This was where Elvis Aaron Presley came into the world, along with his twin brother Jessie, who sadly was stillborn. Sitting in a tranquil part of leafy Tupelo, Mississippi, the house is part of a bigger precinct – the Elvis Presley Birthplace – that also includes the church where Elvis had his first taste of gospel and performing. The man who would be king lived in Tupelo until he was 13, when his family moved to Memphis, 90 minutes away.
Things to do in Memphis
Memphis is a big, beautiful, cacophony of sights, sounds and stories that bounce between darkness and light, sorrow and joy. It’s located on the fabled Mississippi River, where you can kayak alongside ships that still navigate the waters with their cargo of people or goods, flanked by outdoor spaces like Tom Lee Park where locals and visitors come out to play. While the river has its own rhythm, there are many major sites to discover the thrumming beat of this city.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
Start your musical journey at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, curated by The Smithsonian. It gives a comprehensive look at music in Memphis from the sharecroppers of the 1930s, to Memphis’ musical heyday in the ‘70s and its global influence. It tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the entire world.
Sun Studio
Do a tour of Sun Studio, established and run by Sam Phillips, that gave legends like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, BB King and Elvis Presley their starts. It also has Dewey Phillips’ studio – Dewey was the first to play Elvis on the radio. In fact, he played That’s All Right Mama 14 times that night. You can actually touch the microphone they used and if you are a musician yourself, you can book a session in this sacred space, as it reverts to being a studio every night.
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is another great tour to do. Sitting on the site of the old Stax Records, it tells the story of American soul music in the Civil Rights Movement. It highlights artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and hundreds of others. There are some permanent exhibits such as Isaac Hayes’ 1972 gold-trimmed Cadillac Eldorado.
Beale Street
For a taste of the Memphis sound, the place to go is Beale Street – the home of the Blues. There is history in every brick of this place, with lively clubs and venues like BB King’s Blues Club, Mr Handy’s Blues Hall, The Handy Bar, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Café and Honky Tonk and Blues City Café.
