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]]>Civil War
Whenever you visit this area of the country, it is always a good idea to have some understanding of the Civil War. Tennessee did secede from the United States in June 1861. At that time, the city of Memphis became a major defensive position for the Confederate States Army. However, within a year the Union Army took control of the city and held it for the remainder of the war.
Civil Rights Movement
Throughout the 1960s, Memphis became the center of the civil rights movement. Because of a number of segregation practices, the city swelled with a large population of African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. spent much of his time here and was later assassinated at his hotel in April 1968.
Music History
Some of the most renown musicians in American history either grew up and moved out of Memphis or remained and helped to grow the music culture. Some musicians did end up moving north, partly because of the segregation taking place in the city, and they ended up planting roots in other locations such as Chicago, Detroit and New York City. However, Memphis played a strong role in the development of these musicians. Some of the top musicians to come out of the city includes Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, Muddy Waters, Justin Timberlake, and Three 6 Mafia.
These are just a few of the important dates and events in the history of Memphis you should learn about prior to visiting the city. Now, there’s nothing wrong with reading further and diving into other bits of Memphis history. If there are aspects of history you find more interesting, by all means, read up on them prior to your visit. It will make the time you spend in the city that much more enjoyable. By educating yourself beforehand, you’ll be able to live through many of these important historical events when you arrive.
Additional Reading:
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]]>Celebrities from Memphis include:
- Justin Timberlake, who was born in Memphis to Lynn and Randall Timberlake on Jan. 31, 1981. This former “Mickey Mouse Club” regular and Man of the Woods also has several films under his belt, including “Friends with Benefits” and the Oscar-winning “Trouble with the Curve.”
- Cybill Shepherd, who was born to a homemaker and a small business owner in Memphis. She modeled for major magazines and has been credited as both a movie and TV actress.
- Actor and Memphis native Chris Parnell, who took drama and auditioned for every play during his time at Germantown High School. When he was a senior at Germantown in 1985, he was voted “Most Talented” by his classmates.
- Ginnifer Goodwin, who got her start in west Tennessee and is best known for starring in the award-winning “Walk the Line,” a film about country music star Johnny Cash.
- Kathy Bates, who took her first breath in Memphis. Her role in “Fried Green Tomatoes” earned her a solid spot in the nation’s heart, and she has not looked back since.
- Memphis-born Lucy Hale, who is a budding country music star and renowned actress best known for her portrayal of goth-princess Aria on the TV show “Pretty Little Liars.”
- Morgan Freeman, who has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern American cinema. Morgan was born in Memphis to Mayme Edna Revere and Morgan Porterfield Freeman on June 1, 1937.
Additional reading:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls003267972/
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]]>- Memphis’ largest maritime disaster occurred in 1865
On April 27, 1865, a steamboat known as the Sultana exploded just north of Memphis, killing more than 1800 of the union prisoners aboard who had just been released from Alabama and were headed to New Orleans. Despite having a capacity of just 376, the boat was holding more than 2,100 passengers, and the excess weight caused three of its boilers to explode. If you can’t believe you’ve never heard of this tragedy, here’s some historical context for you: It happened the same week as the assassination of President Lincoln.
- Tom Lee Park is named for the hero of another steamboat disaster
You’ve probably heard of Tom Lee Park, but did you know that Tom Lee saved 32 passengers from a sinking steamboat on May 8, 1925? Lee, a river worker, saw the M.E. Norman capsize and rushed to assist the passengers. At 23 deaths, the loss of life was still significant, but Lee’s intervention prevented a far bigger tragedy.
- Memphis was home to the South’s first African-American millionaire
Robert R. Church, also known as the South’s first African-American millionaire, developed his riches by purchasing real estate. After amassing his wealth, he paid it forward by opening the first black-owned business in Memphis—a bank that extended credit to black entrepreneurs and residents looking to build homes or establish businesses of their own. Church is also known for paying a $1,000 bond to restore the city’s charter. To honor his memory, modern-day Memphians can head to Robert Church Park, which is located adjacent to the FedEx Forum.
- Memphis didn’t have parks until the late 1800s
The parks we know and love in today’s Memphis were created as part of the City Beautification Movement, a reform philosophy that took off in North America in the 1890s. Before then, Memphis was an agricultural city known for having the world’s largest market for spot cotton, hardwood lumber and mules. Today, Memphis is home to a wide array of green spaces—notably Shelby Farms Park, which is one of the 20 largest urban parks in the country.
- A quartet of Memphis thoroughfares used to be named after the four seasons
Modern-day Memphis residents and frequent visitors to the Bluff City will probably be familiar with Summer Ave. and Autumn Ave., but did you know there used to be a Winter Ave. and a Spring Ave. to round out the set? The former is now known as Faxon Ave., while the latter’s current name is Forrest Ave. We bet you’ll remember this fun fact next time you’re driving in the city!
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]]>1) Rock ‘n’ roll
Can you imagine life without rock ‘n’ roll? Elvis and Johnny Cash are just a couple of the Memphis musicians who pioneered this unique music genre—and many of them got their start at the legendary Sun Studio and Stax Records right here in Memphis.
2) Jazz, soul and R&B
Beyond rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis is famous for a host of other musical genres, including jazz, soul and R&B. There’s no better place to enjoy some local tunes than Beale Street, a vibrant thoroughfare lined with bars, clubs and restaurants that also plays host to a wide variety of concerts and music festivals throughout the year.
3) Self-service grocery stores
The first self-service grocery store quickly became a hit after its Memphis debut—so much so that the chain has grown in number to encompass more than 500 stores today. It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time when consumers were supposed to hand their order lists to grocery store clerks who would select their products for them. Thank goodness Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders was around to revolutionize the shopping experience!
4) Unisex hair salons
Nowadays, we take unisex hair salons for granted, but when Sam Ross introduced the concept, it was unthinkable to imagine men and women getting their hair cut at the same establishment. Needless to say, the idea took off.
5) Overnight delivery
Headquartered in Memphis, FedEx changed the delivery game by getting packages from A to B overnight. Anyone who’s ever left their belongings in another city or forgotten a loved one’s birthday is surely thankful for this particular innovation!
6) Budget-friendly hotels
Before he became the founder of Holiday Inn, Kemmons Wilson had a series of disappointing lodging experiences while on a family road trip. After he recognized a market dearth of comfortable yet affordable lodging, he decided to change the game himself. Today, Holiday Inn is one of the largest hotel chains in the world.
7) Bottled soda
Before two lawyers from Tennessee had the great idea to bottle Coca-Cola, people had to go to soda fountains to get their fix. The next time you’re enjoying a bottle of soda, remember you have Memphis to thank!
8) The Modern Grocery Store
You can thank Clarence Saunders for the introduction of the first self-service grocery store. On Sept. 6, 1916 he opened Piggly Wiggly® in Memphis, but with a completely unheard of concept. It was the first time that shoppers could walk grocery aisles on their own and find items to purchase. This broke the traditional shopping mold in which shoppers presented their lists to clerks, who gathered the goods for customers. Saunders noticed this was time consuming and devised the solution that revolutionized shopping.
9) Morgan Freeman
Blockbuster films like “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Bruce Almighty” and even “Lego Movie” wouldn’t be the same without the uber talented Morgan Freeman. The acting legend who continues to make his mark on Hollywood claims Memphis as his birthplace. He was born here June 1, 1937.
10) Justin Timberlake
Speaking of uber talented, Memphis, TN is the birthplace of yet another celebrity. On Jan. 31, 1981, Justin Timberlake was born in this fair city. Since then he’s gone on to be a musical and comedic powerhouse, also delving into movies.
11) Kathy Bates
That’s not all, by a long shot. Celebrated actress Kathy Bates was born in Memphis on June 8, 1948. Her work on “Misery” “Titanic,” and “American Horror Story” are among the numerous roles that earned her to earn Bates critical acclaim.
12) Aretha Franklin
Memphis is also the birthplace of the undisputed Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin, who demands “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” was born here March 25, 1942. She went on to dominate the international music scene with her unmistakable voice.
13) The VeinViewer
The VeinViewer was invented in Memphis by Luminetx Technology Corp. The device uses a pulse of infrared light to provide a sort of X-ray of hemoglobin in veins. This allows healthcare workers to be more precise with drawing blood or administering medication.
14) Typewriter Ribbon
Although electronic devices have taken over, some people still love the sound and feel of using a typewriter. Part of what makes it work is the typewriter ribbon, which was invented by George K. Anderson of Memphis, TN. In 1886, he patented the device.
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]]>When it comes to generosity and investing in the community, Memphis leads the pack. According to a study from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Memphis ranks as the most charitable city in the United States.
Inspired to do even better
After trailing Salt Lake City, the last time rankings were revealed, Memphis broke into the top spot in 2017, spurred by increased giving to the public-school system. All told, Memphians give 5.6 percent of their overall income to charitable causes. That number is up from 5.1 percent in 2014, the last time the study was released.
Memphians were largely inspired to keep giving generously by a $90 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Teacher Effectiveness Institute (TEI) of Memphis City Schools in 2009. Their belief in Memphis’ ability to keep growing and thriving have renewed belief in the Bluff City and opened the floodgates for local residents to also contribute.
Over the last decade, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis has grown to an asset size of $430 million, and many of the donations coming in were specifically targeted to the public-school system. In 2017, that allowed the group to hand out $161 million in grants around the city.
It’s in our blood
Many also point to Memphis’ being a Southern city rooted in church philanthropy as influencing charitable giving. Cities like Birmingham and Atlanta, who also carry the same distinction, also ranked high on the list.
Besides the education system, other benefactors of Memphis’ philanthropy included:
- Extension of the Green Line bike trail
- Renovation of Shelby Farms Park
- Completion of Big River Crossing project
- Overton Square improvements
Sustained generosity
While some point to big changes in the federal tax code as it relates to charitable giving possibly hampering philanthropic giving across the country, there’s reason for optimism in Memphis. The number of public projects that have been sustained or initiated through Memphis’ generosity seems almost self-sustaining. That is, seeing all the good charitable giving has done for our city spurs continued giving.
Now that’s something to be proud of!
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