What Is the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum Website?

Updated

The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum website (memphisrocknsoul.org) is the official online home of a Memphis museum that tells the story of the city's music. It is useful if you want to plan a visit, learn what the exhibits cover, shop for merchandise, or find ways to support the museum. The site presents the museum as a comprehensive experience spanning rural field hollers and sharecroppers of the 1930s through Memphis' musical heyday in the 1970s and its global influence.

What the museum is

The museum's exhibition on the birth of rock and soul is based on one created by the Smithsonian Institution in 2000. According to the site, it tells the story of musical pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create music that shook the world.

The museum describes itself as telling "the complete Memphis music story," covering:

  • Rural field hollers and sharecroppers of the 1930s
  • Memphis' musical heyday in the 1970s
  • The city's ongoing global musical influence

Practical visit information

Detail Information
Address 191 Beale St., Memphis, TN 38103
Phone 901-205-2533
Hours Open daily, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Adult admission $16
Youth admission $12
Discounts AAA, AARP, Military & Smithsonian Members

The site also notes a venue rental option at 126 Beale Street or the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, and a 901 Student Passport offering a special deal for students throughout Shelby County.

What you can do on the site

  • Plan a visit – check hours, location, admission prices, and discounts.
  • Learn about the exhibits – including "The Birth of Rock 'n' Soul" and a claim that Memphis appears in the lyrics of more recorded songs than any other city, with a song list of over 1,000 songs.
  • Shop merchandise – the museum store carries rock 'n' soul merchandise.
  • Use the Memphis Music App – discover upcoming Memphis music events, meet musicians, test your music knowledge, and follow local music news.
  • Support the museum – through donations, including the "Music Feeds the Soul" program, which the site says helps Memphis' disadvantaged.
  • Explore affiliations – the museum notes its Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program connection.

Who this site is for

This site is most useful if you are planning a trip to Memphis and want to know whether the museum fits your interests, if you are researching Memphis music history, or if you want to support or shop from the museum remotely. If you only need general background on Memphis music rather than visit logistics, the exhibit descriptions and song list may still be worth a look, but the site is built primarily around the in-person museum experience.