About this city
Also known as: Home of the Blues, River City, Bluff City
Commanding a spectacular position atop the massive Chickasaw Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in the extreme southwestern corner of the state, Memphis is the county seat of Shelby County and a colossal global hub for music and logistics. Founded in 1819 and named after the ancient capital of Egypt, the city grew into a wealthy global capital for cotton trading and slave commerce during the 19th century. Memphis holds a legendary, immortal place in cultural history as the birthplace of Rock and Roll and modern Soul music, famously launching the careers of cultural icons like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King. The contemporary city layout features an unique contrast between glittering downtown skyscraper districts, historic music shrines, a world-class culinary barbecue culture, and the massive global shipping hubs of FedEx.
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Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–3 days
Tour the opulent historic mansion galleries and view the final resting place of the music icon at Elvis Presley's Graceland. Listen to live, raw Delta blues and rock performances along the historic neon-lit neon corridors of Beale Street. Explore the historic recording rooms and microphones that birthed rock history at Sun Studio.
