The Memphis Rock n Soul Museum provides comprehensive look at the origins of most American music of the last 80 years.
Not only does the museum set forth the history of southern society after the Civil War, it sets forth the cultural influences that whites and blacks had on each other and provides insights into the daily life of the people.
The museum contains an exhibit showing that, before the TVA, people could enjoy electricity only through machines that could be charged through turning a crank to generate the needed electricity or using a battery. Most companies provided only one battery a year, which, under normal use was consumed within the first 90 days.
The museum shows how white country music and black gospel music and those who performed the music interacted, both before and after World War II. It presents the story of Sun Records, Stax Studio and many other creative incubators and how they developed emerging talent.
There apparently was more interaction between white and black singers and musicians than the public knew. I can only assume that commercial pressure to respond to cultural imperatives dictated the small degree to which the public was allowed to see this.
I also went to Sun Records and Stax Studio. They are both great and are worth your time, as are the B.B. King venues. But this museum ties it all together. It can be done well in 90 minutes, and be a good investment of time.