Memphis History Facts and Timeline

(Memphis, Tennessee - TN, USA)

The first settlers in Memphis were a culture of hunter and gatherers. They occupied the area near the river for around 10,000 years. European settlers didn't arrive until the beginning of the 16th century, after Spanish and French explorers had scouted the area.

The city was founded in 1819 and became a transportation center for the large quantities of cotton produced nearby. During the Civil War, Union forces conquered the city in the Battle of Memphis in 1862 and controlled it for the duration of the war.

A City is Founded

It wasn't until after Tennessee was admitted into the US that Memphis was officially established. Its founders decided to name the city after an ancient Egyptian city that also enjoyed a riverside setting.


The city developed as a hub throughout the 19th century, due to its strong connections provided by its location on the Mississippi River, as well as its rail links and thriving slave market. During the Civil War, Confederate Memphis was occupied by Union forces and prospered as a supply base. This prosperity came to an end in the last decades of the century, as yellow fever overwhelmed the area, causing the population to fall by almost three-quarters.

20th-Century Memphis

From the beginning of the 20th century, Memphis flourished thanks to its healthy cotton, hardwood and mule industries - this was a high point in Memphis history. Entrepreneur Clarence Saunders established the city's first supermarket chain and gained great personal wealth as a result. Unfortunately, he lost his fortune due to stock manipulations and had to sell his newly built mansion. The Pink Palace, as Saunders' mansion was nicknamed, was later renovated to become the city's popular natural history and science museum.

Emergence as a Music Hub

At the start of the 20th century, Memphis became a center for African-American music, including blues, jazz, rhythm and soul. In the middle of the 20th-century, the Memphis Recording Service opened and artists such as Roy Orbison, Elvis, Johnny Cash and BB King all recorded here. Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley and many other famous artists recorded, now houses an exhibition documenting its star-studded history. It also still functions as a fully operating recording studio.

The Assassination of Martin Luther King In the 1960s, the growing struggle for civil rights peaked and led to a highly significant event and turning point in Memphis history. A prominent workers' strike campaigned for equality and against poverty.

This action attracted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the city, as well as drawing national attention to the dire situation faced by minority groups and the poor. The tragic assassination of King on his motel balcony made world news. The property, known then as the Lorraine Motel, now serves as the National Civil Rights Museum.

The King's Death

Elvis Presley died in 1977 at his famous 23-room mansion, known as Graceland. The property is the third-most visited house in the USA, attracting hordes of Elvis fans keen to see the home of the King. Visitors can also check out the star's private planes and his shiny collection of automobiles and motorcycles.

This large white mansion serves as a museum-type attraction and has been named as a National Historic Landmark. Even today, Elvis is one of the most talked about aspects of Memphis history.
The first settlers in Memphis were a culture of hunter and gatherers. They occupied the area near the river for around 10,000 years. European settlers didn't arrive until the beginning of the 16th century, after Spanish and French explorers had scouted the area.

The city was founded in 1819 and became a transportation center for the large quantities of cotton produced nearby. During the Civil War, Union forces conquered the city in the Battle of Memphis in 1862 and controlled it for the duration of the war.

A City is Founded

It wasn't until after Tennessee was admitted into the US that Memphis was officially established. Its founders decided to name the city after an ancient Egyptian city that also enjoyed a riverside setting.

The city developed as a hub throughout the 19th century, due to its strong connections provided by its location on the Mississippi River, as well as its rail links and thriving slave market. During the Civil War, Confederate Memphis was occupied by Union forces and prospered as a supply base. This prosperity came to an end in the last decades of the century, as yellow fever overwhelmed the area, causing the population to fall by almost three-quarters.

20th-Century Memphis

From the beginning of the 20th century, Memphis flourished thanks to its healthy cotton, hardwood and mule industries - this was a high point in Memphis history. Entrepreneur Clarence Saunders established the city's first supermarket chain and gained great personal wealth as a result. Unfortunately, he lost his fortune due to stock manipulations and had to sell his newly built mansion. The Pink Palace, as Saunders' mansion was nicknamed, was later renovated to become the city's popular natural history and science museum.

Emergence as a Music Hub

At the start of the 20th century, Memphis became a center for African-American music, including blues, jazz, rhythm and soul. In the middle of the 20th-century, the Memphis Recording Service opened and artists such as Roy Orbison, Elvis, Johnny Cash and BB King all recorded here. Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley and many other famous artists recorded, now houses an exhibition documenting its star-studded history. It also still functions as a fully operating recording studio.

The Assassination of Martin Luther King

In the 1960s, the growing struggle for civil rights peaked and led to a highly significant event and turning point in Memphis history. A prominent workers' strike campaigned for equality and against poverty.

This action attracted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the city, as well as drawing national attention to the dire situation faced by minority groups and the poor. The tragic assassination of King on his motel balcony made world news. The property, known then as the Lorraine Motel, now serves as the National Civil Rights Museum.

The King's Death

Elvis Presley died in 1977 at his famous 23-room mansion, known as Graceland. The property is the third-most visited house in the USA, attracting hordes of Elvis fans keen to see the home of the King. Visitors can also check out the star's private planes and his shiny collection of automobiles and motorcycles.

This large white mansion serves as a museum-type attraction and has been named as a National Historic Landmark. Even today, Elvis is one of the most talked about aspects of Memphis history.