Memphis Spots Most Visitors Miss
Beale Street and Graceland get all the attention, understandably, but a handful of smaller stops round out a Memphis trip without the crowds.
National Ornamental Metal Museum
Perched on a bluff over the Mississippi River at the site of the old French Fort, this museum focuses entirely on metalwork, sculpture, and blacksmithing, a genuinely unusual collection you won’t find duplicated elsewhere in the city.
Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Memphis Botanic Garden
These two sit across from each other in East Memphis, one an art museum set in formal gardens, the other a broader botanic garden. Pairing them into a single quiet afternoon works well, especially as a break from the density of downtown sightseeing.
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
Housed in the Burkle Estate at 826 N 2nd St, open Tuesday through Saturday, this small museum tells a specific and important piece of Memphis’s history connected to the Underground Railroad, distinct from the civil rights story told at the Lorraine Motel a century later.
Overton Park Shell
This outdoor amphitheater in Overton Park is where Elvis Presley played his first paid concert, on July 30, 1954, often cited as one of the first true rock ’n’ roll shows. It’s a quiet spot most days, worth a look even without a concert on the calendar.
The W.C. Handy Home
At 352 Beale St, this small home once belonged to the composer credited with popularizing the blues in written form. It’s cash-only, and photos aren’t allowed inside, so verify current hours before you plan a visit around it.
Blues Hall of Fame
Located at 421 S. Main St, this is a separate institution from the Blues Hall venue attached to Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street, worth knowing before you go looking for the wrong address.
Big River Crossing
A free, roughly 1-mile pedestrian and bike bridge from downtown Memphis into West Memphis, Arkansas. It costs nothing and takes an hour or so, and it’s the easiest way to say you’ve set foot in two states on the same trip.
Work these into a longer stay
These stops fit naturally into a 3-day or longer trip once the core music and civil rights sights are covered. See our 3-day itinerary or 4-day itinerary for where they slot in.