A lot to do in Memphis!

There are a lot of fun and interesting things to do here in Memphis....I think Mike and I are trying to all of them. Okay, maybe not, but we are seeing and doing a lot and have a lot to come back to next time we are through this way!

On this day we visited the National Civil Rights Museum, went to Central for BBQ and then on to Sun Studios....the birthplace of Rock and Roll!!

 The National Civil Rights Museum is built on to the old Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was slain.


























Below, you can see the room he was standing in front of when shot. Room 306

 The story of the fight for civil rights begins with, of course, slavery.....

slave being sold on the auction block

And progresses to the fight for equality after emancipation.

 Above, looking through the window of the Lorraine Motel, 306, you can just make out the wreath where King stood when shot.  The building below is the hotel behind the Lorraine where James Earl Ray shot King.

 In this pic, I am standing in the room next to the bathroom where it is said Ray stood and fired the fatal shot.  That room is closed off.  You can see, however, the clear view I have of the balcony where King stood from just a few away from the bathroom.

 After the museum we were ready for lunch. We heard from a few folks that Central BBQ was not to be missed, so we went there for lunch.  We were able to walk from the museum, and the BBQ at Central was, indeed, delicious!

Then on to Sun Studio!!!!  The home of Rock and Roll!!!!!!!

 

Above is Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Studio.  To the right is Marion, his "secretary" (she did everything including floor tiles and paneling when the studio was built) who actually recorded Elvis for the first time because Sam was not there that day and convinced Sam to hear him.  It took over a year for Elvis to do convince Sam he was the one;)

 Johnny Cash, among many, many greats, also got his start here.

This is the first record Elvis made, pulled out of the box at the studio by Marion and signed for her by Elvis.  He wrote on it: Forever grateful, Elvis Presley. He probably did owe his career to her.

 After the tour we were able to have our pics taken with a mike used by Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash among others!  What a kick!!!!!!

Uh huh!!