Sight guide · Memphis · United States
Visiting Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Developed with the Smithsonian Institution, this museum tells how sharecroppers' music from the Delta became rock 'n' roll and soul, using audio guides that let you listen to more than a hundred songs along the way.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum is a museum in Downtown and Beale Street, Memphis. Allow 1.5–2 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Downtown and Beale Street
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history and rainy day
- Best months
- January–March
About Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Developed with the Smithsonian Institution, this museum tells how sharecroppers' music from the Delta became rock 'n' roll and soul, using audio guides that let you listen to more than a hundred songs along the way. It sits by the FedExForum plaza at the end of Beale Street.
Tip: Use the audio guide to listen to the full tracks; it is a good primer before Sun Studio and Stax.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Downtown and Beale Street, blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff.
Best time to visit Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- March: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- February: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds.
- January: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Memphis has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Memphis itinerary visits Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum on day 3, together with Blues Hall of Fame Museum, Tom Lee Park and Beale Street.
- No. 7 of the 18 sights in our Memphis things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in museums in Memphis.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Memphis.
Near Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Also in Downtown and Beale Street, so you can walk between them:
- The Peabody Ducks — 30–45 minutes, free
- Beale Street — an evening, free
If you like Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
- National Civil Rights Museum — South Main Arts District, 3 hours
- Sun Studio — Union Avenue, 1 hour
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music — Soulsville, 2 hours
- Blues Hall of Fame Museum — South Main Arts District, 1 hour
Staying near Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Stay in Downtown and Beale Street ($$$) to walk here: blues clubs, the Peabody's ducks and the riverfront bluff. All areas to stay in Memphis.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum?
Plan 1.5–2 hours. With The Peabody Ducks nearby, it fits a half-day in Downtown and Beale Street.
+Is Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum?
January–March, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Use the audio guide to listen to the full tracks; it is a good primer before Sun Studio and Stax.
+Do I need to book Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.