Most visitors to Memphis think blues, barbecue, Beale Street and Elvis; not necessarily in that order. Originally inhabited by Native American Chickasaws and later “discovered” by Hernando De Soto, the Memphis area was occupied over the years by the English, French and Spanish. The city, founded in 1819, was named for the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile. It soon became the cotton capital of the country. After the Civil War ended plantation cotton field salve labor, the city still prospered. The darkest hour was the assassination of Dr. Luther Martin Luther King in 1968. Although race riots followed, the city triumphed and now stands as a model for racial relations. The Memphis International Airport (MEM) is served by 10 airlines. As the headquarters for Fed Ex and a hub for United Parcel Service (UPS), it is the busiest cargo airport in the world. Paddle wheel steamers Delta Queen, American Queen, and Mississippi Queen stop at Memphis.
Amtrak connects Memphis to Chicago and New Orleans by rail. As a driving destination, Memphis is circled by I-240. Interstate I-55 leads north to St. Louis and south to Jackson , Mississippi ; I-40 goes east to Nashville and Knoxville. Located 15 minutes from downtown Memphis , ground transportation includes taxi service, shuttles, major rental car agencies and bus service. Getting around Memphis is easiest by car. Traffic is typically not grid-locked and there’s plenty of public parking. Memphis Transit Authority also offers bus service around the city and immediate suburbs.
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