The significant impact Memphis and Nashville had on the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s can be learned when traveling along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, which leads you to attractions like the National Civil Rights Museum, Clayborn Temple, the Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library, and Fisk University. Hear the stories and see the progress of foot soldiers who led the charge for equality among all races in the United States. We’ve also outlined where you can stay and dine in Memphis and Nashville, rounding out your trip itinerary along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Download the brochure or get the digital passport below:
Photo Credit:
Josh Ness
Your Memphis to Nashville Stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The significant impact Memphis and Nashville had on the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s can be learned when traveling along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
January 31, 2022
Have a historic stay at The Peabody Hotel Memphis featuring beautiful accommodations, a hotel lobby that seems to be from a dream and a nod to the duck history of the hotel in the duck-shaped soaps, stitched ducks on towels and stationary and more found in the rooms. Enjoy relaxing spa treatments at Feathers Spa and treat yourself to a culinary masterpiece when you dine at Chez Philippe inside the hotel.
Day 1
Breakfast at The Arcade Restaurant
There’s a reason The Arcade Restaurant is Memphis’ oldest café. Visitors and locals come here for the wide selection of breakfast items. French toast smothered in syrup, fluffy sweet potato pancakes that are a favorite of the Food Network, omelets by your own design, and the Eggs Redneck which the Travel Channel is a fan of featuring sausage, chicken or bacon with biscuits in gravy, eggs and hash browns.
Clayborn Temple & I AM A MAN Plaza
In Memphis, Clayborn Temple’s ties to the Civil Rights movement reached a pinnacle in 1968 when it became headquarters for the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike. Starting in February 1968, nearly 1,000 sanitation workers marched twice daily from the church to City Hall carrying signs declaring “I AM A MAN.” In the evenings, strikers, their families, and supporters filled the sanctuary for inspirational speeches. Tours are available by appointment. Located next to Clayborn Temple, the I AM A MAN Plaza features a sculpture alongside a wall filled with the names of those who participated and rallied in the historic 1968 Memphis sanitation strikes.
Mason Temple Church of God in Christ
Mason Temple Church of God in Christ is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his prophetic “Mountaintop” speech on the eve of his assassination – April 3, 1968. On that night, 3,000 people demanded to hear Dr. King as he came to Memphis to support the 1,300 striking sanitation workers who met regularly at this church. Unfair working conditions and poor pay led to the strike and the response of a court injunction that banned further protests. King hoped their march would overturn the court order. To inspire the people, Dr. King famously said, “...And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land.”
Lunch at Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous
You can’t make a trip to Memphis and not sample the fine barbecue joints around town. One of the iconic places to dine is Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous where heavenly ribs are just an order away. The meat falls off the bone and is doctored in an array of spice that will make you want even more. They also have barbecue sandwiches served with slaw and beans, brisket, chicken and even lamb riblets.
T.O. Fuller State Park
Get some fresh air at T.O Fuller State Park full of hiking and history. This was the first state park open for African Americans east of the Mississippi. It’s named after Dr. Thomas O. Fuller, an African-American pastor, politician, educator, author and civic leader who empowered and educated African Americans. The park’s natural features are on full display when you hike the 4-mile, natural-surface Discovery Trail. The moderate path leads you to the Chucalissa Indian Village, wetlands, forest and more. Spend the night under the stars at one of the 45 campsites in the park that are RV accessible. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, lantern hanger, fire ring, grill, electrical and water hook-ups. The campground has amenities such as a bathhouse, laundry, picnic shelter and playground.
Stop for a Cocktail at The Pocket at Tailor’s Union
Step into the swanky speakeasy, The Pocket at Tailor’s Union for bold cocktails in an elegant atmosphere. The sparkly white bar, seating and chandeliers with pops of color welcome you. Sip on cocktails with basil-infused vodka like the High & Tight with cucumber and elderflower tonic. The smoky Six Brass Buttons mixes mezcal and a bit of serrano for a citrus-flavored drink. The fun and bubbly Silk Sleeves muddles blackberries for a tequila-based drink topped with lemon bubbles and mint.
Dinner at Midtown Crossing
After sampling a few cocktails, head to Catherine & Mary's for Italian comfort food with rich southern ingredients in downtown Memphis. Start with the Brussels sprouts, meatballs or focaccia (or all three!) as starters. Then, dig into pasta dishes from mafalde with beef straccato to rigatoni smothered in a rich gravy and parmesan, pork chops, New York strip steak and lamb sirloin. You can be sure it will be a meal to remember.
Day 2
Breakfast at Sunrise Memphis
You’ll want everything on the menu at Sunrise Memphis. Give your day a boost with the Dirty South biscuit sandwich topped with pimento cheese, fried green tomato and the in-house Sunrise sauce. Plates include the decadent banana bread French toast, breakfast tacos stuffed with chorizo, pico de gallo, salsa verde and cotija, and the barbecue chicken omelet with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, barbecue, onions, onion straws and more. The gravy bowl is a favorite with a biscuit, sausage, scrambled eggs and cheese all covered in sausage gravy. There’s also a vegan bowl full of tofu, spinach, peppers, onions, drizzled with sriracha and scallions.
National Civil Rights Museum
See artifacts and learn the history of the Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements worldwide at the National Civil Rights Museum. The Museum has memorialized the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was murdered, and also preserved Room 306 where Dr. King stayed the night before his assassination. History dating from 1619 to 2000 is shared through videos, text, images, and multimedia elements. The Museum is open every day except Tuesdays.
WDIA Radio
WDIA Radio is the first radio station in the country programmed entirely for the African American community. The station aired on June 7, 1947, featuring African American radio personalities and brought awareness to a relatively new market of listeners. The station’s influence and popularity reached 10% of the Black population in the U.S. Music legends such as B.B. King and Rufus Thomas got their start by working at WDIA. Though currently not in use, visit the historic WDIA building in Downtown Memphis, see the WDIA neon marquee, and stand outside the original entrance where this famed station first began broadcasting.
Beale Street Historic District
Created in 1841, Beale Street Historic District is one of the most iconic streets in America. It began as a thriving area for commerce, musicians, Black-owned businesses and was home to Ida B. Wells’ anti-segregationist newspaper. Four District locations are particularly significant to the Civil Rights Movement: Historical Daisy Theatre/Randle Catron Interpretive Center, Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, First Baptist Beale Street Church; and Robert R. Church Park.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Stax Museum of American Soul Music, located on the original site of Stax Records studio since 2003 and now a Tennessee stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, pays special tribute to the artists who recorded there, as well as other American soul legends. Many of the artists and musicians who recorded at Stax were from the surrounding neighborhood, local churches and schools. In a time when racial tension was high, the studio was integrated from day one, focusing on producing its own sound, a Memphis sound. Stax launched its second annual Virtual Black History Month Tour, which is available at no cost to educators and students throughout the world.
Depart for Nashville.
Nashville
Where to Stay in Nashville
Stay at the same hotel as Oprah Winfrey, The Who, Adam Levine, Franklin D. Roosevelt others have when they were in Nashville. Constructed in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel is Nashville’s Original Hotel and is quite impressive with its grand staircase, ballroom, and veranda blended with Italian and French Renaissance touches. Be swept away in the opulence of your room as each features 500 square feet of space, soft bedding, Wifi, plush robes, an in-room pillow menu in case you’d like buckwheat, down or memory foam pillows, large marble bathrooms and more.
Day 3
Breakfast at Shugga Hi Cafe
Shugga Hi Café makes every morning great with breakfast served a variety of ways. The Chicken & Waffles will have you singing with the Shugga Hi Café waffle flavor of the day topped with fried chicken and drizzles with syrup. Savor Da Bomb plate that features two biscuits, eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese and honey butter. The Big Man steak and eggs will satisfy anyone with a meaty rib-eye steak, two eggs and toast.
Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library
The Nashville Public Library's Civil Rights Room is a space for education and exploration of the civil rights collection. You can hear first-hand experiences that detail desegrating public schools, lunch counter sit-ins and more. The collection has photographs, records, manuscripts and more than 100 oral history interviews with civil rights participants. The room is open to the public during regular library hours.
Clark Memorial United Methodist Church
Make your way to 14th Avenue North in downtown Nashville to see Clark Memorial United Methodist Church. It's the oldest black United Methodist Church in Nashville, first established in 1865. The church was a frequent meeting space for the Civil Rights Movement. James Lawson hosted non-violent protest workshops for Nashville college students; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hosted the annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference here.
“Witness Walls” at the Historic Nashville Courthouse
After the home of Z. Alexander Looby, a lawyer for civil rights cases, was bombed, students and others met with Nashville Mayor Ben West. He agreed segregation was immoral and called for the desegregation of the city's lunch counter. To celebrate this iconic motion, artist Walter Hood designed sculptural concrete walls with period images that show the sitting and marching narratives. You can walk through the concrete walls to see Freedom Rides, economic boycotts, marches and more actions made in Nashville during the Civil Rights Movement. "Witness Walls " was dedicated in 2017 and is a project of the Metro Nashville Arts Commission’s Percent for Public Art Program
Fisk University
Fisk University is the oldest university in Nashville and full of rich history. In 1865, Fisk School was established by three men - John Ogden, the Reverend Erastus Milo Cravath and the Reverend Edward P. Smith. The school was incorporated as Fisk University in 1867. The Fisk Jubilee Singers famously introduced the world to spirituals as a musical genre, raising funds for the construction of Jubilee Hall, the South's first permanent structure built for the education of African American students. Many students were the leaders of sit-in demonstrations in Nashville as part of the Civil Rights Movement.
Griggs Hall at American Baptist College
Griggs Hall was the first building constructed on the campus of American Baptist College, a seminary for Black students. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, its history is rich. The hall became the center for non-violent training and civil rights activity, especially the Nashville sit-in program.
Woolworth Theatre
In the heart of downtown Nashville, Woolworth Theatre is now a restored restaurant and live music venue that pays homage to the early days of the civil rights movement. In 1960, it was the site of peaceful sit-ins by African-American students who challenged Woolworth and other stores that did not allow Black and white customers to eat at the same counter. While the sit-ins were peaceful, the reactions of some whites were not. This was the site of civil rights hero John Lewis’ first arrest in his lifelong fight for equality.
National Museum of African American Music
The National Museum of African American Music is now a stop on the Tennessee portion of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. The “One Nation Under a Groove” gallery is focused on how music inspired the Civil Rights Movement and evolved with the issues of the day. Educational programs, programming and events spotlight the achievements and influences of African American music.
Stop for a cocktail at Ph Craft Cocktails & Food
pH Craft Cocktails & Food celebrate balance and harmony through specialty cocktails, food, music and atmosphere. Enjoy a cocktail or two like the Pump Up the Jam featuring Nashville-based Corsair Distillery’s vanilla vodka, strawberry, lemon, basil and Aquafaba. The Déjà Vu features Memphis’ Old Dominick Distillery vodka with rhubarb/ginger, peach, orange and pineapple. pH also features classic cocktails like the Sidecar, Manhattan and Toki Highball along with rotating beer and wine selections.
Dinner at The Twelve | Thirty Club
The inspiration for The Twelve | Thirty Club comes from the 19th-century supper clubs when the closing time for restaurants and pubs was 12:30 a.m. The supper clubs were able to stay open because they were deemed as private establishments. The glamour of the age is reflected in the decor, music and ambiance. There are three different menus - the honky tonk menu which has entrees like chicken fried chicken, New York strip steak, meatloaf and burgers; the supper club menu boasting seafood towers, steaks, lobster, king crab, wagyu bolognese and more; and the Rooftop menu which includes cocktails, beers, bottle service and frozen cocktails.
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