The National Civil Rights Museum is the most important museum in Memphis and one of the most moving in the United States. It is built around the Lorraine Motel on Mulberry Street, the motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was staying when he was shot on its balcony on 4 April 1968, during his visit to support the city’s striking sanitation workers. The preserved motel facade, with its vintage cars and wreath outside Room 306, is a place of quiet pilgrimage. Inside, the exhibits move through the story of the civil rights movement, from resistance to slavery and the Jim Crow era to the Montgomery bus boycott, the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington, using film, artifacts and full-size recreations that put you in the moment. The visit ends at Room 306 itself. Across the street, the Legacy Building covers the investigation into the assassination and the movement since. This page links to the museum’s official site, where you buy tickets.
How to visit: the museum is at 450 Mulberry Street in the South Main district, a short walk from Beale Street and the trolley. On its regular schedule it opens Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Tuesdays; it opened seven days a week only for a limited spell in early 2026, so check the current hours before planning a Tuesday visit. Adult admission is a moderate fee, and tickets are sold online through the museum’s site and at the door. Allow at least two to three hours.
What to expect: the exhibits are detailed and emotional, with a lot of reading, film and audio. Some displays include graphic historical images and violence, so prepare younger children. Weekends and school holidays bring large groups, and the galleries can feel crowded at midday.
Making the most of it: buy tickets online, arrive at opening, and take the main building slowly, leaving energy for the Legacy Building across the street, which many visitors rush or skip. Afterwards, walk up South Main for lunch and a quiet moment to reflect.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided museum of films, artifacts and recreated scenes built into the Lorraine Motel, ending at Room 306, plus the Legacy Building across the street.
Best time
Opening time on a weekday other than Tuesday, when the galleries are calmest.
How long
Two to three hours, and longer if you read every panel.
Tips
Buy tickets online, check the current hours because the museum normally closes on Tuesdays, and save time for the Legacy Building.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every visitor to Memphis, and above all anyone interested in American history and civil rights.
- Families
- Best for children aged about ten and up; some images are graphic, so talk it through beforehand.
- Couples
- A serious, moving visit to share, followed by a quiet lunch on South Main.
- Pair with
- The Stax Museum for the music of the same era, or a walk to Beale Street.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
What days is the National Civil Rights Museum open?+
On its regular schedule it opens Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 and closes on Tuesdays. It opened seven days a week only for a limited spell in early 2026, so check before you go.
Is the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel?+
Yes, the museum is built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. The visit ends at Room 306, where he stayed.
How long should I spend at the museum?+
Plan on two to three hours for the main building. Add time for the Legacy Building across the street.
Is the museum suitable for children?+
It is very worthwhile for older children, but some displays show graphic historical images and violence. Many families find it works best from about age ten.
Should I buy tickets in advance?+
Buying online through the museum’s site is the easiest option, especially on weekends and holidays. Tickets are also sold at the door.
