Unspecified/General

Created by the Smithsonian Institution, the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum tells the story of how the music of the Mississippi Delta and the city of Memphis transformed the world. Opened in 2000 and located beside the arena at the foot of Beale Street, it was the Smithsonian's first museum project developed outside Washington, the result of years of research into the social and cultural forces that gave rise to a musical revolution. The museum's narrative begins not with stars but with soil, tracing the field hollers and gospel of rural sharecroppers and the migration of people and sounds into the city. From there it follows the rise of the radio stations, recording studios and record shops that mixed blues, country and gospel into rock and roll and soul, breaking down racial barriers along the way. A standout feature is the digital audio guide, which lets each visitor move at their own pace while listening to a deep library of songs, from early blues to soul classics, that illustrate every stage of the story. Instruments, costumes, vintage radios and a 1950s jukebox bring the era vividly to life. The exhibits give due weight to the social context, showing how music both reflected and helped change a segregated society, and how Memphis became a crucible where cultures met and new sounds were born. Conveniently placed at the entrance to Beale Street's nightlife, the museum makes an ideal first stop for understanding the music that follows from the clubs nearby. For visitors seeking the roots of rock and soul told with scholarly care and an irresistible soundtrack, the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum offers one of the city's most rewarding experiences. The included audio guide, with its deep catalogue of songs, lets visitors linger as long as they like, making the visit as much a listening session as a tour. Conveniently placed at the gateway to Beale Street and easily combined with the neighbouring music attractions, it offers a scholarly yet thoroughly enjoyable foundation for understanding the sounds that poured out of Memphis and changed the world.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 191 Beale Street, Memphis, TN, United States

Telephone: 901-205-2533

Website: memphisrocknsoul.org

Opening Date: 01/01/2000