Memphis on When It Was is 34 addresses and the 67 businesses that have occupied them, the oldest from 1843. 32 are still open today; 35 are gone, and 11 of the buildings themselves have been demolished. Every entry below opens a page with the full history of that address, and the map lets you slide the year and watch the city change.
Start here
Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Orpheum Theatre (The Malco)
Sun Studio
Graceland (Elvis Presley Estate)
Elvis Presley House (Audubon Drive)
Lorraine Motel (National Civil Rights Museum)
Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ)
Royal Studios (Hi Records)
Memphis, decade by decade
- 1840s
- 1850s
- 1860s
- 1870s5 opened — A. Schwab, A. Schwab Dry Goods Store, Tennessee Brewery, Goldsmith's Department Store (Downtown), and 1 moreSee the map in 1875 →
- 1880s
- 1890s
- 1900s
- 1910s6 opened — Old Daisy Theatre, Daisy Theatre, The Arcade Restaurant, Memphis Central Station, and 2 moreSee the map in 1915 →
- 1920s10 opened — Loew's Palace Theatre, Palace Theatre, Crosstown Concourse (Sears Building), The Peabody Hotel, and 6 moreSee the map in 1925 →
- 1930s
- 1940s
- 1950s9 opened — Graceland (Elvis Presley Estate), Graceland, Stax Records (Original Studio), Stax Records Studio, and 5 moreSee the map in 1955 →
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000s
Still here, and gone
Still open (32)
- The Peabody Memphis 1869–present
- A. Schwab 1876–present
- A. Schwab Dry Goods Store 1876–present
- Clayborn Temple 1892–present
- Old Daisy Theatre 1913–present
- The Arcade Restaurant 1919–present
- Leonard's Pit Barbecue (original South Memphis drive-in) 1922–present
- The Peabody Hotel 1926–present
- Orpheum Theatre (The Malco) 1928–present
- Orpheum Theatre 1928–present
- The Orpheum Theatre 1928–present
- Overton Park Shell 1936–present
Gone (35)
- Memphis Central Station 1914–2019
- Memphis Pyramid 1991–2015
- Poplar Tunes 1946–2009
- Daisy Theatre 1913–2006
- Mid-South Coliseum 1964–2006
- Libertyland 1976–2005
- Mall of Memphis 1981–2003
- Ellis Auditorium 1924–1996
- Justine's Restaurant (Anderson-Coward House) 1958–1996
- The Antenna Club 1981–1995
- Crosstown Concourse (Sears Building) 1927–1993
- Goldsmith's Department Store (Downtown) 1870–1993
By kind of place
Recording Studio (8)
Stax Records (Capitol Theatre) · Stax Records (Original Studio) · Stax Records Studio · Sun Studio · Sun Studio (Memphis Recording Service) · American Sound Studio · Ardent Studios · Royal Studios (Hi Records)
Theater (8)
Old Daisy Theatre · Daisy Theatre · Palace Theatre · Orpheum Theatre (The Malco) · Orpheum Theatre · The Orpheum Theatre · Ellis Auditorium · Palace Theater
Hotel (6)
Lorraine Motel · The Peabody Hotel · The Peabody Memphis · Hotel Chisca · The Original Peabody Hotel · Gayoso Hotel (Original)
Restaurant (6)
Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous · The Four Way Restaurant · The Arcade Restaurant · The Four Way (Four Way Grill) · Leonard's Pit Barbecue (original South Memphis drive-in) · Justine's Restaurant (Anderson-Coward House)
Department Store (4)
Crosstown Concourse (Sears Building) · Goldsmith's Department Store (Downtown) · Goldsmith's Department Store · Sears Crosstown Building
Church (3)
Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ) · Mason Temple · Clayborn Temple
Music Venue (3)
The Antenna Club · Overton Park Shell (Levitt Shell) · Club Handy (Mitchell Hotel / Domino Lounge)
Museum (2)
Lorraine Motel (National Civil Rights Museum) · Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Every place in Memphis (34)
- American Sound Studio 827 Thomas Street · 1964–1972
- Ardent Studios 2000 Madison Avenue · 1971–present · 2 businesses
- Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous 52 South Second Street · 1948–present · 2 businesses
- Clayborn Temple 294 Hernando Street · 1892–present
- Club Handy (Mitchell Hotel / Domino Lounge) Hernando Street at Beale, Memphis, TN 38103 · 1944–present
- Cossitt Library (Original Building) 33 South Front Street · 1893–1958
- Crosstown Concourse (Sears Building) 1350 Concourse Avenue · 1927–1993
- Crown Electric Company 353 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
- Ellis Auditorium 225 North Main Street · 1924–1996
- Elvis Presley House (Audubon Drive) 1034 Audubon Drive · 1956–1957
- Graceland (Elvis Presley Estate) 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard · 1957–present · 2 businesses
- Justine's Restaurant (Anderson-Coward House) 919 Coward Place, Memphis, TN 38126 · 1958–1996
- Lansky Brothers (original Beale Street store) 126 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103 · 1946–present
- Leonard's Pit Barbecue (original South Memphis drive-in) Bellevue Blvd & McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN (original site) · 1922–present
- Lorraine Motel (National Civil Rights Museum) 450 Mulberry Street · 1945–1988 · 2 businesses
- Mall of Memphis 4451 American Way · 1981–2003
- Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ) 930 Mason Street · 1945–present · 2 businesses
- Memphis Pyramid 1 Bass Pro Drive · 1991–2015
- Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum 324 Beale Street · 2000–present · 12 businesses
- Mid-South Coliseum 940 Early Maxwell Boulevard · 1964–2006 · 2 businesses
- Orpheum Theatre (The Malco) 203 South Main Street · 1928–present · 10 businesses
- Overton Park Shell 1928 Poplar Avenue · 1936–present · 2 businesses
- Overton Park Shell (Levitt Shell) 1928 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 · 1936–present
- Palace Theater Beale Street (Rufus Thomas Blvd), Memphis, TN 38103 · 1919–1962
- Pee Wee's Saloon Beale Street at S. Third (Rufus Thomas Blvd), Memphis, TN 38103 · 1884–1916
- Royal Studios (Hi Records) 1320 Willie Mitchell Boulevard · 1957–present
- Russwood Park 914 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 · 1896–1960
- Sears Crosstown Building 495 North Watkins Street · 1927–1993
- Slave Haven / Burkle Estate 826 North Second Street · 1855–1865
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music (Former Stax Records) 926 East McLemore Avenue · 1960–present · 4 businesses
- Sun Studio 706 Union Avenue · 1950–present · 4 businesses
- Tennessee Brewery 495 Tennessee Street · 1877–1954
- The Four Way (Four Way Grill) 998 Mississippi Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38126 · 1946–present
- The Four Way Restaurant 998 Mississippi Boulevard · 1946–present
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