If you are visiting Memphis, the National Civil Rights Museum is an absolute must. This was one of…read morethe most meaningful and emotional places I have ever visited. The museum is very well done and takes you through the history of the Civil Rights Movement in a way that is both educational and powerful. There is so much to read, see, and experience that we spent several hours here and still felt like we could have spent more time. The most moving part of the visit was seeing the Lorraine Motel and standing outside Room 306, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his final moments. It is hard to describe the feeling of being there in person. As a teacher and a parent, I especially appreciated how the museum encourages important conversations about history, equality, and justice. The exhibits are thoughtfully put together and tell stories that everyone should hear. I would definitely recommend wearing comfortable shoes and giving yourself plenty of time because this is not a place you want to rush through. The experience stays with you long after you leave. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Memphis and a place I believe everyone should visit at least once.

Whoever put this museum together did a fantastic job. The service was top notch and the security…read moreteam were efficient. Very much appreciated. This museum has great value and worth every cent to keep it up and running. Our time there walking around was informative and, of course, heart breaking. Seeing the site of the MLK, Jr assassination just made me cry. I could not stop. My heart was breaking from the walk through to his assassination. But worth every step. Thank you to everyone who make this museum possible.

Cool free museum to check out! Lots of info about Tina Turner and other stuff included in the…read moremuseum. It's free and lots of parking. A good pit stop in the way to Memphis!

Late review from December 2018:…read more The quick pit stop in Brownsville, TN to tour the Tina Turner & Delta Heritage Museums on our way to Nashville did not disappoint! Everyone in my multigenerational family found something of interest. My grandmother beelined straight to the agricultural exhibits. I read all the placards to absorb the rich Mid-South history. My aunt recalled her glory days as a Tina Turner fan as she admired the dresses and jewelry in the exhibits.

The Sultana: The Greatest Maritime Disaster in US History. Yes,... even worse than The Titanic…read more This disaster received little public attention, as it took place at the end of the Civil War, after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and the day after John Wilkes Booth was killed. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. Under the terms of the surrender agreement, POWs were to be freed and sent home as soon as possible. Union prisoners from Andersonville, GA and Cahaba, AL were sent to Vicksburg, MS to ship home up the MS River. The government offered to pay boat owners $5 per enlisted man and $10 per officer transported. The Sultana left Vicksburg on April 24th with more than 2,300 prisoners of war (plus an additional number of crew and passengers and a large shipment of sugar bound for Memphis). It's legal carrying capacity was only 376 passengers. The Sultana had pulled into Vicksburg at about the same time as two other boats (the Pauline Caroll and the Lady Gay); however, those 2 boats left with 0 soldiers. To make matters worse, a boiler had to be patched while in port at Vicksburg. The mechanic warned it would need to be properly fixed once up north. At about 2am on April 27th 1865, the steamboat's boilers exploded. Over 1,800 of the Sultana's +2,300 passengers were killed just north of Marion, Arkansas. The 1,800 people were burned to death, drowned or died of hypothermia. After the disaster, people wanted to determine the cause of the Sultana explosion as well as why it was so overcrowded. Many concluded that Mason, the captain and part owner of the Sultana, bribed Union officers into letting him transport as many freed prisoners as possible so that he would make lots of money; however, Mason was killed in the accident. Captain Frederick Speed, a Union army officer, was found guilty of overcrowding the Sultana. But his verdict was overturned by the army. So in the end, the U.S. Army never punished anyone for the disaster.

This is a terrific museum dedicated to a disaster that has largely been forgotten, lost in the…read moreaftermath of the Civil War. There is a great introductory film, and then several rooms of artifacts and interpretive material about this event, the largest maritime loss of life in American history. The passionate and deeply knowledgeable guide made our visit very special. Highly recommended.

Great stop ... about 40 minute walk through - free and very nice way to stretch our legs. There…read morewere multiple small museum's regarding different artists and we really enjoyed the diversion from the drive. Also small gift shop with Tina logo gear !

This one room school, where Tina attended school is about 90 seconds off the interstate behind the…read moreMcDonald's and well worth the stop. There is a small visitor center right next door with bathrooms, so a really convenient stop. The museum had been refurbished and there are paraphernalia, outfits, books, albums, videos and music playing all things Tina Turner. You could see everything in 5 minutes or stay and really read everything in probably 15 minutes. Cool seeing outfits she wore while preforming various tours. Plenty of parking, free admission and a wonderful tribute to a fabulous preformer. I highly recommend.

My spouse and I came here while we were in Memphis. For anyone who is interested in American…read morehistory, especially in the south. This is one spot you will want to check out as this was a house that was used during the underground railroad that runway slaves would come as a safe spot to hide before running off to the northern states. If you are in the area I would highly recommend visited it. [Review #722] (20th Review of 2024)

0 stars as this place is NOT open, IS abandoned and IS scary…read more The surrounding neighborhood is a little uncomfortable for two white women walking through. Seems to be a low income area. Yelp said this museum was open but clearly has not been for quite some time:

Something cool and different to do! We checked this out with our friends while visiting Jackson,…read moreand it was pretty awesome; some of the vehicles are the actual ones from some very famous movies and shows (e.g. The Fast and the Furious, Norbit) as well as some clothing and props. The young man at the front was very friendly and personable. There are two giant warehouse buildings and a small outdoor section to view. My husband, who is a huge movie buff, thoroughly enjoyed this! Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something to do.

This is a great little stop if you are in the area! Great collection of cars and collectibles plus…read moreit's only $10 a person. Gabe was very helpful, super friendly and knowledgeable.

This museum has developed thru the years, the director is committed to its curation and is quite…read moreknowledgeable about the history of Blytheville and Surroundings, with an emphasis on the local Indian cultures, also the director has an impressive formal education background along with many hours of field work.

Such a cool museum, highly recommend if you're heading through town. The curator was very…read moreknowledgeable about local history.

Woodruff-Fontaine House 680 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105…read more This area became known as the Victorian Village, and the main street through the neighborhood was nicknamed "Millionaires Row." Amos Woodruff and his brother came to Memphis from Rahway, New Jersey in 1845 to expand their carriage-making business. In 1870, Amos Woodruff purchased a plot of land for $12,000 and began construction on the mansion which would end up costing the Woodruffs $40,000 to build. Unfortunately, about 12 years later, the yellow fever epidemic forced the Woodruff family to sell the house.l Noland Fontaine purchased the house from the Woodruffs in 1883 for $40,000 and his family lived there until 1929. In 1930, the house was sold to Rosa Lee, who used the house to expand her art school, Lee Memorial Art Academy. The school moved to Overton Park in 1959, and established themselves as Memphis Art Academy, later becoming the Memphis College of Art. The Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities saved the house from demolition after 2 years of vacancy, restored the mansion, and then opened its doors as a historic house museum

We arrived on a late, rainy Sunday afternoon - myself and a couple of friends from out of town. The…read moretour guides were very knowledgeable, friendly and available to support questions and guidance. We stayed longer than we planned but they never made us feel like we overstayed our welcome. Highly recommended if you enjoy Memphis history or enjoy Victorian homes!

Johnny Cash's boyhood home is not far off of the highway in Dyess, Arkansas and as I was heading to…read morea business meeting in Blytheville, Arkansas, I had to stop and see where one of the most iconic singers of his time once called home (and in his heart would probably always consider home). I travel a lot in business and it is cool to come across these finds. If you ever find yourself in Dyess, Arkansas, I would recommend a visit here.

We're not ones to shy away from quirky tourist stops, and with limited options nearby, we made the…read moreone-hour trek to see Johnny Cash's boyhood home. Tucked in a rundown little town, the experience still felt worthwhile...and let's be honest, the town is definitely capitalizing on the legacy of The Man in Black. But something tells me Johnny wouldn't mind one bit. The visit starts in a modest welcome center with memorabilia and a short film. Then, in classic small-town style, you follow behind the guide in your car about two miles to the actual home. The house is small, simple, and humble, just as you'd imagine a Depression-era homestead to be. It's been lovingly restored and really does feel like a window into Johnny's early life. Afterward, you head back to town to explore another small exhibit focused on homesteading history and a bit more on Johnny himself. It was a perfectly fine way to spend the afternoon, especially if you're a Cash fan or enjoy a dose of Americana. Only disappointment? The t-shirts for sale were kind of blah. Come on, people...give us some merch worthy of an American legend.