Memphis, TN

Auction Square
DESCRIPTION: Site of the first food market in Memphis; since slave trade was common practice in Memphis, many believe the granite marker in the square was used for slave auctioning

ADDRESS: Auction Street at Main Street  MAP

Burkle Estate, Slavehaven
DESCRIPTION: A white no frills, wooden house built in 1849 served as one of Memphis’ most important stations on the Underground Railroad; by appointment you can tour the cellar where people hid on the way to freedom

ADDRESS: 826 North Second Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-527-3427

Tom Lee Memorial
DESCRIPTION: In 1925, Tom Lee, an African American who could not swim, risked his life in a small to rescue 32 European Americans from a sinking steamship 25 miles south of here; in gratitude this monument and scenic riverside park were named in his honor; a frequent gathering place for picnics and kit flying

ADDRESS: Riverside Drive south of Beale Street  MAP

WDIA Radio Station
DESCRIPTION: In 1948 WDIA 1070 AM became America’s first white-owned radio station reformatted to appeal to African Americans musical interests--with Blues, R&B, Rock & Roll, Soul music; it helped popularize the recordings of Rufus Thomas, B.B. King, Ike & Tina Turner, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Bobby Blues Bland,  and many others; unexpectedly, the station also became popular to European American youths, triggering the realization (and concern in some quarters) that "Race Music" could have wide spread cross-over appeal

ADDRESS: 47 Union Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-529-4300

Universal Life Insurance Company
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1923 by Dr Joseph E. Walker; African American architects, McKissack & McKissack designed the Egyptian Revival style of the building; one of the nation's Black-owned insurance companies today; open 9a-5p; tour by appointment only

ADDRESS: 480 Linden Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-525-3641

Joseph E. Walker Residence
DESCRIPTION: Dr. Joseph E. Walker (1880-1958), co-founder of Universal Life Insurance, co-founder of Tri-State Bank and co-founder of Memphis Urban League branch lived in the this fairly ordinary house; he served as president of all those entities; no visitors

ADDRESS: 1109 Mississippi Blvd  MAP

Hunt-Phelan Home
DESCRIPTION: Built mostly with the labor of enslaved people in 1828, several Civil War generals from the north and south made it an important stop in their travels; an on-site school was used to teach several hundred people how to read English by the Freedmen’s Bureau after their emancipation

ADDRESS: 533 Beale Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-344-3166

W.C. Handy Home
DESCRIPTION: This tiny two room home has William C. Handy’s artifacts on display; imagine him writing famous tunes here while his wife helped raise 6 kids -- no wonder he penned Memphis Blues, the first recorded composition of the Blues

DAYS & HOURS: daily, hours vary

ADDRESS: 352 Beale Street  MAP
 
Ida B. Wells Marker
DESCRIPTION: Named in honor of a journalist, civil and women’s rights advocate who spoke truth to power; Wells newspaper building was located in this vicinity before it was burned to the ground; though she had to flee Memphis, her written achievements have far outlived her oppressors

ADDRESS: 300 block of Beale Street   MAP
 
Old Daisy Theatre
DESCRIPTION: A prime performing venue in the Chitlin' Circuit until the 1930s-60s; until recently, it served as the Beale Street Blues Museum; its restoration status is unclear

ADDRESS: 329 Beale Street  MAP

Tri-State Bank of Memphis
DESCRIPTION: Organized in 1946 by A Maceo Walker and John A Walker, the bank’s original building was located at 386 Beale Street where much of Black Memphis business and civil rights planning occurred

ADDRESS: 180 South Main Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-525-0384

WLOK Radio Station
DESCRIPTION: In 1977, this radio station became the first Memphis radio station owned by African Americans; now the #1 Gospel Radio Station in a Memphis and a favorite among visiting DJs

ADDRESS: 363 South Second Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-527-9565

Lorraine Hotel
DESCRIPTION: The National Historic Landmark where Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on 4 April 1968; his 2nd floor balcony room remains in a permanently restored state from the day he passed (for more see Dr. King's Last Days); fortunately, the site was saved from the wrecking ball in 1982 by a group of citizens who got a different ball rolling; they established a foundation to raise funds for the property; eventually the labor union which benefited from Dr King's last march, a Black bank, and a local merchant next door added funds to purchase this landmark property for $144,000; the foundation convinced Memphis, Shelby County, state agencies, and corporations to provide a lot more funds to build a civil rights center that educates about the past, present and future of the American Civil Rights Movement while preserving the hotel; enter via the National Civil Rights Museum

ADDRESS: 450 Mulberry Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-521-9699

Tri-State Defender Newspaper
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1905 as part of the Sengstacke Newspaper chain based in Chicago; there is no better way to get straight talk about Black life in Memphis; located just around the corner from the Lorraine Hotel, they had the first journalists on the scene when Dr King was assassinated and thus may have the best written accounts of what happened on that fateful day in April 1968

ADDRESS: 124 East Calhoun Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-523-1818

Hayes & Sons Funeral Home
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1902, by Thomas H. Hayes, Sr., it is Memphis’ oldest Black-owned business; the business moved to this location in Lauderdale in 1918; Hayes was active in the National Negro Business League founded by Booker T. Washington; in 1933, he co-founded Union Protective Life Insurance Co.; his son Thomas, Jr. owned the Birmingham Black Barons, of which baseball legend Willie Mays was a member

ADDRESS: 680 South Lauderdale Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-774-3518

Zion Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: Oldest and one of the largest cemeteries which has historically served African Americans in Memphis

ADDRESS: South Parkway East at Pillow Streets  MAP

Henning, TN

Alex Haley House and Museum
DESCRIPTION: Alex Haley, author of Roots and The Autobiography of Malcolm X, descended from Kunte Kinte and Chicken George; lots of family memorabilia to be seen here; located 55 miles from Memphis

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

ADMISSION: small fee

ADDRESS: 200 Church Street  MAP