Memphis has an
enviable music legacy -- it was home both to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley and
to the Father of the Blues, W.C Handy. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, it
is also a city imbued with a deep sense of history -- once a major cotton-trading center,
it is also where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. The beautiful
heritage buildings, and the vibrant music scene will enthrall visitors to the city. The
city has a mixed population with a considerably large black community.
Memphis was founded in 1819 and named after an ancient capital in
Egypt. It soon become a thriving cotton-trading town. With the Civil War and the end of
slave trade, Memphis fell into a brief period of decline. However, its location and status
as a major river port saw a revival in the city's fortune. Soon, it became a magnet for
poor black migrants from the Delta. In 1968, after Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was
assassinated, the city witnessed a great deal of turmoil. The 1900s ushered in a new
beginning and the city is celebrating its rebirth as a gracious southern city.
Memphis enjoys a temperate climate through out the year. Summers are
hot and humid with averages in the 80s. May and October are generally the best periods.
