National Civil Rights Museum
Time Needed: full-day, half-day
Experience Type: cultural heritage, historic landmark
Built around the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum chronicles America’s ongoing struggle for justice through immersive exhibits, oral histories, and powerful artifacts
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- View the Lorraine Motel – Stand before Room 306 and the preserved balcony where Dr. King was assassinated, offering a powerful, somber connection to American history.
- Experience the Bus Exhibit – Sit inside a replica segregated bus. Hear Rosa Parks’ defiant stand during the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott through a stirring first-person audio narrative.
- Explore Resistance to Slavery – The “Culture of Resistance” gallery traces three centuries, from the Atlantic slave trade to Jim Crow, through artifacts, oral histories, and interactive media.
- See the Freedom Riders Bus – View a replica of the burned-out bus from 1961, with oral histories and film recounting the Riders’ bravery amid violent opposition.
- Explore the Lunch Counter – Sit at the original segregated counter, where life-size figures, projected film, and interactive displays immerse you in sit-ins, protests, and boycott stories.
Itinerary Idea: Explore Memphis on a guided city tour that includes Beale Street, Victorian Village, and a barbecue tasting before visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. Get to know the city’s musical roots, civil rights history, and cultural landmarks.
Photo Credit: Julian Harper/Memphis Tourism