2018 Train Trip: Post 2 - Memphis, TN

Our train arrived late at night in Memphis and we took a taxi to our hotel, just steps away from the historic (and quite loud!) Beale Street, home of blues clubs and music galore.

After getting some well-earned rest, we spent the day Wednesday in Memphis. We did four things that Memphis is known for:

1) The National Civil Rights Museum - a world-class, multi-million dollar museum has been put up at the Lorraine Hotel, the site of MLK's assassination 50 years ago last week. It walks you through the history of the Civil Rights movement, with the museum ending at the hotel room Martin Luther King was staying in and which he walked out onto the balcony from, when he was killed.

2) Memphis Barbeque! Pulled pork for lunch and ribs (for Dad) and fried catfish (for Henry) for dinner. Yumm!

3) The Mississippi River. We walked across a footbridge from Tennessee into Arkansas. It's about a 20 minute walk across the bridge, with the rushing Mississippi beneath us.

4) Music, music, music. We walked through the Smithsonian exhibit at the Rock and Soul museum - right at the intersection of Highway 61 and Beale Street. It traced the history of Memphis-related music from the early Delta Blues through Elvis Presley. A very well-done museum; you get a personal headset on your way in, and there are codes along the way that you punch in to hear about the exhibit you're looking at and/or some music from that era.

After spending the full day in Memphis, we reboarded the train at 10pm for our final destination!

The Civil Rights Museum. The floral wreath marks the spot on the balcony where MLK was shot

BBQ Joint for Lunch

The Memphis skyline from the bridge across the Mississippi

Henry at the border - and entering into his 30th state!

Rock & Soul Museum

Memphis-Style Ribs