{"id":11423,"date":"2022-02-24T16:02:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T22:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/?p=11423"},"modified":"2026-02-02T20:20:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:20:30","slug":"memphis-spots-where-black-history-happened-places-to-see-in-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/play\/culture\/memphis-spots-where-black-history-happened-places-to-see-in-person\/","title":{"rendered":"Memphis Spots Where Black History Happened – Places to See In Person"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Elise Herron<\/p>\n

Memphis is known for its monuments and museums honoring black history, but it\u2019s also where many pivotal events took place. This month and any month, you can visit the sites where history happened and experience the local legacy of black activism and enterprise up close. Here are some places to pin.<\/p>\n

Universal Life Insurance Building
\n480 Dr. M. L. K. Jr. Avenue<\/h2>\n

This office building was built in 1949 to house the country\u2019s fourth-largest black-owned insurance company. Its architects, Moses and Calvin McKissack, chose its Egyptian Revival style to stand out from the western styles dominating Memphis<\/a>\u2019 midcentury cityscape. The building was restored by Self + Tucker Architects in 2018.<\/p>\n

\"\"Mason Temple
\n930 Mason Street<\/h2>\n

The Mason Temple is the international sanctuary and central headquarters of the Church of God in Christ. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was a hub of local civil rights activities and the stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.\u2019s “Mountaintop” speech. While Sunday services are no longer held there, tourists are welcome to visit.<\/p>\n

Beale Street Baptist Church
\n379 Beale Street<\/h2>\n

Known as the \u201cMother of Black Churches,\u201d Beale Street Baptist Church was built by and for survivors of slavery after the Civil War. In 1892, it served as Ida B. Wells\u2019 office for the Free Speech, Memphis\u2019 first black newspaper. A memorial plaza and life-size statue, which were unveiled in her honor last summer, are located right next door.<\/p>\n

Robert R. Church Park
\nCorner of Beale and Fourth Street<\/h2>\n

On the other side of Beale Street Baptist Church, you\u2019ll find the city\u2019s first park for black citizens and visitors. It was founded in 1899 by Robert R. Church as part of “Church’s Park and Auditorium,\u201d one of the only southern centers for black recreation during segregation. It now serves as a downtown greenspace and the site of countless cultural events.<\/p>\n

To discover more local black landmarks, visit Memphis Heritage Trail or download their app. You can take a virtual tour of the South Memphis, Downtown, Orange Mound and Soulsville neighborhoods that highlight key figures and events in Memphis black history.<\/p>\n

You might also be interested in: Memphis Celebrates 200 Years: Here’s How You Can Get Involved<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Elise Herron Memphis is known for its monuments and museums honoring black history, but it\u2019s also where many pivotal events took place. This month and any month, you can visit the sites where history happened and experience the local legacy of black activism and enterprise up close. Here are some places to pin. Universal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[5099,5727,15,5485,5415,5248,5486],"class_list":["post-11423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-black-history-month","tag-black-legacy","tag-featured","tag-memphis-attractions","tag-memphis-entrepreneurship","tag-things-to-do","tag-visiting-memphis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMemphis Black History: A Walking Tour - We Are Memphis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Memphis is a city with a rich black history. There are many places to visit to learn about the city's past. 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