Stax Museum of American Soul Music
4.8(3.4K)google
4.7(264)yelp
Youth-FriendlyIndoorMust-SeeEducationalHistoryMusic
Overview
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located in the vibrant Soulsville USA neighborhood of Memphis, standing on the historic site of the original Stax Records studio. As the world's only museum dedicated to preserving American soul music, it honors legendary artists like Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T. & the M.G.'s who broke racial barriers during the turbulent 1960s. The museum features a spectacular collection of over 2,000 artifacts, including Isaac Hayes' glittering gold-plated Cadillac and an authentically reconstructed 1906 Mississippi church hall.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeAn all-weather indoor musical treasury holding the world's finest collection of soul music history. Visiting weekend mornings between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM is prime; the acoustic soundtracks are active, letting you admire Isaac Hayes' custom 24-karat gold-trimmed Cadillac in a cool, contemplative setting.
Getting ThereHoused in the historic Soulsville USA neighborhood at 926 E McLemore Ave. Drive south from downtown via US-51 (Bellevue Blvd) for 3 miles, and turn left onto E McLemore Ave. The legendary studio building features its own large complimentary paved surface parking lot directly adjacent to the box office.
Travel Tips
- The museum is embedded deep within the volatile Soulsville neighborhood in South Memphis, an area charting acute property crime metrics. Never drop your vehicle curbside on local residential grids; steer directly into the museum's complimentary, fully fenced and monitored rear lot backed by dedicated security personnel.
- The gallery layout relies on a strict, irreversible one-way chronological corridor. Once you pass beyond the reconstructed 1906 Mississippi church sanctuary exhibit, internal checkpoint turnstiles prevent backtracking into earlier galleries; secure all photography and text reading on your first pass.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- To arrest the chemical decay of ultra-rare soul artifacts, vintage master tapes, and Elvis’s gold-plated custom Cadillac, flash illumination is completely banned across the museum. The deployment of telescoping selfie-sticks or grounded tripods/monopods is strictly prohibited by conservation staff.
Reviews
Positive
- Built on the original site of the legendary recording studio, this soul music museum holds immense historic value, with Isaac Hayes's gold-plated Cadillac delivering massive visual impact.
- The galleries pulse with beautiful, grooving classic soul tracks; from a restored historic church to walls of vinyl records, the tour maximizes fun and immersion.
- The directional signage is bright and clear, featuring a flat, one-way accessible layout that keeps navigation smooth for wheelchairs and strollers alongside clean restrooms.
- Ticketing and entry run smoothly with orderly crowds. The music-loving staff eagerly recommend other Memphis music stops with gentle, professional service.
Heads up
- Almost all artist graphics and multimedia texts are exclusively in English, lacking multilingual translations and capping the experience for foreign guests.
- The museum's physical footprint is relatively small, finishing in just over an hour, which makes the twenty-dollar ticket feel low in value for some guests.
- The dedicated parking lot is somewhat tight, easily maxing out during peak season afternoons and forcing guests onto street parking, capping convenience.
- Located in an older neighborhood outside the downtown core, there are no restaurants within walking distance, leaving almost zero food options on-site.