History of Memphis, Tennessee, USA

MEMPHIS, Feb. 9. - A most disastrous conflagration broke out in the building No. 230 Main street, occupied by the Druz-Berne Hat company, at 9:30. The building, which was of six stories, was doomed, and all efforts were concentrated in an endeavor to save adjoining property. At 10:15 the Druz-Berne building fell in with a crash, and a few minutes later the building of the Langstaff Hardware company, which adjoined it at the south, fell into the space formerly occupied by the hat building. The trunk factory to the north, occupied by S. LEVY, was then a mass of flames and soon was a total wreck. The fire continued spreading and by midnight Lanbrman's hotel, the finest south of the Ohio river, "The Ruby" saloon, and a large harness factory and another building were either burning or destroyed. So far as know there has been no loss of life. The loss will probably exceed $1,000,000.

Memphis, a city and port of entry of Shelby co., Tennessee, is beautifully situated on the Mississippi River, just below the mouth of Wolf River, and on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, 420 miles below St. Louis, 209 miles W.S.W. of Nashville, and 826 miles above New Orleans. Lat. 35° 8' N.; lon. 90°5' W. It is the most populous and important town on the river between St. Louis and New Orleans, and occupies the only eligible site for a commercial depot from the mouth of the Ohio to Vicksburg, a distance of 650 miles. The bluff on which it stands is elevated about 60 feet above high-water mark, and its base is washed by the river for a distance of 3 miles, while a bed of sandstone projects into the stream and forms a convenient landing. The city contains many churches, both white and colored, 5 academies, a public library, a number of national and other banks, a chamber of commerce, about 60 public free schools, a cotton exchange, a custom-house, a large hospital, a Roman Catholic college, and ...

Memphis, a city and capital of Shelby co., Tenn., is beautifully situated on the Mississippi River, just below the mouth of the Wolf River and on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, 209 miles WSW. of Nashville and 820 miles above New Orleans. Lat. 35° 8' N. ; lon. 90° 5' W. It is an important railroad centre, the Illinois Central, the Louisville and Nashville, the Southern and several other roads converging here. It is the most populous and important town on the river between St. Louis and New Orleans. The bluff on which it stands is elevated 40-50 feet above high-water mark and its base is washed by the river for a distance of 3 miles. The city, which is beautifully parked, has a number of imposing or conspicuous public buildings, as the cotton exchange, merchants' exchange, custom-house, hospitals, opera-house, auditorium, etc., and among educational institutions the Christian Brothers' College, St. Agnes Academy, Cossett Free Library, Le Moyne Normal Institute, the Memphis Hospital Medical...

Memphis, Tenn., March 21. - A freight house of the Illinois Central Railroad, situated at the corner of Shelby and Calhoun streets in the southern part of this city, together with twenty-five car loads of merchandise and six empty freight cars were destroyed by fire tonight, entailing a loss estimated at $65,000. The fire originated in the freight-house, which is situated in the midst of a number of warehouses and cotton sheds and within half a block of the union passenger station, and for a time these structures were endangered. The fire, however, was practically confined to the building in which it originated.

At 6:05 P.M. on Thursday, 4 April 1968, Martin Luther King was shot dead while standing on a balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. News of King’s assassination prompted major outbreaks of racial violence, resulting in more than 40 deaths nationwide and extensive property damage in over 100 American cities. James Earl Ray, a 40-year-old escaped fugitive, later confessed to the crime and was sentenced to a 99-year prison term. During King’s funeral a tape recording was played in which King spoke of how he wanted to be remembered after his death: “I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others” (King, “Drum Major Instinct,” 85)...

Graceland:

Visit the home of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley. Explore the mansion, Elvis's car collection, and other exhibits.

Beale Street:

Experience the vibrant nightlife and musical history of Beale Street. Live music, clubs, and great food await you.

Memphis Zoo:

Spend a day at the Memphis Zoo, home to over 3,500 animals representing more than 500 species.

National Civil Rights Museum:

Located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this museum provides a powerful and moving exploration of civil rights history in America.

Sun Studio:

Take a guided tour of Sun Studio, often referred to as the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, and learn about the legendary musicians who recorded there.

Shelby Farms Park:

Enjoy outdoor activities at one of the largest urban parks in America. You can bike, paddleboard, or simply have a picnic in this beautiful space.

Memphis Riverfront:

Take a stroll along the Mississippi...