Stax Museum of American Soul Music facts for kids
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| Established | May 2003 |
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| Location | 926 East McLemore Avenue Memphis, Tennessee United States |
| Type | Soul music museum |
| Public transit access |  MATA |
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a cool place to visit in Memphis, Tennessee. It's built right where the famous Stax Records studio used to be. Stax Records was a legendary music company. It helped many amazing artists become stars.
Some of these artists include Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, and Sam & Dave. Many others also recorded their hits there. The Stax Museum first opened its doors on May 2, 2003.
The museum is run by a group called the Soulsville Foundation. This group also runs the Stax Music Academy and The Soulsville Charter School. All three are on the same campus. This area is known as Soulsville U.S.A. Jeff Kollath is the museum's executive director.
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The Story of Stax Museum
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Stax Records closed down in 1976. The old studio building was sold for a very small amount of money. People hoped to use it as a community center. But this plan never happened. The building slowly fell apart. Even though many tried to save it, the building was torn down in 1989.
By 1998, the neighborhood needed help. A group of people from Memphis, along with some secret helpers and former Stax artists, decided to act. They started a plan to bring the area back to life. This plan included building a museum. It would honor Stax Records and all American soul music. They also wanted a music school for young people.
Work on the Stax Museum began in April 2001. The Stax Music Academy opened in 2002. The museum itself opened on May 3, 2003. The Stax Museum looks like the original Stax recording studio. It even has the same sloped floor as the famous Studio A.
The museum is about 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m2) in size. It has many cool things to see. You can find interactive exhibits, videos, and old photos. There are original instruments used to record Stax hits. You can also see stage costumes and old recording gear. The museum has over 3,000 items from music history.
What You Can See at the Museum
Some of the best exhibits include a real church from the Mississippi Delta. It was built around 1906. This shows how gospel music influenced soul music. You can also see the Soul Train dance floor. There's also Isaac Hayes' amazing 1972 Cadillac. It's peacock-blue with gold trim!
The museum also has a copy of the original Stax Records Studio A. It looks almost exactly like the real thing. You can see Jim Stewart's first violin. He was the founder of Stax Records. There's also Skip Pitts' guitar and the special pedal he used. He played it on Isaac Hayes' famous song, "Theme From Shaft."
You can also see Floyd Newman's saxophone. It turned 100 years old in 2017! And don't miss the Academy Award statue. Isaac Hayes won it in 1972 for "Theme From Shaft."
The Stax Museum is one of the few museums in the world about soul music. The Motown Museum in Detroit is another example. The Stax Museum celebrates Stax Records and its artists. These include Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, and Sam & Dave. But it also shows music from other famous labels. These are Motown, Hi Records, Atlantic Records, and Muscle Shoals.
Visitors can watch old videos of many other soul artists. You can see Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Also featured are Ann Peebles, The Jackson Five, and James Brown.
Community and Awards
The Stax Museum is a popular place for tourists. It also helps the local community. It offers free events all year. These are for people living in the Soulsville U.S.A. neighborhood. Events include concerts, listening parties, and film showings. There are also special Family Days for children. For example, in 2022, the museum was added to the United States Civil Rights Trail.
The Stax Museum has won many awards. TIME magazine called it "The Most Authentic American Experience in Tennessee." In 2015, it won the Tennessee Governor's Arts Award. This is the highest honor for arts in the state. USA Today often names it one of the best music attractions in North America.
The Soulsville Foundation
The Soulsville Foundation runs the Stax Museum. It also runs two other important places:
Stax Music Academy
The Stax Music Academy is next to the museum. It teaches middle and high school students about music. Students get music education and chances to perform. They also get help preparing for college. Since 2008, every senior at the academy has been accepted into college. Since 2021, all seniors have received music scholarships. In 2019, Justin Timberlake visited the academy. He helped set up a songwriting lab. This helps students create more original music.
The Soulsville Charter School
The Soulsville Foundation also runs The Soulsville Charter School. This school helps students get ready for college. Students study subjects like math, science, and history. They also learn music, like strings, band, and choir. Their Soulsville Symphony Orchestra has played for stars. These include Stevie Wonder and John Legend. Since 2012, every senior at the school has been accepted into college.
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.
See also
- List of museums in Tennessee
- List of music museums
- Memphis soul
- Stax Records
