SITE REVIEW

MEMPHIS:
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY SHOWCASED HERE
BY CHRIS K. WALKER

Tennessee is divided into three regions — the east — Knoxville and Chattanooga  — the middle — with Nashville and — the west — featuring Memphis. It edges out Nashville, with approximate 700,000 people and is decidedly different. Most uniquely, African-American culture and history is highly regarded and acknowledged much more than in other Tennessee cities. Music created by people of color is part of Memphis’ essence, and significant moments during the civil rights struggle transpired there as well. Additionally, African-American cuisine is world-class and abundant, along with art, theater and sports being substantially represented.

The impressive array of cultural offerings in Memphis provides meeting and event planners with plenty of options. The STAX Museum (901-946-2535/www.staxmuseum.com) is great place to learn about R&B and some of its most popular artists, while also being an event consideration. The Memphis Rock n Soul Museum (901-205-2533/www.memphisrocknsoul.org) is another site to consider and loaded with memorabilia. To dig a little deeper, go to the W.C. Handy Home & Museum (901-522-1556) and Sun Studio (800-441-6249/www.sunstudio.com). Also not to be forgotten is Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home (800-238-2010/(u)www.elvis.com/graceland(eu)). Musicians and guitar aficionados can tour the Gibson Guitar Factory (901-544-7998/www.gibson.com).

Memphis/West Tennessee can give New Orleans serious competition in both upscale dining and down home comfort food. The Peabody Hotel (901-529-4000/www.peabodymemphis.com), considered one of the south’s stellar properties is an AAA Four Diamond Award winner, serving French-Asian cuisine. Highly regarded French Creole cooking permeates The Inn at Hunt Phelan (901-525-8225/www.huntphelan.com), an antebellum mansion designed by architect Robert Mills, also the designer of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Treasury building. On the casual side, McEwen’s on Monroe is a bistro specializing in creative southern cooking (901-527-7085/www.mcewensonmonroe.com). Traditional soul food and BBQ can be found at Isaac Hayes’ Music*Food*Passion (901-529-9222/www.clubisaachayes.com), King’s Palace Café (901-521-1851/www.kingspalacecafe.com) and Pig on Beale (901-529-1544/www.pigonbeale.com).

Non-dining spots for events include: The Dixon Gallery and Gardens (901-761-5250/www.Dixon.org), Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (901-544-6200/www.brooksmuseum.org), Memphis Botanic Garden (901-576-4100 /www.memphisbotanicgarden.com) and the National Civil Right Museum. This important monument incorporates the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated and features noteworthy exhibits detailing the civil rights movement before and after Dr. King’s death (901-521-9699/www.civilrightsmuseum.org). Furthermore, the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum reveals escape routes and artifacts (901-527-3427). For a change of pace and focus, Hattiloo Theatre presents dynamic Black repertory theatre (901-502-3486/www. hattilootheatre.org) and the Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange gives an interesting overview of the area’s business development (901-531-7826/(u)www.memphiscottonmuseum.org(eu)).

Outside of Memphis, various communities have appealing attractions and outdoor activities. In Henning, celebrated author Alex Haley’s boyhood home, the inspiration for Roots and other books offers tours (731-738-2240). Historic downtown Collierville (www.colliervillechamber.com), is well known for antiques, a summer concert series, and The Tennessean, an operating train with an upscale restaurant (901-853-9447/ www.tennesseanrestaurant.com). The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville highlights the region where many legendary and influential blues, R&B and rockabilly artists were inspired (901-799-9000/(u)www/westtnheritage.com(eu)).

Additionally, Jackson is home to Casey Jones Village, honoring the legendary train engineer, and the Old Country Store restaurant showcases delicious southern cooking. Camden Kentucky Lake has the Freshwater Pearl Museum and Farm, the only one in North America (800-225-7469/www.tennesseeriverpearls.com). Plus, Reelfoot Lake, with the Blue Bank Resort (731-286-NETW/www.reelfoot.com), Pickwick Landing State Resort Park (731-689-3129), and the Paris Land State Resort Park (800-250-8614/www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/ParisLanding) are prime fishing spots, along with the Wolf River for canoeing and kayaking (228-452-7666/(u)www.wolfrivercanoes.com(eu)). For more information contact the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development at (615) 741-2159/www.tnvacation.com.