Top 15 Memphis Museums

What is it?
The Memphis Rock 'n' Roll Museum details the evolution of music in Memphis throughout its history.

Why should you go?
The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum is one of the most prominent museums in Memphis due to its many exhibits about different stages of local history. Among the exhibits on display are Rural Culture, Rural Music, Coming to Memphis, Sun Records & Youth Culture, Soul Music, and Social Changes. This museum is the perfect place to start your tour of Memphis museums and the local historic music scene. You can find it in downtown Memphis, at the corner of Beale Street and B.B. King Avenue.

Specialization
Music & History

Perfect for
Music fans

What is it?
This museum tells the story of Stax, the record company that was instrumental in the development of music in Memphis.

Why should you go?
The Stax record company has been a fixture in the history of music in Memphis from the 1960s to the mid-1970s, and it contributed significantly to the development of Memphis soul and Southern soul music. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music serves as a reminder of its impact on the local music scene and a way for visitors to learn about this important stage in the music history in Memphis. The museum features a carefully reassembled 1900s country church, a dance floor, a control room, a replica of Studio A, and a hall of popular Stax records.

Specialization
Music & History

Perfect for
Music fans & history enthusiasts

What is it?
It's a former residence of the legendary King of Rock' n' Roll, Elvis Presley turned museum dedicated to his life and legacy.

Why should you go?
Elvis Presley's Graceland is a mansion in Memphis that used to belong to this legendary musician. Today, you can tour this mansion, including the living room, the Jungle Room, the Trophy Building, and the Meditation Garden. Other highlights of this attraction include an exhibit about Elvis' musical career, a collection of cars owned by Elvis, and a display detailing the impact of his career and life on contemporary culture. If you're a fan of Elvis, this place is a must-see destination.

Specialization
Music & History

Perfect for
Elvis fans and music fans in general

What is it?
It's one of the best museums in Memphis dedicated to the history of the American Civil Rights Movement and its influence on American culture.

Why should you go?
The National Civil Rights Museum tells the story of the eponymous era and illustrates the history of slavery in America since its inception. One of the goals of this museum is to educate its visitors on the culture and impact of the American Civil Rights Movement on the concepts of equality and freedom around the world. The museum features several exhibitions, including A Culture of Resistance, Separate is Not Equal, I Am a Man, and King's Last Hours. The museum occupies the building of the Lorraine Motel, where the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. took place.

Specialization
History

Perfect for
History enthusiasts

What is it?
This museum displays a collection of art accumulated by Jack and Marilyn Belz, Memphis property developers.

Why should you go?
The Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art is a must-see attraction for visitors interested in Chinese art since it has the largest collection of it in the southern United States. The majority of this collection originates from the reign of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), and it perfectly showcases the care and dedication put by the craftsmen into crafting these works of art. The other important collection on display at the museum is the collection of Judaica (items relating to Judaism) which includes many artworks by contemporary artists from Israel like Samuel Bak, Mane Katz, and Marc Chagall.

Specialization
Art

Perfect for
Art enthusiasts

What is it?
This museum honors the most prominent musicians from Memphis that made major contributions to the musical arts.

Why should you go?
The Memphis Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to the local musicians that changed the world of music forever. Among its inductees are such legends as Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Johnny Cash, Booker T. and the MGs, Sam and Dave, and many others. The museum features rare interviews and performances, various memorabilia, and interactive exhibitions. This museum is in downtown Memphis, at the corner of Second Street and Beale Street between Lansky's clothing store and Hard Rock Cafe.

Specialization
Music & History

Perfect for
Music and pop culture fans

What is it?
It's a remarkably well-preserved mansion in the Victorian style on Adams Avenue that used to house two prominent families from Memphis.

Why should you go?
The Woodruff-Fontaine House was a mansion constructed in the second half of the 19th century for the family of Amos Woodruff, a successful Memphis carriage maker. Later, the house became the property of Noland Fontaine, a wealthy local businessman. The house became a museum in 1961 and remains open today. The Woodruff-Fontaine House is an excellent opportunity to learn more about local history and walk the halls of an authentic 19th-century building with a rich and beautiful interior.

Specialization
History & Architecture

Perfect for
History enthusiasts

What is it?
This museum showcases many beautiful examples of metalwork and regularly hosts workshops and demonstrations.

Why should you go?
The Metal Museum offers plenty of things to do during your visit: admire the works of talented metalsmiths in the Sculpture Garden, take part in a workshop, or watch an expert metalsmith at work. Alternatively, you can admire a beautiful collection of various metalwork items, both modern and antique, in the museum's permanent collection or study the works of emerging metal artists in The Tributaries exhibition. Overall, visiting the Metal Museum is a cool, memorable, and unique experience since it's the only museum of its kind in the United States.

Specialization
History, Crafts, & Sightseeing

Perfect for
Metalsmiths, families, and children

What is it?
It's an art museum with an impressive permanent collection of art located within 17 acres of magnificent gardens in Memphis.

Why should you go?
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens is a superb place to visit if you're looking to take a break from the busy city life and spend a quiet afternoon admiring art or walking in the gardens. At the core of the museum's collection are the paintings by French and American Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists, as well as 18th-century German porcelain and English Ceramics. The Gardens are a beautiful sight to behold during any season, and there are four major areas within the gardens: the Cutting Garden, the Formal Garden, the Woodland Gardens, and the South Lawn.

Specialization
Art & Sightseeing

Perfect for
Art enthusiasts, families, and couples

What is it?
This place is an art museum located within the historic Overton Park in Midtown Memphis.

Why should you go?
The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is the oldest art museum in Tennessee. This museum is a perfect guide into the world of art since its galleries feature a diverse collection of art from different periods and places. Among the major sections in this museum are Sculpture Gallery, French 19th Century, New Acquisitions, Contemporary Art, Farris Gallery, and several others. The Memphis Brooks Museum also regularly hosts various events and exhibitions like Tommy Kha: Eye is Another, Art of the African Diaspora, and Power and Absence.

Specialization
Art

Perfect for
Art enthusiasts

What is it?
IIt's the most prominent and advanced museum on fire safety in the United States, located in downtown Memphis.

Why should you go?
Combining fun and learning, the Fire Museum of Memphis is a great place for any visitor, whether a child or an adult. The mission of this museum is to promote fire safety and educate its visitors about the history of local firefighters. There are many points of interest here: various artifacts and exhibits from Memphis' firefighting history, a Fire Safety Arcade, several firefighting vehicles, and The Escape Maze. The Fire Museum is the perfect place to learn about fire safety in a fun and engaging way.

Specialization
History & Entertainment

Perfect for
History enthusiasts, families, and children

What is it?
Here, you can learn more about history, science, culture, and nature excitingly and educationally.

Why should you go?
The Memphis Museum of Science & History is a fun place for the whole family to relax and learn something new. Visitors can study the Mid-South Cultural or Natural History, explore the Pink Palace Mansion, or step into the past in the Mallory-Neely House. Other points of interest include the Giant Screen Theater, Planetarium, and the Lichterman Nature Center. The museum also hosts temporary events like AI Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & the Machine, Web of Innovation: AI in Memphis, and Two Minutes to Midnight and the Architecture of the Armageddon.

Specialization
History, Science, Culture, & Nature

Perfect for
Families, couples, and children

What is it?
This museum tells the story of W.C. Handy, the Father of Blues and one of the most renowned musicians from Memphis.

Why should you go?
This building used to be home to the legendary William Christopher Handy, who is unanimously believed to be one of the key musicians behind the blues musical genre. Located on the legendary Beale Street, the W.C. Handy Home and Museum is just one of the locations on this street that have a strong connection to the Memphis music scene. Even though the house is modest in its appearance, no one can deny the influence its inhabitants had on the development of Memphis' musical culture.

Specialization
Music & History

Perfect for
Music fans

What is it?
It's one of the best places for families with small children to visit in Memphis.

Why should you go?
The Children's Museum of Memphis is one of the most fun and exciting places in Memphis for small children. It offers a huge roster of activities for children and their parents. Among its highlights are Rube Goldberg: The World of Hilarious Inventions, Bubble Gardens, Earthquake Table, Engine House 18, and H2Oh! Splash Park. Visitors can also try rock climbing, and digital art, learn more about banks, dig for dinosaur bones, and do many other exciting activities. The target audience for this museum is children between 2 and 10.

Specialization
Entertainment & Education

Perfect for
Families and children

What is it?
This building is a museum dedicated to the history of slavery in the United States.

Why should you go?
The Burkle Estate is a historic building located on North Second Street in Memphis. Since 1997, it has operated as the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. This place focuses on Memphis' controversial part in the slave trade and the practice of slavery in the United States. Here, you can learn about the struggles slaves faced and the efforts by abolitionists to help them, like the Underground Railroad, which you can access from the inside of this house. This museum serves as a reminder of past mistakes and an opportunity to travel back to those tumultuous times.

Specialization
History

Perfect for
History enthusiasts