top’s BBQ. One things for sure you won’t go hungry when your in Memphis.

Elvis in Memphis

The Elvis Presley Heartbreak Hotel is a fashionable hotel taking its name and style from the legendary King of Rock and Roll. The hotel can offer you 128 rooms of chic living and ideally located close to the Graceland mansion for when you visit. If your budget won’t stretch as far as the heartbreak hotel than you can take the option of camping. The closest campground to Graceland is open all year round and offers facilities for 72 hook ups, cabins, tent sites and is set within a 20 acre site with swimming pool and laundry facilities. The Memphis – Graceland RV Park and Campground is also ideal for visiting and getting to know and feel the real warmth of the people of Tennessee.

The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul museum

This museum is a must for all music lovers with artifact’s pictures and music charting the history of the Memphis sound. The city of Memphis produced more than 120 top twenty hit songs. Inside the museum there are seven galleries that examine the history of Memphis music and its global impact. The museum has a total of 400 hundred hours of music and interviews some never heard before outside the museum. The Memphis rock n Soul Museum is located on Beale Street in the entertainment district.

The Jay Etkin Gallery

The gallery owner Jay Atkin took on the task of opening and developing his own gallery and the results are for all to see. Natives of Memphis and tourists can now all visit this fresh and contemporary gallery. Located on 409.s main in the historic heart of downtown Memphis this gallery deserves to be on your things to do in Memphis list.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

American music owes a huge debt to Stax records the soul music industry in particular would not be were it is today without them. Stax is second only to Motown as the most popular soul record label in history. The Stax museum of American Soul is built on the original site of the Stax studio at 926.e Mclemore. Opposite the Museum the Stax Music Academy is being built, this will develop and teach the future musicians of the Memphis music scene.

Ride the Duck

For an alternative city tour look out for the Duck an ex army amphibious landing craft that operates downtown but also floats along the Mississippi. The duck gives you the option of two tours in one along with its wacky captain you can discover the history and heroes of Memphis.