Memphis: African American History & Civil Rights Tour 2.5 Hours

The Places Where Memphis Changed America

You'll spend 2.5 hours in a vehicle touring Memphis's African American history sites, from the Lorraine Motel to Beale Street and two churches central to the Civil Rights Movement. The guide narrates from the van rather than stopping for museum entry, so you see more ground in less time. All taxes included, wheelchair accessible, and you'll need a minimum group of four to confirm the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Memphis African American history

• View Lorraine Motel balcony
• See National Civil Rights Museum
• Pass Jacob Burkle Underground Railroad home
• Learn about Beale Street history
• Visit Church of God in Christ headquarters
• See church where sanitation strike planned

The experience

You probably know Memphis for music, but there's a whole other story running underneath: one that starts with the Lorraine Motel and room 306, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. That balcony is visible from the street, and it's the anchor of this 2.5-hour African American history tour. Your guide drives you through the neighborhoods where that history unfolded, narrating as you pass the sites rather than stopping for museum visits, which means you cover more ground and get context you wouldn't find on a plaque.

The tour moves between several key locations. The Burkle Estate, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad back when a German immigrant chose to hide enslaved people there; Beale Street, once called the Negro Mainstreet USA, where your guide fills in the real story behind the music and the culture; and two churches that matter to the Civil Rights timeline. One is the headquarters of the Church of God in Christ, where King delivered his final sermon, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," less than 24 hours before his death. The other is where sanitation workers organized the strike that brought King to Memphis in the first place. It's the kind of connected narrative you don't get from a guidebook.

The whole thing is wheelchair accessible, and the van does the driving so you're not walking long distances between stops. Minimum group size is four people, but that can be split across multiple reservations. The operator will contact you if the tour doesn't fill. All taxes and fees are already baked into the price, so there's nothing to negotiate at pickup. Dress is smart casual, and if you're bringing kids or need a stroller, that's fine. The pace is steady but not rushed, and the guide's job is to make sure you understand why these places matter, not to hurry you through them.

What’s included

• All taxes, fees, and handling charges are included in the tour price.
• Transportation in a vehicle is provided, and the tour is wheelchair accessible.
• Service animals are allowed.
• The tour does not include museum entry fees or stops inside attractions: narration happens from the van.

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs Thursday to Sunday at 09:30 and 12:45, from US$ 88 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesThursday and Saturday: 09:30Friday and Sunday: 12:45Another day? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by A Tour of Possibilities, LLC

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want Memphis's African American and Civil Rights history without arranging their own transport or navigating multiple sites. The 2.5-hour window is tight enough to fit a morning or afternoon, and the van-based format means you cover more ground than walking tours allow.

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Top questions

What exactly do we see on this tour?

The Lorraine Motel (room 306 where Dr. King was assassinated), the Burkle Estate (Underground Railroad site), Beale Street, the Church of God in Christ headquarters (where King gave his final speech), and a church where sanitation workers organized the strike that brought King to Memphis.

Do we go inside the National Civil Rights Museum?

No. The tour drives by the Lorraine Motel and the museum location with narration, but does not include museum entry. You can visit museums on your own time afterward.

How long is the tour?

Two and a half hours, conducted from a vehicle.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The van and all areas are wheelchair accessible, and transportation is included.

What's the minimum group size?

Four people minimum. Multiple reservations can be combined to meet this requirement, and the operator will contact you if the tour doesn't fill.

Are there any stops where we get out and walk?

The tour is conducted from the vehicle with narration at each site. You're not making long walks between stops.

What should I wear?

Smart casual dress code.

Can I bring children or a stroller?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels.