It's easy to walk right past the marker on the corner of South Front Street and G.E. Patterson in…read moreMemphis without realizing you're standing where the city's very first telephone rang to life. Just a simple plaque, no fanfare. But lean in close, and the past starts talking. Back in 1877, before smartphones, before dial tones, before anyone could shout "Can you hear me now?", a railroad superintendent named Mike Burke picked up a brand-new contraption and made a call from his house to the train office. That call was the spark--Memphis's first step into the modern, buzzing world of communication. Now the marker stands quiet among trains, traffic, and city hum. It doesn't need neon lights or a museum around it. Its power is in its simplicity. It marks a moment when a voice crossed a wire and everything changed. Standing there, it's kind of wild to think: this little corner, now mostly walked past without a glance, is where Memphis first connected. Where someone spoke, someone answered, and the world got just a little smaller.

Cool little tidbit of history in Memphis. We take so much for history and now carry phones in our…read morepockets. This must have indeed been a big deal to Memphis, Tennessee back in the day. This landmark sign is located in front of the dog park.

Located along world-famous Beale Street and in front of B.B. King's, this marker points out the…read morelife and success of this local lawyer. There is limited parking here as it is a mostly pedestrian district. If you're walking through Beale Street, this is an interesting marker to read. On both sides, it reads "Benjamin Franklin Booth, 1858-1941. Benjamin F. Booth was one of Memphis' earliest and most distinguished African-American lawyers. Starting in 1886, he practiced law for more than 54 years. In 1905, he challenged Tennessee's law authorizing the segregation of black and white passengers on street cars. Some of his cases were heard before the United States Supreme Court. At his death in 1941, Booth was the oldest practicing attorney in Memphis." It is marker number 4E-126 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. [Review 2040 of 2024 - 541 in Tennessee - 23061 overall]

Not far from the core of downtown Memphis and the National Civil Rights Museum, this marker stands…read morein Army Park and points out a historic event that needs to not be forgotten. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "On May 1, 2 and 3, 1866, mobs of white men led by law enforcement attacked black people in the areas near South St. (aka Calhoun & G.E. Patterson). By the end of the attack, the mobs had killed an estimated 46 black people; raped several black women; and committed numerous robberies, assaults and arsons. A congressional investigative committee reported that four churches, twelve schools and 91 other dwellings were burned. Although no one was ever prosecuted for this massacre, it became a rallying cry in the battle over the nation's reconstruction following the Civil War. Ultimately, the outrage that followed the massacre helped to ensure the adoption of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The marker was erected in 2016 by the Memphis NAACP and the National Park Service. There is parking nearby. [Review 2051 of 2024 - 542 in Tennessee - 23071 overall]

Walking through the Beale Street Entertainment District (fancy name), this marker points out the…read morehistory of two of the area's entrepreneurs who developed a number of businesses here. The marker reads, "Starting business in 1900, Clarence Gillis and brothers Andrew and Cornelius were noted entrepreneurs. They adopted the name "Gillis Brothers" and engaged in several business ventures, the first of which was a grocery located on Polk Street. Later they opened a large wholesale and retail grocery on Beale Street where they also owned and operated a first- class hotel for Blacks." This is marker number 4E-122 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. [Review 2093 of 2024 - 547 in Tennessee - 23112 overall]

Strolling up to 406 Lucy Avenue--a modest, boarded-up shotgun house in South Memphis--hits you with…read morea mix of reverence and heartbreak. This humble home is where the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, first drew breath on March25,1942 Despite being in a rough spot--windows boarded, weeds creeping, and parts collapsing--it still whispers history at every creak You can't go inside, but stepping onto the porch--or as close as allowed--fills you with awe. This is ground zero for gospel that would later shake the world. Aretha herself returned here in 2014 and recalled memories of her father preaching and her family gathering under a backyard tree with nostalgia and fondness The neighborhood, part of historic Soulsville, bears its own scars--decades of neglect and blight. But the house stands at the center of a hopeful revival. Local activists and preservation groups have fought zoning orders and demolition plans, and as recently as mid-2024, efforts to stabilize and restore the site gained traction--especially now that Anasa Troutman owns the property with the intent to honor its legacy in place

To some 406 Lucy Avenue Memphis TN 38106 is just a boarded up house in a blighted neighborhood…read more However to those that love music history and nostalgia this is sacred. Why is it sacred? Because the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was born here. Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 26, 1942 in Memphis Tennessee. I cannot imagine what it was like back in those times but to see where she came from to what she became in her life is astounding. The dwelling is marked as a Historical Landmark but it is unkempt and not restored. I pray that some group be it her family or her fans find a way to restore it and make it a museum.

Beale Street has several historical markers related to the music industry but this one points out a…read moresuccessful citizen in the medical field. The marker reads, "In 1893, George Jackson established on Beale Street the Jackson Drug Store, also known as the New Era Pharmacy, the first drug store in Memphis to be owned and operated by a black person. Jackson received degrees from Oberlin College and the University of Michigan School of Pharmacy. He was a member of the faculty of the University of West Tennessee and a charter member of the Memphis Chapter, NAACP." This is marker number 4E-96 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. There is parking nearby but you're probably on foot and exploring the bars and music here. [Review 2089 of 2024 - 546 in Tennessee - 23108 overall]

Strange to see this marker in front of our hotel. I didn't realize Piggly Wiggly is from Memphis &…read morethey were America's first true self-service grocery store . Clarence Saunders founded the supermarket in Memphis, in 1916. In grocery stores of that time, shoppers presented their orders to clerks who then gathered the goods from the store shelves. Saunders, a dynamic & innovative man, noticed that this method resulted in time and expense wasted, so he came up with an unheard-of solution that would revolutionize the entire grocery industry. He created a way for shoppers to serve themselves. Piggy Wiggly supermarkets are still in business today.

The Piggly Wiggly marker in downtown Memphis may not seem like much at first glance--just a humble…read moreplaque outside a historic storefront--but for anyone who's ever set foot in a modern grocery store, it's where the whole thing began. This was the site of the world's first self-service grocery store, opened by Clarence Saunders in 1916. Before this place, shopping meant handing your list to a clerk who fetched your items. But Saunders changed everything, letting customers roam the aisles, pick their own goods, and--revolutionary idea--read price tags. Standing there, you can almost picture early shoppers wandering through the aisles for the first time, baskets in hand, probably confused and delighted. It's a quiet spot on a busy street, easy to miss if you're rushing--but if you pause, it feels like standing at the start of something massive. Like someone invented not just a store, but a way of life. It's not flashy, but it's sacred ground for retail nerds, Southern storytellers, and anyone who ever enjoyed impulse-buying snacks at checkout. The Piggly Wiggly marker is a tribute to bold ideas and grocery carts--who knew a grocery store could have so much history?

Orange Mound Community Center continues to be a staple in the Memphis community. They have so many…read moreresources that they offer for all ages. I visited this day for the Wear Orange, a gun violence prevention program that highlights, recognize, and bring together various organizations with the same mission. The community center is clean. The staff is friendly. Plus they have plenty of space for visitors. Keep up the good work!

Orange Mound Community Center and Senior Center. 2nd Annual Division of Parks and Neighborhoods…read moreOratorical Competition held at Orange Mound Community Center. Theme: "If your Neighborhood could talk, what would it say and how has it changed your life today?" McFarland Community Center, won 2nd place in the 6-8th grade category. #mcfarlandcommunitycenter City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods