The Overton Park Shell is one of the quieter pieces of Memphis music history, and this guided backstage tour is the way to get inside it. The bandshell was built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration to a design by local architect Max Furbringer, and it is described as one of the few Depression-era bandshells still in active use. In 1954 it hosted Elvis Presley, who played there as the opening act for Slim Whitman, an appearance that many music historians consider one of the first rock and roll shows. The venue has had several names and lives. It was renamed in tribute to Raoul Wallenberg in 1982, and after the Save Our Shell group began presenting hundreds of free concerts from the mid-1980s, the city partnered with the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation on a renovation. It reopened as the Levitt Shell in 2008 and, after a long partnership of more than 600 free concerts, took back the Overton Park Shell name in 2022. The tour walks through that history from the stage side, with a guide pointing out what the audience never sees. The ticket page shows a perfect score, but only from two reviews, so treat it as a promising newcomer, not a proven classic. It suits music-history fans and Midtown explorers, and it is a good counterpoint to the more famous studios. Visit the park around a concert if you can, since the grounds are lovely and the lawn in front of the stage is the real attraction on a performance night.
How to visit
The Shell sits inside Overton Park in Midtown, a short drive from downtown. The tour is a guided backstage experience with a ticket booked in advance, and departures follow the venue’s schedule, so choose a date when you book. Check whether a concert or private event is planned on your day, since stage access can depend on it.
What to expect
You will stand where performers wait and step onto the stage while your guide explains the building, its architect and its place in local music history. The Elvis story is the headline, but the tale of how a community saved the bandshell is just as interesting. Expect a short visit rather than a long tour, and bring water in summer.
Making the most of it
Combine the tour with a walk in Overton Park, including the Old Forest and the Greensward, and consider returning for a free concert if the season suits. Many of the Shell’s shows are free, which makes it one of the best value evenings in the city, but check the season’s schedule before planning around it. Pair the visit with Sun Studio and the Edge Motor Museum for a music-and-wheels half day.
What to expect
The experience
A guided backstage walk through the historic bandshell, with the stage, the building’s story and its Elvis connection.
Best time
A mild morning in spring or autumn, or around a concert night to see the lawn in use.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Book a date in advance, check for events that could limit stage access and bring water in summer.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Music-history fans and anyone who likes a story behind a landmark.
- Families
- Fine for older children and teens who are curious about Elvis and live music.
- Couples
- Pair the tour with a concert or a stroll through Overton Park.
- Pair with
- Overton Park, the Old Forest trail and the Edge Motor Museum.
- Time needed
- About an hour, plus time in the park.
Good questions
What is the Overton Park Shell?+
It is a bandshell built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration, famous as a stage for Elvis Presley in 1954 and for decades of free concerts.
Did Elvis really play here?+
Yes, in 1954 he performed there as the opening act for Slim Whitman, an appearance many music historians treat as one of the first rock and roll shows.
Was it called the Levitt Shell?+
It carried that name from 2008 and returned to the Overton Park Shell name in 2022.
Are the concerts free?+
Many of the Shell’s concerts have been free, but schedules change by season, so check before you plan around one.
How reliable is the rating?+
The ticket page shows 5.0 from two reviews, so it is a promising but very small sample.
