W. C. Handy Memphis Home & Museum
A far cry from the opulence of Graceland, this tiny clapboard shotgun shack was once the Memphis home of the bluesman W. C. Handy—“the father of the blues”—and was where he was living in 1909 when he penned “Memphis Blues.” In the mid-1980’s the two-room shotgun house was moved to Beale Street and restored (it was originally on Jeanette Place in South Memphis). Although the house has only a small collection of Handy memorabilia and artifacts, there are numerous old photos displayed, and informative commentary provided by guides. As with Sun Studio, there’s not much to see here for the average tourist, but music, history, and especially blues fans will find something to enjoy.
A far cry from the opulence of Graceland, this tiny clapboard shotgun shack was once the Memphis home of the bluesman W. C. Handy—“the father of the blues”—and was where he was living in 1909 when he penned “Memphis Blues.” In the mid-1980’s the two-room shotgun house was moved to Beale Street and restored (it was originally on Jeanette Place in South Memphis). Although the house has only a small collection of Handy memorabilia and artifacts, there are numerous old photos displayed, and informative commentary provided by guides. As with Sun Studio, there’s not much to see here for the average tourist, but music, history, and especially blues fans will find something to enjoy.
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