What Visitors Can See in the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum Exhibits

Updated

The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum tells the complete Memphis music story, tracing the genre from rural field hollers and sharecroppers of the 1930s through Memphis' musical heyday in the 1970s and its global influence. The exhibition, based on one created by the Smithsonian Institution in 2000, focuses on the musical pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create rock and soul music. It's open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at 191 Beale St., Memphis, TN 38103.

The Core Exhibition: The Birth of Rock 'n' Soul

The museum's central exhibition is built around the birth of rock and soul music. According to the museum, it tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create music that shook the entire world. The narrative spans roughly four decades:

  • 1930s: Rural field hollers and sharecropper life that seeded the music
  • Mid-century: The emergence of rock 'n' roll and soul in Memphis
  • 1970s: Memphis' musical heyday
  • Beyond: The music's global influence

This chronological arc means visitors move through the social and economic conditions that produced the music, not just the finished recordings.

Over 1,000 Songs and the Memphis Music Story

Memphis is noted for being included in the lyrics of more recorded songs than any other city on the planet. The museum highlights this with a collection of over 1,000 songs connected to the city, and the website provides a song list for reference. If you want to preview the musical scope before your visit, that list is the most direct way to see what the exhibition covers.

Artifacts on Display

The exhibits include rare physical items tied to specific artists. Two examples named by the museum:

Artifact Connection
Rare original autographed 78 record signed by Roy Orbison Sun Records legend
Autographed bass owned by Donald "Duck" Dunn Booker T. and The MGs

These are the kind of objects that give the exhibition its grounding in actual recording history rather than general narration.

Practical Details for Planning Around the Exhibits

  • Hours: Open daily, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Admission: Adults $16; Youth $12
  • Discounts: Available for AAA, AARP, Military, and Smithsonian Members
  • Location: 191 Beale St., Memphis, TN 38103
  • Contact: 901-205-2533

The museum also offers a Memphis Music App for discovering upcoming Memphis music events, meeting new Memphis musicians, testing your Memphis music knowledge, and following current music news — useful if you want to connect the exhibit content to what's happening in the city during your visit.

What to Expect from the Experience

The exhibition is comprehensive rather than narrowly focused on one artist or era. If you're deciding whether it fits your interests, the key question is whether you want the full lineage — from 1930s rural roots through 1970s Memphis and its worldwide reach — rather than a single-genre deep dive. The Smithsonian affiliation and the 1,000+ song collection signal that the scope is broad and historically framed.