Memphis, TN

National Civil Rights Museum
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1991, this "destination" museum of interpretive exhibits immerses you in the Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 by describing key events in Montgomery, Little Rock and Memphis; the bus ride gives you a sense of the indignities people suffered -- when you sit down it says "go to the back of the bus"; this emotionally touching museum continues through the chain of civil rights milestones and concludes in the attached Lorraine Hotel where Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the 2nd floor balcony; the museum also features a broad range of non-profit educational programs involving collaboration with a number of organizations to expand the dialogue on human rights; Phase 2 of the museum expands across Mulberry Street and speaks to the influences of Dr King and the Civil Rights Movement which propel the global human rights movement today and explores several plausible conspiracy theories concerning who killed or helped kill Dr King; count on spending 2 to 3 hours here

ADMISSION: Adults $12, Seniors & College Students w/ID $10, ages 4-17 $4, ages 3 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5p; Sun 1p-5p

ADDRESS: 450 Mulberry Street  MAP

PARKING: free on premises

PHONE: 901-521-9699

WEBSITE:  http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org

Stax Museum of American Soul Music
DESCRIPTION: built on the historic site of Stax Records; Stax began as a tiny record store in an old movie theater at the corner of McLemore Avenue and College Street and became one of the most important music recording studios in the world -- its contribution to Soul Music is on par with Motown; it recorded and marketed Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett, Luther Ingram, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, Booker T & the MG's, Johnnie Taylor, as well as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley and Richard Pryor; read our exclusive editorial about the history of STAX/Soulsville; today Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located at the original site of Stax Records and pays tribute to all of the artists who recorded there with more than 2,000 interactive exhibits, films, artifacts, items of memorabilia, galleries, a reconstruction of its recording studio, interpretive exhibits; as the Only Soul Music Museum in the World, it also spotlights America's other soul music pioneers, including the sounds of Muscle Shoals, Motown, Hi Records and Atlantic Records and spotlights the contributions of Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, The Jackson Five, Ann Peebles, Al Green and many others; preparing youths for a future in music, the multi-purpose site includes Stax Music Academy, a charter school

ADMISSION: Adults $12, age 62+, student w/ID, Active Military $9.50, ages 3-12 $7.50, ages 2 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Tue–Sat 10a–5p, Sun 1-5p

ADDRESS: 926 East McLemore  MAP

PARKING: free on premises

PHONE: 901-946-2535

WEBSITE: http://www.soulsvilleusa.com

W.C. Handy Monument & Museum
DESCRIPTION: Accurately considered the "Commerical" Father of the Blues, William Christopher Handy (1873-1958) was born in Florence, Alabama, spent many productive years in St. Louis and settled in Memphis; he is memorialized by this statue in a small park (and another statue in Florence, Alabama); how fitting that this popular corner hosts impromptu Blues and Jazz sessions and music festivals; the museum of his small wooden house and artifacts is in the same block

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: 352 Beale Street  MAP
PARKING: Peabody Place garage

PHONE: 901-522-1556

WEBSITE: none

Ramesses The Great Statue
DESCRIPTION: Located in In front of the Pyramid Arena Toyota Center‎, stands an intriguing stone replica of the King Ramesses II statue; the statue was a gift from its sister city in Egypt and stands as a noble sentry on Front Street

ADDRESS: Front Street at Overton Ave  MAP

LeMoyne-Owen College
DESCRIPTION: HBCU founded as a school in 1862 by the American Missionary Association with $20,000 by abolitionist Dr. Julius LeMoyne; in 1968 the school merged with Owen Junior College to form the name LeMoyne-Owen College

CLICK FOR MORE INFO

Hattieloo Black Repertory Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Memphis Black Repertory Theatre group founded by Ekundayo Bandele, performs engaging plays that range from A Raisin In The Sun to Macbeth to Todog/Underdog during their October-May season; performances are held in the 70-seat, 3,200-square-foot Hattiloo Theater; the lobby of Hattiloo is called Zora's Lounge in honor of author Zora Neale Hurston; the theatre also features a drama training academy in the Summer

BOX OFFICE: Thu-Sun before showtimes; tickets range from $10-$18

ADDRESS: 656 Marshall Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-276-9555

WEBSITE: http://www.hattilootheatre.org

Bantaba Dance Company
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 2004, this dance group presents positive education through West African dance, drumming, story and song; offers breath-taking performances, great classes, enriching lectures, and demonstrations for all ages and races; the Afrobics Class has all of the essential workout elements of Aerobics and African dance mixed into one fun workout for beginners or dancers looking for an alternative workout

BOX OFFICE: varies by each venue in Memphis

ADDRESS: 2157 York Avenue  MAP

PHONE: 901-246-7454

WEBSITE: http://www.memphisbantaba.org