Memphis Edge's guide to top area attractions in Memphis, Tennessee.

Beale Street

• Ballet Memphis - Ballet Memphis performs at the historic Orpheum Theatre and at local schools and at other venues throughout the city.
  

• Beale Street -  The Historic Beale Street area in downtown Memphis offers food, fun and entertainment. Many of Memphis' most popluar clubs, restaurants and shops are found on Beale Street including B.B. Kings Restaurant & Blues Club, Alfreds, Beale Street Gifts, Blues City Cafe, Club 152 on Beale, Dyers Burgers, Hard Rock Cafe Memphis. Kings Palace Cafe, New Daisy, Rum Boogie, Silky O’ Sullivans. Tater Reds and Wet Willie.

• Brooks Museum of Art - The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art was founded in 1916. It is Memphis' premire art museum. The Brooks Museum of Art is located in midtown in Overton Park next to the Memphis College of Art, which also contains a display of student artwork.The musuem features many popular exhibits during the year and hosts apermanent collection of paintings including Italian Renaissance, Baroque, as well as British, French Impressionists, and 20th century artists. The musuem has audio guides, a cafe and gift shop.

• Childrens Museum Of Memphis - The Children's Museum of Memphis creates learning experiences through hands-on exhibits and programs. The museum features many interactive exhibits for children, an art gallery and hosts events for groups and birthdays.

• Chucalissa Museum and Archaeological site - American Indians lived in a sophisticated culture along the Mississippi River and in the Memphis area long before Europeans arrived to America. Chucalissa Museum allows visitors to explore Native American history and the lifestyle of these people. Chucalissa Museum is operated by the University of Memphis.

• Graceland - Graceland is the former home of Rock n Roll legend Elvis Presley. Graceland attracts over 650.000 visitors a year from Elvis fans who live all over the world. Guided tours of the home, Elvis' cars and plane and lots of Elvis Presley memorabilia. Annual events include the memorial services on the week of Elvis's birthday and the Graceland Christmas lighting.

• Lichterman Nature Center Lichterman is an urban nature center with lush beautiful gardens on a 65 acre lake. Lichterman Nature Center featues flowers, trees, a meadow, and a forest. Home to a wide variety of birds, plants and animals. Visitors can enjoy nature walks, wildlife programs and festivals.

• Memphis Botanical Garden - A 96 acre property includes 23 specialty gardens featuring a large variety of plants, flowers, herbs and trees.

• Memphis Queen Riverboat - Sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Mississippi River.
  

• Memphis Zoo - The Memphis Zoo is onee of only four U.S. zoos to exhibit the most treasured endangered species - the giant panda. Located on 76 acres in Overton Park the Memphis Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals. Created in April 1906, the zoo has been a fun and educational outing for children and adults to explore animals.

• Mud Island - Explore the history of the Mississippi River. Located on Mud Island in downtown Memphis it includes an actual-sized replica and facts on the Mississippi River. Seasonal concerts, galleries and historical exhibits.

• National Civil Rights Museum - The National Civil Rights Museum is located in the former Lorraine Motel the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The museum serves to preserve the legacy of Dr. King and the history of the American civil rights movement. The motel’s owner maintained the two rooms – Rooms 306 & 307 - used by Dr. King in the hours before his death as a shrine to him. A parade and celebration is held each year to honor Dr. King's memory on Martin Luther King Day.

• Orpheum Theatre - In 1890, the Grand Opera House was built on the corner of Main and Beale Streets. The Grand became part of the Orpheum Circuit of vaudeville shows in 1907, thus the theatre became known as the Orpheum. In 1923 a fire broke out during a show and burned the theatre to the ground.  in 1982 a $5 million renovation began to restore the Orpheum to its 1928 opulence. The Orpheum now presents up to 12 Broadway shows each year. Two of Memphis' local arts groups, Ballet Memphis and Opera Memphis, call the Orpheum home.

• Playhouse on the Square - Memphis' only professional resident theatre company. Season calendars and ticket information available online.  The construction of the new Playhouse on the Square will feature 350 seats on two levels: an orchestra and balcony with boxes and designed for maximum audience engagement with no seat further than 10 rows from the stage. The company began in 1965 when students at Overton High School teamed up to form a troupe of actors to perform shows in churches and civic centers. In 1975, Circuit Playhouse acquired a 1920s movie theatre building in Overton Square in Midtown Memphis and Playhouse on the Square opened on November 12, 1975 with a production of “Godspell.”  Playhouse on the Square is known for outstanding productions.

• Pink Palace - The Pink Palace Museum is Memphis' largest science museum. Walk through a replica of Piggly Wiggly the first self-service grocery store in the country. Trace the history of Memphis from Spanish explorers to the civil war. It includes America's third largest planetarium, as well as an IMAX theatre.

• Sun Studio - The birthplace of Rock N Roll. The original studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and other artists recorded their first songs and hits.
  

• Theatre Memphis - Little Theatre in Memphis began in 1920 and is one of the oldest theatres in the country.