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National Civil Rights Museum
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26 reviews for National Civil Rights Museum
Forget about Graceland...the Civil Rights Musuem is an institution that should be a must see for everyone. The museum offers an encyclopedic documentation of the Civil Rights movement. Lots of pictures and provocative artifacts. The most telling part of the principal exhibit is its terminus, the point that Dr. King was killed by an assassin's bullet.
The annex across the street, the building where James Earl Ray perched and assassinated Dr. King, has a provocative exhibit on the assassination, the case made against Mr. Ray, and expands on larger issues of human rights.
A small quibble: the exhibit is VERY text heavy. Although the artifacts and graphics tell the broad story, the text brings the players to light and life. If you don't take the time to at least scan the hundreds of text panels, you loose the richness of the story. I was told that the upcoming renovation will sharpen the storytelling and weave in larger issues of human rights.
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My fiance and I read about the Civil Rights Museum and decided to throw it in on a long weekend trip in Memphis. We figured we would be in and out of there in less than 2 hours.
Man... we were pleasantly surprised. This museum was incredible and we could have easily spent 5 hours in there. Because we burned through the time we allowed for the trip, we didn't make it to the second part of the museum across the way and I regret it... we might head back down there just to check it out.
The museum is inside the old exterior of the Lorraine Motel. Standing outside and looking at the space MLK Jr last stood gave me the chills.
The museum is VERY reading heavy. There is just SO much information to absorb and if you take your time, you won't reget it. I learned more about civil rights in the hours I was there than the entirety of my school career.
While I think kids should go and experience this museum, I think it is too reading heavy for them to REALLY understand it all.
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If you only have time to do one thing in Memphis, please make the trip to the National Civil Rights Museum. Even if you have studied this period of history extensively, I guarantee it is worth your time and will provide much needed reflection on how far our country has come - and how far we still have to go.
As others have noted, there is a whole lot of text in the displays at the Museum, which can certainly be overwhelming if you are not a fast reader or if it is crowded. Sure, they could have cut down the amount of information, but everything provided is important anecdotes to supplement a rushed, sugarcoated high school history class that most of us received. Even looking at the re-creations of the lunch counter sit-ins and the freedom rides, it's almost impossible to fully grasp that people had to endure such brutality waged against them by their fellow Americans.
Looking at the preservation of Dr. King's room at the Lorraine Motel was one of the most surreal and somber moments of my life thus far. All the book learning in the world couldn't even come close to what an extraordinary experience the National Civil Rights Museum can offer every American.
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The National Civil Rights Museum was great except it had a narrow focus upon civil rights. Very little was mentioned about current events, and the museum only focused on the civil rights movement of African Americans. That being said, the volume of information presented about that struggle is amazing. The museum does a great job of presenting that information. Still, little was offered about the A.I.M., homosexual civil rights, Gandi, Nelson Mandella, etc. Also the story was told as one of violence against non-violence and glosses over the storys of Nat Turner or Denmark Vesey.
Take your time in this place. I unfortunately was fairly rushed and don't feel like I got the full experience.
This museum is very, very reading heavy. I sort of felt like I could have had a similar experience reading a book on the progression of African American Civil Rights. The best things were the original documents and posters/signs from early 20th century America.
I understand why this particular spot was focused on African American civil rights, but I wish they had fleshed out some other areas of civil rights struggles as well.
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Breathtaking. Beautiful. Powerful. Inspired.
This was an absolutely life changing experience for both my boyfriend and I. Growing up in California, the Civil Rights Movement is something I always studied passionately but never fully understood. After viewing the extraordinary exhibitions, we both felt even more inspired by the courageous figures discussed in this museum.
This should be a mandatory visit for any citizen of the United States. Only through truly understanding the culture of discrimination can we push forward to ensure freedom and equality for all citizens.
The only concern I had in our experience was, for a "National" Civil Rights Museum, it would have been wonderful to have a little more information on some of the other groups who have struggled (and currently struggle) for recognition and equality. The reflection area across the street from the primary facility makes an effort to touch briefly on these other movements, but a little more recognition for the courageous efforts other groups have faced would be appropriate for a museum considered THE DEFINITIVE representation of Civil Rights in the United States.
What a special museum, and great for teenagers because it's very educational. The museum is built around the Lorraine motel where MLK Jr. was assassinated, so you get to actually stand in what use to be the room where he was staying. The museum continues to across the street where you can stand in the very place that the assassin was alleged to be standing when he shot MLK Jr. through the window. It is quite trippy looking through the same window and seeing the same thing the assassin must have seen as he watched MLK Jr. standing on the balcony that fateful night.
The rest of the museum was okay, but be warned that there is a lot of reading to be done. It's a lot of information that is provided and it's designed more to be an educational place geared to students. I grew little tired of reading all the displays b/c it was a repeat of the civil rights history I've already read throughout my life, but I still appreciated the museum.
If you don't have time for the museum, I would still recommend you at least drive by here and see the balcony where MLK Jr. was shot. That was really the highlight of the trip for me. It's always so incredibly sad for me to think about the assassination of a man that meant so much to this great movement, and the history of it all really comes alive when you are looking at the very place where he took his last breath. You can't help but be awed and humbled by it. It's worth a drive-by, so don't skip this even if you can't go into the actual musum.
I stopped in Memphis en route to Little Rock. It was a somewhat unexpected stop, one which I am very glad that I made!
Out of curiousity, I visited the Memphis Visitor Center (very good!) and came across a brochure for this Museum. I am a history buff and could not get to the Museum fast enoughafter reading the brochure!
If you have an appreciation for history, than you will know what I mean when I say that you can "feel" the history of Beale St. en route to the Musuem (make sure to take this route on your way to the Museum, and drive slow to take in the sights if you can!).
I agree with the other reviewer's who have noted the enormous amount of information available and the amount of time that should be allotted to view the museum. As I was on a time schedule to get to Little Rock, I wish I could have spent more time here (and wish I went in the 2nd building).
At the onset, it was incredible to walk up and see the balcony/wreath of where MLK, Jr. and others stood in April 1968. So often I have seen the picture of MLK, Jr.,, Jesse Jackson and Rev. Abernathy together on this balcony and this picture was now a realityI was alittle put off by the Walgreens Free Clinic "on wheels' that was across the street, it took away from the "awe" of the moment but at least it was a nice service to those in the area.
Admission to the Museum is half price through the end of December (now $6 for adults). If you have a camera, you have to leave it at the desk where you can gather later with your claim check.
No words that any reviewer's can write (at least in my opinion), can convey the impact that this museum can have on an individual. It is something that everyone should experience.There are pictures upon pictures of the Civil Rights Movement, as well as one of the Freedom Rider buses, which was damaged by fire. It is important to take the time and absorb your surroundings when looking at MLK, Jr's hotel rooms also.
This is a must when visiting Memphis!
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A must for everyone.... and I mean EVERYONE.
MLK created history. It was a somber experience walking through the Lorraine motel where he spent the last day of his life. It was a good reality check for me. Sometimes, we get carried away by our daily life and our selfish needs... we also get over confident and think we are important than anyone else. But, you know what? We are not. We are just mere mortals who have a purpose on this earth. Some people realize it, some others don't. This Museum makes you realize how trivial your accomplishments are, in the grand scheme of life. What you have done is nothing compared to the brave men and women that fought for freedom. Isn't that we all strive for, in the end? To be free?
Nina Simone sang it wonderfully, when she said "I wish I knew how it would feel to be free..." The song is the first thing that came across my mind halfway through the museum tour. I could sense tears swell in my eyes. I was disappointed by the way most people take freedom for granted. There are millions of people in this world who are struggling for freedom, who could use a leader like MLK or Gandhi.
Yet, we don't think anything about such things in our daily life. We go on our merry way worrying about where we are getting drunk over the weekend. Nothing wrong with that, it is human nature. But, at some point in your life, you may want to think about your fellow humans. The ones that do not have basic human rights like you do, the ones that are fighting to be heard, the ones that have perished in that process, and the ones that are still fighting. Perhaps, that will make us realize our purpose in life?
*end philosophical banter.
You know it has to be good when a cold-hearted, mean, b*tchy, ego maniacal guy like me gets all teary eyed and philosophical.
I would have given it 5 stars, but the museum design is not attractive to children. It is a lot of reading...I mean, A LOT. I can see adults enjoying the reading but children may get easily distracted. You cannot expect kids to read these days, they want more interactive stuff. The introductory video in the theater was not what I expected. It was short and not very informative. In addition, there were not many artifacts. It was mostly printed materials that you have to read. Maybe they will add more artifacts to the collection later... at this point, it is mostly reading.
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Really interesting and informative museum. The coolest part for me, was seeing where MLK was shot. That's a huge piece of history right there. I'd recommend it.
Its a MUST SEE in Memphis. I have been a handful of times and everytime its just breathtaking! I cry everytime I get to where MLK Jr actually died bc it just shows how things truly have changed now! I think everyone should make this a visit when they come to Memphis...its not expensive but its very memorable.
Went here the day after visiting Graceland this past March...
It was a Monday morning when we decided to visit this museum. When we arrived and parked our car, there was a very somber, solemn feeling mixed with some silence. And in plain view, you see the name, "Lorraine Motel". This is the site that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968. This was very deep and emotional and we haven't set foot in the actual museum yet. There is a wreath at the exact location of MLK's death. There are two cars that are not the exact cars but the same make/model that were there when the assassination took place. Once we walked passed the motel, we saw the entrance. The fee was $12 for adults and no cameras were allowed. I had to check in my camera at this point. The NCRM has so much information about the plight through discrimination, segregation, and racism. There was a lot of information that I never learned from elementary or high school. If you took the time to read everything, you would be there longer than 3 hours....very informative. The exhibits are very organized and chronological. Some of the exhibits will make you tear up and get emotional. This was the harsh reality of our nation's past. It is very uplifting to see how far we have come as a people/society. If you want to learn a lot about the Civil Rights Movement, this would be the perfect place for that.
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Fascinating to come to the exact place, and see so much preserved, at a place where such important history was made.
My only complaint is that a lot of the museum is printed posterboard. Hopefully the collection will grow, but I had read a lot of this history, seen a lot of these quotes, and looked at these photos before. I wish they had more actual artifacts to view.
That said, it is an extensive and important museum, with no shortage of information.
I thought the most fascinating parts were the hotel rooms and the exterior, where MLK's assassination happened. For me, the most moving moment was in the second building, which details the murder of MLK. It was eerie and disturbing to see out the window from which he was shot, look at the bathroom where the killer stood, and imagine someone choosing to kill King.
Absolutely worth a visit when you're in the area. It's the reason we came to Memphis and we weren't disappointed.
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Every person should visit this museum. When you go, be sure to go through the entire museum. As others have mentioned, it includes two buildings and they're both important.
They do have a free day/time as well which I think is Mondays from 3-5 at this time but check their website to be sure.
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I recently watched a documentary on the assasination of MLK, so this place I thought would be pretty interesting...and interesting it was.
The museum is actually built around the Lorraine motel, one of the only hotels in memphis that would allow blacks at that time. When you pull up to the museum the balcony where King got shot is the first thing u see.
Its quite humbling and a bit eerie (sp) to be so close to tha( spot. Even across the street they have made a museum out of the place where the shot came from...there they talk abt the different conspiracy theories, etc.
The museum, just like every museum in memphis was run by a self guarded tour. It basically takes you through the history of african americans starting from the 1700's. Most of the stuff I already knew, but as they got into the 1960's they really had some interesting history/pictures.
The tour is long as hell if you r trying to get everythintg in (like I was), and it actually ends in outside of Kings hotel room and balcony...just amazing to know that I was in the presence of where so much greatness once was...truly a humbling experience
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The museum is not only a sobering reminder of what transpired on that very spot, but it's also very interesting and informative. AAA members receive a 20% discount on admission.
This is an amazing museum that most people don't visit, though I think everyone should. The museum is actually in two buildings, and I noticed during my visit that most left rather than cross the street to the second building. I thought the second building was just as interesting because it examines the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It has many of the pieces of evidence used in the trial; it also looks at theories around the assassination.
I had to mark off one star simply because of all the text on the walls. I'm the type of person that can spend all day in a museum and read everything on the walls. I could easily spend all day here because that's where most of the information is. I noticed that almost everyone else in the museum moved fairly quickly from room to room. Unfortunately, many of the more interesting tidbits were hidden in text.
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I can't believe the number of people that I have talked to that don't visit this museum in Memphis. My husband and I both agree that this was the best thing we did in Memphis. There is so much information here I highly recommend getting the audio tour for $2. more, it guides you through the exhibits and is much easier than reading everything.
The tour can be emotional. Standing beside the room MLK was assassinated was heartbreaking.
Across the street from the museum is another exhibit that should not be missed, it includes information on the investigation and different theories. You can see the bathroom the shot was fired from, as well as the bullet removed from MLK.
If in Memphis, don't miss this Museum, it's one of the best portrayals of Civil Rights History I have encountered.
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Moving and very worthwhile.
There's a lady outside thats been protesting the museum for 20+ years because she thinks the area should be turned into low income housing, and free healthcare, something she believes to be as more representative of MLK's message. Go check her out, she's an interesting lady.
But then again, she did thank me and 'my people' for inventing karaoke.
Nevertheless, the museum was informative, but I thought 12 bucks was kinda steep for admission.
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This place is unlike any other monument or any museum you'll ever see. It is to be experienced, not just observed.
There is a resident protester set up between the two buildings who believes that none of this is necessary- the preservation of the assassination site, the photographs, writings, everything inside- because all the information should just be on the Internet instead.
Does that tell you something? Go and actually see this. Books and the Internet have nothing on the feeling of knowing your feet are where the Dr. took his last. It's important to think about the not too distant past and how it creates where we are today. It is a sobering experience to say the least.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." MLK
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I agree that there were too many posterboards and not enough actual artifacts, but for people who didn't know the whole history of the civil rights movement, it was very informative, moving, and fascinating. Get the audio tour for $2 more. There is SO MUCH to read throughout the exhibit and the audio tour points out important people and reading that you should make sure to see. Sometimes you can get lost in exhibits with that much information.
I'm really, really glad that I came here. The museum is built on to the actual Lorraine Hotel, and a wreath hangs on the balcony where Martin Luther King was shot. Once you are done with the museum you can go across the street to the second part of the museum, "the aftermath" of MLK's assassination. I didn't make it over there because I was exhausted after part 1, but I heard that if you've got the energy it is well worth it.
It's worth the $12 to see this important piece of history. Also, if you have a student ID you can save a few bucks.
Set in the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, this Museum documents, educates, amazes and inspires everyone who can relate to the ongoing struggle for civil rights for all people. A pictoral and auditory trip through the last several hundred years of the "civil rights" struggle, the museum helps the visitor understand and "experience" history. Frankly, the experience can be overwhelming.
You can get through the museum in as little as two hours, but plan on spending the better part of a full day if you really want to take it all in. Even then, you might not be able to take it all in before your brain goes into overload....
This Museum is as well done as any I have visited, and well worth visiting...
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Well worth seeing if you go to Memphis. As a student of history I noticed that tribal conflict and slavery in Africa was not mentioned.
The management recently aquired the house where James Earl Ray stayed and used as a staging area to shoot Martin Luther King.
So much valuable information to take in. I wish I purchased the audio tour since there was a lot of reading material and I wanted to take everything in before closing time!
If you're in Memphis, this place can't be missed because it takes you outside of the textbooks and television documentaries. You see real, tangible reminders of formalized racism, separation, hate and violence. The first building is connected to the Lorraine Motel, site of MLK's assassination. You're also able to stand nearby the balcony where he last stood and peer into the room where he stayed. He took up smoking at this time due to stress, and you can see the piles of cigarette butts in the ashtrays. What struck me was how larger than life he is in the minds of those of us who grew up after his death. We tend to unconsciously remove him from the fact that he was just another person, who alongside others, struggled and celebrated for what should be simple things like respect, equality, fairness, human decency. Anyway, whoa I went a little college essay there for a bit. Yes, this place certainly gets the gears working in your head again.
So the second building was the boardinghouse where the shot was fired from - goes into the events leading up to and after the assassination. At the end was an exhibit dedicated to the present and future of civil rights and interestingly (but not surprisingly) Mohandas Gandhi.
I was hooked up with a 2 dollar off student discount (lost my old student id so I had to pay the $10 adult fee) because the girl at the ticket counter saw I was frantically rummaging through my purse searching for my last dollar. Aw how nice!
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I cannot even tell you how impressed I was with this museum. It is truly a walk through the history of Black Americans in this country. It was educational, insightful and emotional. Anyone who visits Memphis needs to see this. To see the actual last bed that Martin Luther King Jr. slept in and the balcony where he was assassinated, it was really an amazing experience.
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I really enjoyed this museum. My friend Lloyd and I went and it is actually bigger than it looks. There is really a lot to get through so plan to be there for about four hours. I love how it chronicles the entire Civil Rights period and is much more comprehensive then just Dr. King's assassination. I felt inspired while I was there, you know what these people went through just to be able to enjoy a soda at a counter or have a seat on public transportation, it's pretty incredible. It was great and I enjoyed my time there. Watch out for the woman who is protesting outside of the museum (she's been protesting for like 20 years or something crazy like that). Lloyd says if you walk by her and end up talking to her, you'll be there for another four hours. Also if you watch the March on Washington, look for a midget standing right next to Dr. King. I am so serious, Lloyd pointed this out to me and behold he was right. Sounds unreal, I know, but right in front of Dr. King is a little person clapping his little hands and enjoying the I Have A Dream speech.
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