National Civil Rights Museum

The National Civil Rights Museum offers families a profound educational experience at the historic Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Through interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, and carefully curated artifacts, children and parents can explore pivotal moments in American history together, fostering meaningful conversations about equality, courage, and social justice.

• ✓The preserved Lorraine Motel rooms where Dr. King stayed, offering a powerful, tangible connection to history
• ✓Interactive exhibits including the Montgomery Bus Boycott bus replica where kids can sit and experience history
• ✓Multimedia presentations and documentary footage that bring the Civil Rights Movement to life
• ✓The Main Street rooming house across the street, offering perspective on the events of April 4, 1968
• ✓Timeline exhibits tracing the struggle for equality from slavery through present day

1. 1.Purchase tickets online in advance to skip the line, especially during peak tourist season and school field trip periods (spring).
2. 2.Start your visit early in the day when kids are fresh and alert,the museum requires focus and can be emotionally heavy, so plan for breaks.
3. 3.Download the museum's mobile app before visiting for additional content and kid-friendly audio guides that help younger visitors understand the exhibits.
4. 4.Allow time to discuss what you've seen,there's a courtyard area perfect for debriefing and answering questions your children may have.
5. 5.Visit the gift shop, which offers age-appropriate books and educational materials to continue the learning at home.

Visit on weekday mornings (Wednesday or Thursday) when crowds are lighter and your family can move through exhibits at your own pace. Avoid Tuesdays when the museum is closed, and try to visit during fall or winter months to avoid large school groups that typically visit in spring.

Admission is $17 for adults and $14 for children ages 5-17 (under 5 free). Parking is available in nearby lots for $10-15. The museum has a small café for snacks, but no full restaurant, so plan lunch before or after your visit.

The museum is closed on Tuesdays year-round and closed on major holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spring brings heavy school group traffic, so plan accordingly. The indoor museum is comfortable year-round regardless of Memphis weather.

Head to Arcade Restaurant (3 blocks away), Memphis's oldest café serving classic diner fare that kids love, including burgers, milkshakes, and pancakes. Central BBQ (0.5 miles) offers family-friendly Tennessee BBQ with a casual atmosphere and kid-pleasing pulled pork sandwiches and mac & cheese.