More About Memphis
Memphis city in extreme southwestern Tennessee is a seat of Shelby County. The largest city in the state, Memphis is located on the Chickasaw Bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers. Visitors come from all over the world to celebrate the city that virtually invented blues, soul and rock 'n' roll, as well as to chow down in the unrivaled barbecue capital of the nation. A visit to Memphis, the home of the Sun and Stax record labels, with its frequent festivals and vigorous nightlife, feels like an invitation to share in a genuine and enduring local culture.
Memphis is a major transportation hub. The city is also an important interstate freeway crossroads and has a busy river port and many railroad connections. It is linked to West Memphis, Arkansas, by two bridges across the Mississippi River. Memphis is the commercial center of the Mississippi Delta, a rich farming area known for its cotton and soybean production. Culturally and geographically, Memphis has more in common with the delta lands of Mississippi and Arkansas than with the rest of Tennessee.
Memphis offers a variety of entertaining activities for the entire family to enjoy & is proud to be known as the Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll. Rich in culture, Memphis has a number of theatres, museums and other artistic attractions that are open to the public as well. The city's many museums include the National Civil Rights Museum, on the site where Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968; the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art; etc. There are also several art galleries, the Memphis Zoo and Aquarium, an amusement park, a number of performing-arts organizations, a sports stadium, and an entertainment and sports arena called the Pyramid. Tourist attractions include sightseeing cruises on the Mississippi River; Graceland, the former home of singer Elvis Presley; and Beale Street, a music and entertainment district made famous by blues composer W. C. Handy. Historic sites include the Magevney House and numerous Victorian-style structures. Mud Island, a downtown river park, presents the history of the Mississippi River. Near the city is Chucalissa Archaeological Museum, on the site of a Native American settlement established about AD 1000 and abandoned in the 16th century. The city's annual events include the month-long Memphis in May International Festival, which focuses on a different culture each year, and the Blues Festival.
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