Memphis, the namesake of the famous Egyptian city was founded in 1819. One of the major slave markets during the 1800s, Memphis lost its charter in 1978 after a yellow fever epidemic claimed the lives of almost 75% of the city's inhabitants. The city's charter was reinstated in 1893.

Memphis was the largest spa cotton market and the largest hardwood lumber market in the early 29th century. Today, it is home to some of the major corporations in the US, among them FedEx and Morgan Keegan & Company.

The city is perfect for sightseeing as its districts will offer you different glimpses of its history as well as its modern attractions. For a brief history lesson, head downtown to the oldest part of the city which sits on the banks of the Mississippi. This area has recently become one of the most vibrant and lively cities in the New South with its strip of restaurants, shops and entertainment centers. The younger crowd also has a place to hang out at the Cooper-Young Neighborhood midtown, which is filled with trendy cafés and art galleries.

The city played an important role in the history of the civil rights movement when Martin Luther King was assassinated at the Lorraine hotel after giving his famous speech at the Mason Temple. Other famous personalities to come out of Memphis include Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Booker T. Jones.