Memphis Museums and Galleries

The National Civil Rights Museum is fresh off a $27 million renovation (completed in 2014) that updated its capacity to provide interactive exhibitions, including a treasure trove of video footage. The museum itself is located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, with King’s room preserved as it was the morning he left it, down to the day’s newspaper. It’s a beautiful, well-considered, incredibly important, truly moving experience to see it in person.

Memphis has a miles-long list of museums and venues where tourists can learn about the city’s rich music culture and history, but if you’re only in town for the weekend, opt for the classic trifecta of Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Rock ‘n Soul museum (free shuttles between the three make it blessedly easy). Start with Sun Studio, which is right near downtown, and offers tours through the building where everyone from BB King and James Cotton to Johnny Cash and Elvis recorded albums. Next, head to the Rock ‘n Soul Museum, just down the street, which is actually a creation of the Smithsonian. They have a huge collection of artifacts and really well-executed storytelling, so it’s probably the best place to learn about Memphis’s musical history from start to finish. End the day with the epic kitschy-ness of Graceland, which has tours all day until 4pm—two hours is plenty of time to get the gist of the place, and most people recommend visiting just before close, when the crowds start to dwindle.