Downtown Memphis, Tennessee facts for kids
Downtown Memphis, Tennessee is the busy heart of Memphis, Tennessee. It sits right along the Mississippi River. This area is bordered by big highways like Interstate 40 to the north, Interstate 55 to the south, and I-240 to the east.
Downtown Memphis is a fun place for sports fans! It's home to the Memphis Redbirds, a professional baseball team linked with the St. Louis Cardinals. It's also where the Memphis Grizzlies NBA basketball team plays.
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History of Downtown Memphis
Downtown is the oldest part of Memphis. It includes the beautiful riverfront and the high ground (bluffs) overlooking the Mississippi River. When Memphis was founded, the riverfront was set aside for everyone to use forever.
The area by the river became a busy spot where steamboats loaded up with cotton and other goods. This happened a lot in the 1800s and early 1900s. Between 1844 and 1886, the river landing was paved with special limestone and granite cobblestones. These stones came from the upper Midwest. Today, this is the biggest old river landing still left on the Mississippi River. It's even listed as a historic place!
There are also several old homes downtown. Some are in the Victorian Village neighborhood. Other historic houses include the Hunt-Phelan House (built in 1830) and the Magevney House (around 1835). The Burkle Estate (1849) and the Hunt Phelan House were known as safe places on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom before the Civil War.
Downtown Airport's Past
In 1959, a small airport opened on Mud Island. It was called the Memphis Downtown Airport. It had one runway and was mostly used by business people. You could reach it by a special boat. The airport closed in 1970. Later, in the 1990s, the area became the Harbor Town neighborhood.
What You'll Find Downtown
The Downtown Memphis skyline has the tallest buildings in the city. The very tallest building, 100 North Main, is right in the middle of downtown. It stands 430 feet (131 meters) tall!
Some other important or famous buildings downtown include:
- 100 North Main
- One Commerce Square
- Sterick Building
- Memphis Pyramid
- Peabody Hotel
- FedExForum
- Central Station
Downtown Memphis has a lot of office space, shops, hotels, and homes. It's also where the main government offices for Memphis and Shelby County are located. These include the Memphis City Hall and the Federal Building.
Downtown Areas and Neighborhoods
Downtown Core
The Downtown Core is the main part of the business district. It has most of the offices, shops, fun places, and restaurants. It's a popular spot for entertainment, dining, and tourism. Here you'll find exciting places like Beale Street, FedExForum, AutoZone Park, and the famous Peabody Hotel.
Other Downtown Neighborhoods
Downtown Memphis has many unique neighborhoods, such as:
- South Main Arts District
- Medical District
- Pinch District
- Beale Street
- Harbor Town
- Victorian Village
Memphis Riverfront
Downtown Memphis is right on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Memphis Riverfront stretches a long way, connecting different parks.
The River Walk is a park system along the Mississippi River. It links the Mississippi River Greenbelt Park in the north to Tom Lee Park in the south.
Some interesting spots along the riverfront are:
- Chickasaw Bluff at Beale Street Landing
- Riverfront Trolley
- Mud Island
- Harbor Town
- Steamboats
Economy
Many important companies have their main offices in Downtown Memphis. These include:
- AutoZone
- First Horizon
- Southern Airways Express
- ServiceMaster
Schools
Students in Downtown Memphis go to schools that are part of Shelby County Schools. These include:
- Downtown Elementary School
- Vance Middle School
- Booker T. Washington High School
Transportation
Downtown Memphis is easy to get to! It has major highways, public buses, and trolley service. You can also find commercial bus service by Greyhound and passenger train service by Amtrak.
Big highways like I-40, I-55, and I-240 go right through downtown. This makes it simple to reach the area from nearby places. Many U.S. Routes also pass through downtown.
The MATA runs the North End Terminal. This is the main hub for Memphis public bus service. Most bus routes end here, so it's very easy to get around by bus.
The MATA Trolley is a historic streetcar system. It has three lines that run through downtown along Main Street, Riverside Drive, and Madison Avenue. You can connect from the MATA public bus to the Main Street trolley line at the North End Terminal.
Amtrak's City of New Orleans passenger train also stops in Downtown Memphis. It arrives at Central Station a few times a week.
Images for kids
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Memphis River Walk
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4th Bluff Mounds at Chickasaw Heritage Park
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Harahan Bridge from Martyrs Park
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Yellow Fever Memorial in Martyrs Park
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Memphis Park
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Mississippi River Park
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Vance Park
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Beale Street Landing
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Memphis Queen
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Mississippi River Greenbelt Park
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Wolf River Harbor
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McKellar Lake
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Martin Luther King Jr Park
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President's Island
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Pyramid Arena
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Court Square
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Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
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AutoZone Park
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St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis
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Civic Center Plaza
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MATA Trolley on Main Street.
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James Lee House (1869), one of the last houses in Downtown.
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Beale Street in 1974
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View of downtown Memphis, looking west on Madison Ave.
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Downtown Memphis in 1909, overlooking Court Square.
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View of downtown Memphis in 1907 from the Mississippi River.
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View of Madison Avenue, and Customs House and Post Office in 1907.
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The Tennessee Club on Court Square, 1906.
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The former Napoleon Hill mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, built in 1881. It was torn down by 1930 to build the Sterick Building.
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Nylon Net Building around 1960
