Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
American freedom and equality. Both Dr King's cultural contribution and his assassina-
tion serve as prisms for looking at the Civil Rights movement, its precursors and its con-
tinuing impact on American life. The turquoise exterior of the 1950s motel and two pre-
served interior rooms remain much as they were at the time of King's death, and serve as
pilgrimage points in their own right.
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
MUSEUM
( 901-205-2533;
www.memphisrocknsoul.org
; cnr Lt George W Lee Ave & 3rd St; adult/child $11/
8; 10am-7pm)
The Smithsonian's museum, next to FedEx Forum, examines how Afric-
an American and white music mingled in the Mississippi Delta to create the modern rock
and soul sound. The audio tour has more than 100 songs.
Gibson Beale Street Showcase
FACTORY TOUR
(
www.gibson.com
; 145 Lt George W Lee Ave; admission $10, no children under 5 yr; tours
11am-4pm Mon-Sat, noon-4pm Sun)
Take the fascinating 45-minute tour of this enormous
place to see master craftspeople transform solid blocks of wood into Stratocasters. Tours
leave on the hour.
WC Handy House Museum
MUSEUM
( 901-522-1556;
www.wchandymemphis.org
; 352 Beale St; adult/child $6/4; 11am-4pm Tue-
Sat winter, 10am-5pm Tue-Sat summer)
On the corner of 4th St, this shotgun shack once be-
longing to the composer called the 'father of the blues.' He was the first to transpose the
12 bars and later wrote 'Beale Street Blues' in 1916.
Peabody Ducks
MARCHING DUCKS
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.peabodymemphis.com
; 149 Union Ave; 11am & 5pm; )
Every day at 11am
sharp, five ducks file from the Peabody Hotel's gilded elevator, waddle across the red-
carpeted lobby, and decamp in the marble lobby fountain for a day of happy splashing.
The ducks make the reverse march at 5pm, when they retire to their penthouse accom-
panied by their red-coated Duckmaster. The march of the ducks dates back to the 1930s
and always draws major crowds - get here early to secure your spot (the mezzanine has
the best views).
