Anattasight: Homes of the Blues - Memphis, Tennessee

City of Memphis named after an ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River was founded in 1819. The city was nicknamed as The Bluff City as it occupies a substantial bluff rising from Mississippi River. This natural location for settlement was first settled by Mississippian culture then followed by Chickasaw Indian tribe who occupied the bluff along Mississippi River for 10,000 years, building large mound on the bluff. European explorers like Spanish and French came in only by beginning of 16th century. Memphis is a vibrant city that is home to some of the world's most melodious music, tastiest food and authentic culture.

Memphis, located at south west corner of United States is known to media outlet as mid south. It is considered as the largest city in State of Tennessee. Downtown Core, the central business district of the city is located along Mississippi River. Many parts of it are situated great for walkers and cyclists and also easily access by Street trolley.

Beale Street at Memphis City, used to be the center of Black Community, is one of the most famous street in United States . It is a place where the Blues were born and where the clubs and juke-joints of today keep the legacy alive. It was the place where young BB king used to play his guitar, a place where street performers play live music, a street where bars and clubs feature live entertainment until dawn.

Beale Street is brimming with musician of all types. The Handy Park showcase excellent local talents in a fantastic open-air environment and some of the best R&B, Jazz and Blue music around. This venue rocks until the wee hour in the morning. It is free to stroll down the brick lined street and listen to sounds bellowing out the clubs.

Memphis is well known for its cultural distributions to the identity of American South. Many renowned musician grew up in or around Memphis or moved from Mississippi Delta. The King of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley is one of the musical greats.

Memphis is the birthplace of Rock N Roll. The Rock N Soul Museum is at the corner of legendary Blue Highway and Beale Street. Nearby stand the FedEx Forum which is a sport arena officially opened in Sept. 2004. The dome shape FedEx Arena, covering a land area of 14 acres, is able to cater for 18,000 audience seats. The building cost was around US$250 million in which US$92 million was paid by Federal Express for the purchase of naming right.

Some of the historic buildings, and among which are Burkle Estate built in 1849 and Hunt Phelam House at Beale Street. Both were reputed to have been part of the underground railroad by which escaped slaves made their way to freedom prior to civil war.

Downtown of Memphis including the riverfront and the bluffs overlooking Mississippi River, is the oldest part of the city. In 1844-1886, River Landing was paved with limestone and granite cobblestones brought in from upper middle west, creating the largest intact Mississippi River landing that still exist today.

Due to its flood free location which is high above Mississippi River, City of Memphis was developed as a transportation center in 19th century. Memphis-Charleston Railroad built in 1857 was the only east-west railroad across the southern states of country prior to civil war. Memphis became a major slave market as cotton economy of Antebellum South expanded on the forced labor of large numbers of African-Americans in 19th century. And from the largest mule market in 1950's , it grew into the world largest spot cotton market and hardwood lumber market in 20th century.

Memphis Street Trolley at the site of Union Station, a passenger terminal in Memphis completed in 1912 but demolished in 1969.

The upper riverfront was the site of the river landing where steamboats were loaded with cotton and other goods during 19th to 20th century.

Memphis City is a natural transportation hub with Mississippi River crossing for interstate 40 from east to west and for interstate 50 from north to south. There are three bridges across Mississippi River.

Pyramid Arena was a former athletic and music venue. The unique structure was built basing on the sake of city's name, Memphis which was a name of an ancient Egypt city. Pyramid Arena is the 6th largest pyramid built in the world with a height of 321 feet. In year 2008, City of Memphis began leasing the Pyramid Arena to Bass Pro Shops facility with the intention to become Bass Pro's largest superstores in the country. The project was not successful and the building remain dormant.

Tom Lee Park is situated downtown on the bluffs of Mississippi River and is a primary park used for major events such as Beale Street Musical Festival, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. It is an ideal place to have a perfect view of barges and river cruises floating at the river nearby.

A cute little hut at Tom Lee Park is a public toilet.

Classic houses at Tom Lee Park overlooking Mississippi River, gated and guarded.

View of Hernando de Soto Bridge from Tom Lee Park.

DNA of Memphis is a cross-stitch of music, cotton, blues and barbecue. Memphis barbecue is famous throughout the nation. The world championship barbecue cooking contest which is the largest pork barbecue cooking contest in the world was held in Memphis every year.

Charles Vergos Restaurant offering its charcoal ribs since 1948. They do not offer much varieties but only ribs with two side dishes in which one is red been. I have to give stars to its ribs and the side dishes. They taste so good that I do not think any other restaurant of the same kind is able to compete. This should be the reason why customers started flocking in 4 pm. when they are not even ready to start the business yet. Do not miss it when visiting Memphis.

An attractive building of McDonald's restaurant at midtown.

The Pink Palace was built in 1923 by Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly (1916) which was the first self-service grocery store commemorating the invention of supermarket by Memphian. The mansion was covered in pink Georgian marble to be built for his own residence but due to financial reversals on Wall Street, he lost his home. Owing to owner's financial trouble Pink Palace was given to The City of Memphis in late 1920's and opened as Memphis Museum of Natural History and Industrial Arts in March 1930.

Pink House Museum and Planetarium serves as the mid south's major science and historical museum. It attracts 240,000 visitors a year with exhibits ranging from archeology to Chemistry. The Museum contains variety of exhibits relating to Memphis's history. There is one exhibit that features a replica of original Piggly Wiggly store.

Nearby land at Pink Palace purchased by developer was developed into residences.

Beautiful Houses adjacent to Pink Palace Museum.

The University of Memphis was an American public research university with enrollment of 23,000 students in which 500 are graduates.

Memphis College of Art, situated in Overton Park is a small private college of art and design opened in year 1936. It only has 450 students but nearly 20% are graduates.

Memphis College of Art and also Memphis Brooks Museum of Art situated at The Overton Park, named after one of Memphis founder, John Overton.

Overton Park is a 342 acres large public park in Memphis Midtown. Park grounds contain Memphis College of Art, Veterans Plaza, Memphis Zoo, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, a 9-hole golf course and other features.

Veteran plaza at Overton Park contains memorials to the veterans of Memphis and Shelby County who were killed defending the freedom of USA. The 2 acres area is home to collection of memorials including World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam War and Desert Storm.

Lindenwood Church and Veteran Plaza with a plaque stated therein ".....through these memorials we pay honor to 1525 Shelby County Veterans who were killed in the 20th and 21st century"

The old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park, one of the few remaining old growth forests in Tennessee, is a natural arboretum with labeled trees along the trails.

Union Avenue in Midtown.

Poplar Avenue is largely fronted by 1920's apartment buildings.

Many commercial and residential structures along Poplar Avenue and Park Avenue date to the beginning of 20th century.

The 19th and 20th residential houses in Poplar and Park Avenue neighborhood.

Park Avenue.

Downtown buildings. Pyramid Arena is the first sight seen when enter the city from west via Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge which was built in 1991.

Sterrick Building at Madison Square was completed in year 1930 which was the tallest building in the city by then. It is an office building and was named after its original owner.

Downtown commercial district.

Flying Fish is one of the popular restaurants at downtown offering fresh catch of the day. Every corner of the restaurant including washroom is hanged with photographs of angler with their extraordinary catch or fish in hand.

A satisfactory lunch at Flying Fish restaurant though we were the only customer arrived at this odd hour, we were well served with good food.

Innovative fish replica decoration on the walls is an outstanding attraction on walls.

At a nett price of US$13.00 you may try their "All you can eat catfish platter" offered only once a week and the whole fish of red snapper at US$14.00, was very fresh and tasted real good in their creole style.