The Memphis Historical Trail

I've lived in Memphis for about 13 years, since the fall of 2000 (really only 8 years as I spent 5 in Japan).  Needless to say I learned quite a bit about my city in those years.  I know that it sits on top of an aquifer that provides excellent quality drinking water.  I know that it was an important city in the early development of the nation and I know that it was a focal point in music for a very long time and saw the rise of many music stars.  But there was a lot I did not know and didn't even think to think about.

I never really thought about the actual development of the city and what made it the way it is today.  Sure I knew Memphis has been around for a long time, but never thought on exactly what happened since its founding or what historic events may have happened here.  I love history and now that I look back on myself I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I never took the time to really get to know my home.  That all changed this past weekend.

I went on a hike throughout downtown Memphis.  The hike is commonly referred to as the Memphis Historic Trail.  It winds through downtown to the outskirts of Midtown and back.  As with most historical trails you walk from point to point answering questions and reading plaques and reading from the trail guide.  The points range from the founding of Memphis to the Civil War to the Golden Age of Memphis music.

The walk is long and covers a lot of ground and goes into several different areas of downtown.  You need to be prepared with water, food, good boots/shoes and the hike guide.  You may also want a map and a compass if you are not familiar with Memphis.  One nice thing is that you pass by several restaurants and shops so that if you are not 100% ready your equipped you can easily get food and other previsions while on the trail.  I actually wished my group had stopped at a restaurant cause my feet were pretty tired and I could've used the rest.  The hike covers about 12 miles so be ready to go that far.

You do go through some dodgy areas so you should use caution while hiking through.  You also have to cross some busy streets so be smart about it.  I didn't feel too worried, but there were some instances that were a bit sketchy.  You will encounter homeless folk.  Most of them are harmless, but still exercise caution when dealing with them.  It's probably best not to give handouts.

You start the hike at the I-40 visitor center and finishes back there.  You can find the PDF file of the trail guide here.

Overall it's a great hike.  If you want to learn more about Memphis, this is where you can do it.  Good luck and happy trails.