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2.5 Hours Essence of Memphis African American History Tour

2.5 Hours Essence of Memphis African American History Tour

Overview

On this 2.5 hour African American History tour, we will be your "conductor" and take you on a journey through Memphis that will be sure to open your eyes to some of the most historical sites connected to slavery through to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. There is so much more to Memphis than Downtown to experience, so we will also explore some of our interesting neighborhoods.

This tour is for residents, families, and visitors who are looking for the activities to do that are safe, fun and insightful.

City: Memphis

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $66.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $66.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
3 person minimum required.
Dress code is smart casual
This tour does not stop for guests to visit museums. Visits can be made at your leisure on your own. We will drive by sites with narration.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff

What To Expect

National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel

From our vehicle you will see the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, room 306 where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. This is also the location of the National Civil Rights Museum.

Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum

This was once the home of Jacob Burkle, a German immigrant who chose to participate in the Underground Railroad. This home was a stop on the Underground Railroad and is now a museum.

Beale Street

We will tell you the "rest of the story" about this most iconic street. Once referred to as the Negro Mainstreet USA.

Historic Mason Temple

This is the world headquarters for the Church of God in Christ. It was here where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his last speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop" less than 24 hours before he was assassinated.

Clayborn Temple

It was in this church, built in the late 1800's, Sanitation Workers gathered to strategize the strike that caused Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to come to Memphis.

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (98)

glrob54

Feb 2019

Carolyn Michael-Banks -- AKA Queen -- has only been in Memphis a few years, but has immersed herself so much in gathering information for her tours, you'd think she'd been a life-long Memphian. We set out on a gorgeous Saturday morning -- a far cry from the 20-degree temperatures of just a few days prior -- and Queen set about telling us the vivid and often jolting history of African-Americans in Memphis. The tour, in her comfortable nine-person van, took about 2 1/2 hours and is one of several offered by her company, A Tour of Possibilities. With Queen at the wheel and on the mic, we saw a side of Memphis that not everybody knows. But it also included some iconic places, such as the Lorraine Motel (site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968), Slave Haven (and its underground railroad museum) and Clayborn Temple. Queen's enthusiasm is infectious and her tour is interactive in terms of answering questions she peppers through the tour. It's clear she knows her material and is passionate about relating it. She treated us all as her "VIPs" and made sure our time spent was educational. If you're coming to Memphis and looking for things to do, I recommend this. If you've been living here for a few years or even a few decades, you'll walk away hearing things you didn't know. (Full disclosure: I am a volunteer for SCORE, a national organization that helps small business owners and those who wish to start small businesses. Carolyn is a client and invited a colleague and me to take the tour so we might better understand what she offers. But I wouldn't have written a word of the above if I hadn't thoroughly enjoyed this.) The overview tour is but one of several she offers, including one that is dedicated to food sampling.

Response from Host

Feb 2019

Thank you!! I am humbled by your kind words. Memphis is an incredible city with a rich history that needs to be shared. It was my absolute pleasure to share some of it with you!

greattrips123

Dec 2018

I chose this trip because of the "all excellent" reviews and it they are more than deserving. I was with my three children - ages 8, 10, and 12 - and my 84 year old mother and all of this agree that this was the highlight of our three days in Memphis. Truly, we learned so much and had a wonderful, wonderful time. Don't hesitate to do this trip. I only regret we hadn't signed up for an entire day. We would have learned and enjoyed even more!

Response from Host

Dec 2018

Thank you for choosing A Tour of Possibilities to experience some of the richness of Memphis' history. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with your family!

Susan Muth M

Nov 2018

Do this first! This tour included information about museums, history, events, places to eat, and current events. This tour was the highlight of our visit!

Response from Host

Nov 2018

Thank you for those kind words! So glad we were able to contribute to the enjoyment of your visit to Memphis!