In Memphis is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over the weekend, I celebrated its 50th anniversary of the hospital along with my family, fellow fundraisers, doctors, clinicians, and patients! It was a momentous occasion.
You may be wondering what the connection is! Well, my grandfather, Danny Thomas, founded St. Jude in 1962. He hoped to help save lives of children worldwide because he believed that no child should die in the dawn of life.
And from its humble roots 50 years ago, St. Jude has become an internationally renowned hospital and research center finding cures for pediatric cancer and sickle cell as well as developing vaccines for deadly pneumonia’s and influenza. And that’s not all – not even close.
Please visit our site to find out more about the hospital at StJude.org. And if you are visiting Memphis, St. Jude is a worthwhile stop on your trip. Prepare to be floored by what an outstanding place it is. Here is a link to all the information you’ll need for a visit.
But of course, The River City, is quite the destination. Here are some of it’s great attractions:
1. The one and only Graceland
Need I say more? Well, ok, here’s their site: www.elvis.com/graceland/
2. Beale Street
A ruckus, party street where you can listen to fantastic blues music in it’s very birthplace. Stroll up and down Beale St. weaving in and out of bars, clubs and restaurants where you’ll get great crawfish, barbeque and an earful. I’ll be posting a video about Beale St. tomorrow.
3. The National Civil Rights Museum
Built around the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated, the museum details the history of the civil rights movement from the 17th Century to present. Here is their site.
4.Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
Here you can learn about the roots of rock ‘n roll, of soul music and the blues in their very birthplace. This museum is recommended to help give context to your experience on Beale Street and at Graceland. Here’s their site.
5. The march of the ducks at the Peabody Hotel
This is a unique tradition that started over 75 years ago. You can see a group of trained ducks waddling in-line out of the elevators and into the fountain in the middle of the hotel’s lobby daily at 11am and 5pm. Find out more here.
6. Listening to a Gospel Choir
The vocals of a gospel choir in Memphis will rock you to your soul. I watched a choir sing over the weekend at an event and it was so uplifting. If you really want to experience the extraordinary vocals and vibes of a Memphis Gospel choir go to the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church – a nondenominational church with a phenomenal choir. And you may be able to catch Rev. Al Green preaching. Whether you are a church goer or not – the experience will move you.
Oh and that pyramid is The Great American Pyramid, built in 1991 as a sports and live events arena where the Memphis Grizzlies once played.
But since, it has closed down and is now being refurbished by Bass Pro Shops into a mall to house their main store, other retail stores, restaurants, and a Mississippi River museum. The land around the Pyramid is being developed as well. So soon that area will be an attraction all on its own.
There are many interesting reasons to visit Memphis. These are just a few. Go to http://www.memphistravel.com to get more inside scoop.
***THE ANSWER TO MY POP QUIZ IS: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.
