The Lorraine Motel was turned into the National Museum of Civil rights about 23 years after Martin Luther King was shot there April 4, 1968. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the Lorraine Motel was one of the only hotels that was open to african americans during the segregation peroid. Many musicians black and white stayed in the Lorraine including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and others. It was the motel owner Walter Baily who pushed to turn the motel into a civil rights monument,(he had already been keeping the room MLK had stayed in last preserved the way it had been left.) After a lot of controversial, in September 19, 1991 the museum was opened to the public.
Some of the museum's exhibits include, the buss that Rosa Parks rode, Little Rock High School, a replica of MLK's jail cell, Project C and two exhibits about James Earl Ray and Martin Luther Kings final days.
A Different Perspective
In order to transform the Lorraine Motel into a museum, not only would it take a lot of money but also thous who lived in the motel would not be able to stay. One loyal resident was Jacqueline Smith. When told of the motel's plans she locked herself in her room and refused to leave the premises. Upon the opening of the museum, many low income houses were torn down to make room for more expensive houses to put the museum in a better neighborhood.
* Visit Elvis Presley's Mansion
*Eat out at the Hard Rock Cafe
*Auto Zone Park tour, aka tour of baseball
stadium and locker room
*Go to the Memphis zoo
(ect.)
The Lorraine Motel was turned into the National Museum of Civil rights about 23 years after Martin Luther King was shot there April 4, 1968. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the Lorraine Motel was one of the only hotels that was open to african americans during the segregation peroid. Many musicians black and white stayed in the Lorraine including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and others. It was the motel owner Walter Baily who pushed to turn the motel into a civil rights monument,(he had already been keeping the room MLK had stayed in last preserved the way it had been left.) After a lot of controversial, in September 19, 1991 the museum was opened to the public.
Some of the museum's exhibits include, the buss that Rosa Parks rode, Little Rock High School, a replica of MLK's jail cell, Project C and two exhibits about James Earl Ray and Martin Luther Kings final days.
A Different Perspective
In order to transform the Lorraine Motel into a museum, not only would it take a lot of money but also thous who lived in the motel would not be able to stay. One loyal resident was Jacqueline Smith. When told of the motel's plans she locked herself in her room and refused to leave the premises. Upon the opening of the museum, many low income houses were torn down to make room for more expensive houses to put the museum in a better neighborhood.
Things To Do In Memphis
* Visit Elvis Presley's Mansion
*Eat out at the Hard Rock Cafe
*Auto Zone Park tour, aka tour of baseball
stadium and locker room
*Go to the Memphis zoo
(ect.)