Downtown

South Main

Photo of trolley on South Main
© 2021 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, all rights reserved.

What’s old is new again in South Main, a vibrant neighborhood where warehouses have transformed into restaurants, shops offer vintage finds alongside the latest fashion trends and museums tell stories of why Memphis history still influences American culture today. South Main is where you’ll find the National Civil Rights Museum and the Blues Hall of Fame Museum. 

South Main only takes up one square mile near Downtown Memphis, but the neighborhood and arts district packs a lot of fun and excitement into a small footprint. Located one block south of Beale Street, the district is home to buzzworthy eateries and cocktail hot spots such as Catherine & Mary’s, WKND Hang Suite, Good Fortune and BedRock. 

Photo of trolley on South Main
© 2021 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, all rights reserved.

At the National Civil Rights Museum, exhibitions showcase the important moments and luminaries who defined the American Civil Rights Movement. Located at the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the museum chronicles the movement’s history through photographs, interactive displays and more. And each year, the museum holds special events, lectures and programs to address the impact of the era on culture today.

At the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, galleries showcase rare photographs, artifacts and other musical memorabilia including Muddy Water’s Stella acoustic guitar and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s signature stage “kimono”. Touchscreen displays allow visitors to listen to music and watch videos showcasing Hall of Fame inductees.