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Memphis:
Home
of the Blues and The Best Barbecue
(Even BBQ Spaghetti!)
By
Joel Raeber
At
the intersection of I-55 and I-40,
Memphis is a crossroads for RVers
heading in all directions. It’s
a pilgrimage stop for those wanting
to visit the birthplace of the blues,
of soul and of rock 'n' roll. It’s
a destination for barbecue aficionados.
And it’s a favorite stop for travelers
along the Mississippi since French
explorers Fathers Marquette and
Joliet sailed down the river through
Memphis in 1641.
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Beale
Street music includes
traditional Blues, Rhythm
and Blues, Jazz and
Rock 'n' Roll.
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General/President
Andrew Jackson and General James
Winchester are considered the "founders"
of Memphis. The city was surveyed
and designed in 1819, and at that
time, it was only four blocks wide
and had a population of around fifty
people. Before 1819, Indians, French,
English, Spanish and new "Americans"
coexisted along the river, trading
and skirmishing until Tennessee
became a U.S. territory in 1790
and then a state in 1796.
Memphis
has always been an important location
for markets, travel and distribution.
Before the Civil War, Memphis' rich
delta soil made “King Cotton” its
economic base, and slavery was the
key to commerce. The laborers who
farmed the land, built the buildings
and roads, and operated households
were West African slaves. Even the
names of Memphis' four original
town squares-- Exchange, Market,
Court, and Auction--are a reminder
that slavery helped build the city.
The cotton trade tied Memphis to
northern industry so much so that
many did not want to secede from
the Union at the beginning of the
Civil War. However, the plantation
owners were entirely dependent on
slave labor, so loyalties were split.
Because
of Memphis' location and transportation
systems, the Union and Confederacy
both valued its location. Memphis
was a military supply depot for
the Confederacy before the defeat
at Shiloh. Soon after the river
battle of June 6, 1862, Memphis
became the Union headquarters for
General Ulysses S. Grant.
Following
the war, a yellow fever epidemic
nearly destroyed the city. For over
a decade, the disease carried by
mosquitoes wreaked havoc on the
population, taking thousands of
lives and causing a mass exodus
of its citizens. Of the 19,000 who
did not flee the epidemic in 1878,
almost 80% caught the fever and
one-quarter died. This loss of population
caused the State of Tennessee to
repeal the city's charter in 1879.
Yellow
fever was eradicated in the 1880s
after a new sewage system (the first
of its kind anywhere) was created,
and an artesian water supply was
discovered. The clean water and
removal of sewage restored health
to Memphis.
By
the mid-20th century, with a huge
and rich delta hinterland, Memphis
became one of the busiest cities
in the South and the capital of
the Mid-South. It was home to the
world's largest spot cotton market
(over 40% of the nation's crop was
traded here) and the world's largest
hardwood market. In the 1950s, it
was even the world's largest mule
market!
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The
first Rock record, "Rocket
88," was recorded
at Sun Studio, as well
as hits by superstars
including Elvis, B.B.
King, Carl Perkins,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy
Waters, and
Roy Orbison.
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Today,
Memphis bustles with music, barbecue
and tourism. Beale Street is one
of America's most famous musical
streets. Located in the heart of
downtown Memphis, it is home to
more than 30 nightclubs, restaurants
and retail shops in just three blocks.
On Beale Street, W.C. Handy put
down on paper the first written
blues music. Elvis, Roy Orbison,
Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash
all recorded at the historic Sun
Records, which is now a museum.
Graceland,
the second most-visited home in
America, welcomes visitors from
around the world who yearn for a
peek into the life of "the
King." A veritable Elvis theme
park, Graceland (at 3734 Elvis Presley
Boulevard, 800-238-2000) contains
everything from the King's jets,
cars, motorcycles, records and films
to his grave.
The
W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum
at 352 Beale Street (901-522-1556)
is a tiny shack that was once home
to "the father of the blues,"
W.C. Handy.
Memphis
is the "Pork Barbecue Capital
of the World" and is noted
for its many famous barbecue restaurants
and the Memphis in May International
Barbecue Cooking Contest. Warm breezes
laden with the sweet smoke from
barbecue pits lead visitors to dining
hot spots throughout the city. Corky's
B-B-Q is one of Memphis’ world famous
barbecue joints. Voted #1 in Memphis
for 20 years straight and featured
on the Food Network, in Bon Appetit
and Southern Living magazines, Corky’s
offers pork, slow cooked over hickory.
Corky's is the largest shipper of
barbecue in the world and a must-see
for Memphis visitors.
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Known
as the "Pork Barbecue
Capital of the World",
the Memphis in May International
Barbecue Cooking Contest
draws crowds from everywhere.
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Interstate
Bar-B-Q has been serving Memphis
for 21 years. Specializing in pork
and beef brisket, Interstate also
offers pork ribs, rib tips, beef
ribs and sausages along with barbecue
turkey, chicken, barbecue spaghetti
and barbecue bologna.
The
Original B.B. King’s Blues Club
at 143 Beale Street offers B.B.’s
favorite dishes as you listen to
the best of Memphis music. Dancing
to great live music is happening
every night.
Tourist
attractions located near to Memphis
include the Casey Jones Village,
the historic home of Casey Jones,
a true railroad legend in America.
The Delta Blues Museum in central
Memphis is full of information about
the area’s heritage of blues music.
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Mud
Island is a full-scale
replica of the full
Mississippi River system.
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The
River Walk at Mud Island (125 North
Front Street) is one of the most
unique representations of the Mississippi
River in the world. It is a five-block
long replica of the lower Mississippi
River, from Cairo, Ill., to New
Orleans, La. Each 30" stride
is equivalent to one mile on the
actual river. Along your journey,
you'll revisit historical events
and learn about geographical transformations.
The "1,000-mile journey” concludes
at the Gulf of Mexico, a one-acre
enclosure that holds 1.3 million
gallons of water. There, visitors
can enjoy a leisurely pedal boat
ride around the Gulf area with the
Memphis skyline in the background.
The
"island" also features
an 18-gallery, interactive history
museum, which includes the history
of the Mississippi, from music and
the Civil War to transportation
and exploration, along with an amphitheater,
gift shops, and restaurants.
Beyond
the music and the food, Tennessee's
largest city also offers much more.
It has more sunny days each year
than Miami, and it combines southern
tradition and hospitality with modern
amenities. The next time you plan
your next RV adventure, include
Memphis—it will be good for both
body and soul.
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