A great deal of the history and culture of the City of Memphis is intertwined with the African-American experience in the Mid-Southern region of the Unites States. The migration of former slaves from the plantations in Mississippi to the Memphis area prior to, during and after the Civil War, contributed significantly to the diversity of this area. Many historic sites, in the Memphis area, that directly pertain to the history of the African-American who lived in the Mid-South during the 19th and 20th centurys remain and are open to the public to study and tour.

Sweet Magnolia Tours has created an interesting series of cultural and fun entertainment tours that emphasize the contribution and accomplishments of its African American citizens. Black Memphians have made remarkable leadership contributions in social change, the arts and cultural influences, as well as, internationally known music composition. Our tours offer glimpses into the lives of artists, musicians, political and social personalities and citizens if faith.

Tour Description:

On our Memphis African American City Tour you will visit many historical sights that you have read and heard about. Sites on this tour include drive-bys at Beale St. Baptist Church, the first brick constructed multistory church in the US built by African Americans for African Americans, Robert Church Park, honoring the South’s first Black millionaire, National Civil Rights Museum, site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Lemoyne-Owen College, the oldest historical Black college in the South, Elmwood Cemetery, Tom Lee Park, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Fed Ex Forum, Home of the Grizzles NBA Basketball Team.

On Beale St., the Home of the Blues, you will find the home and a stature of W. C. Handy, a Black man who was the first to pen the Blues and later became known as the Father of the Blues. A marker on Beale St honors Ida B. Wells, an out spoken journalist, abolitionism and suffragist in the early 1900’s, who was the first Black woman to publish a newspaper.

From Beale St you will travel across town to see other Memphis Music sites known all over the world, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Royal Studio/Home of Hi Records, where artists like Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Ann Peebles and groups like Earth Wind & Fire began their careers.

Opportunities for Picture Stops on this tour include Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River, Mason Temple where Dr. King gave his famous “I’ve been to the mountain top….” speech, and “The Temple of Deliverance Cathedral of Bountiful Blessings” - Pastor G. E. Patterson- elected the head of COGIC, the largest Pentecostal religion in the US. This is the only Black church with two locations. The church has a TV ministry that is very successful today and is broadcast to the nation on Sundays.

Optional stops (select 1

• Joysmith Gallery - African-American artists as well as ancestral and contemporary art from African, Asia, Latin-Native, and South America. Open most week days and on Saturday. Free admission.
• The Jay Etkin Gallery is one of the largest galleries in the South. The gallery houses an extensive collection of Ethnographic Works of Art; particular emphasis is on Vintage Art of Africa (includes Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, the Congo, and Tanzania: tribal used wood carvings and textiles) and Retablos from Peru. Open most weekdays. Free admission.
• Tennessee Sate Welcome Center - Larger than life statues of B. B. King & Elvis. Free admission.
• W. C. Handy House - Tour home of W. C. Handy relocated to Beale St. $3.00 admission.
  

Terms & Conditions: A deposit of $100.00 will be due 30 days in advance. The balance is due two weeks in advance. After this time all monies are non-refundable. If you have questions or you wish to book your tour date please call us toll free 1-866-320-5295 / Local 901-525-2842 / Fax 901-525-2901 or email Memphis@SweetMagnoliaTours.com