A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.

The Hunt - Phelan Home

During the Civil War, the house was commandeered by General Ulysses Grant as his Memphis headquarters. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, and a friend of the Hunt family, also spent...

During the Civil War, the house was commandeered by General Ulysses Grant as his Memphis headquarters. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, and a friend of the Hunt family, also spent...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

The Mount Nebo Baptist Church

For a short time the members met in an improvised building using old sacks for the enclosure, thus the soubriquet "Sacks Chapel." The Reverends Abraham Henderson, J.W. Shaw, Roy Love, and James H....

For a short time the members met in an improvised building using old sacks for the enclosure, thus the soubriquet "Sacks Chapel." The Reverends Abraham Henderson, J.W. Shaw, Roy Love, and James H....

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

T. H. Hayes And Sons Funeral Home

Founded in 1902 by Thomas H. Hayes, Sr., T.H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home is Memphis' oldest black business. Originally on Poplar, the business moved to Lauderdale in 1918. Hayes was active in the...

Founded in 1902 by Thomas H. Hayes, Sr., T.H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home is Memphis' oldest black business. Originally on Poplar, the business moved to Lauderdale in 1918. Hayes was active in the...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Stax Recording Studios

On this site stood Stax Records, Inc. which boasted such stars as Otis Redding, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, and many others. It relied upon...

On this site stood Stax Records, Inc. which boasted such stars as Otis Redding, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, and many others. It relied upon...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

The Pontotoc Trace

Long years before pioneer settlements established outposts of civilization on the banks of the Father of Waters, The Trail connecting the Chickasaw Village of Pontotoc with the bluffs of the...

Long years before pioneer settlements established outposts of civilization on the banks of the Father of Waters, The Trail connecting the Chickasaw Village of Pontotoc with the bluffs of the...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Stage Stop Log Cabin

Old Stage Coach Rest Stop Built 1851 Moved and Restored by Miss-Ark-Tenn Packing Corp. and National Can Corp. Collierville, Tenn. Dedicated May 8, 1977 Tribute to Carolyn Carrington Crump In...

Old Stage Coach Rest Stop Built 1851 Moved and Restored by Miss-Ark-Tenn Packing Corp. and National Can Corp. Collierville, Tenn. Dedicated May 8, 1977 Tribute to Carolyn Carrington Crump...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Raleigh

First known as Sanderlin's Bluff, the town of Raleigh was named by Joseph Graham, the first Circuit Court Clerk, for his North Carolina hometown. It was the county seat of Shelby County from 1824...

First known as Sanderlin's Bluff, the town of Raleigh was named by Joseph Graham, the first Circuit Court Clerk, for his North Carolina hometown. It was the county seat of Shelby County from 1824...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Rachel H. K. Burrow Museum

Early pioneers settled in the Arlington area around 1830. A depot, called Withe Station, was established in 1856. The land was given by General Samuel Jackson Hays. In 1872 his land holdings were...

Early pioneers settled in the Arlington area around 1830. A depot, called Withe Station, was established in 1856. The land was given by General Samuel Jackson Hays. In 1872 his land holdings were...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Park Field

During WWI Park Field became a Signal Corps aviation school, one of the 1st airfields in West Tennessee. Gen. Jas. H. Doolittle often ferried aeroplanes in for Curtiss Aircraft. After WWI Park...

During WWI Park Field became a Signal Corps aviation school, one of the 1st airfields in West Tennessee. Gen. Jas. H. Doolittle often ferried aeroplanes in for Curtiss Aircraft. After WWI...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Old Stagecoach Inn

Just to the north is the site of an old inn used by stagecoach and other travellers between Memphis and eastern settlements from 1829 until stagecoach travel ceased. It was dismantled in 1926....

Just to the north is the site of an old inn used by stagecoach and other travellers between Memphis and eastern settlements from 1829 until stagecoach travel ceased. It was dismantled in...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Oak Grove Baptist Church

Named Oak Grove because of its original location in a grove of Oak trees, the history of the church began with a small group of "freed" blacks in 1863. Mary C. and Ella J. Williams, of Williams...

Named Oak Grove because of its original location in a grove of Oak trees, the history of the church began with a small group of "freed" blacks in 1863. Mary C. and Ella J. Williams, of...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Nicholas Gotten 1832-1919

Nicholas Gotten a native of Spangdahlen, Germany, immigrated to America at age 22; worked in the north before coming to Tennessee; established himself as a blacksmith in Union Depot (Bartlett),...

Nicholas Gotten a native of Spangdahlen, Germany, immigrated to America at age 22; worked in the north before coming to Tennessee; established himself as a blacksmith in Union Depot...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Pee Wee Saloon (P. Wee Saloon)

Pee Wee's Saloon was the favorite meeting spot for Memphis musicians in the early 20th Century W.C. Handy used the cigar counter to write out copies of the Beale Street Blues for his band members....

Pee Wee's Saloon was the favorite meeting spot for Memphis musicians in the early 20th Century W.C. Handy used the cigar counter to write out copies of the Beale Street Blues for his band...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

People's Grocery

Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Will Stewart, all African-Americans and co-owners of People's Grocery (located at this site), were arrested in connection with a disturbance near their store....

Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Will Stewart, all African-Americans and co-owners of People's Grocery (located at this site), were arrested in connection with a disturbance near their...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Normal Depot

Southern Railway's Normal Depot was completed in time for the dedication of the West Tennessee Normal School on September 10, 1912. A brick Craftsman-style building with a tiled hip roof, it was a...

Southern Railway's Normal Depot was completed in time for the dedication of the West Tennessee Normal School on September 10, 1912. A brick Craftsman-style building with a tiled hip roof, it was a...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

New Bethel M.B. Church Diamond Jubilee Reunion of Neshoba School

New Bethel M.B. Church 7782 Old Poplar Pike Germantown TN 38138 Diamond Jubilee Plus 2 (77 Years) Reunion of Neshoba School 1869 - 1994 In Honor Barbara Davis Isiah Davis, Jr. Julia Lane Janice M....

New Bethel M.B. Church 7782 Old Poplar Pike Germantown TN 38138 Diamond Jubilee Plus 2 (77 Years) Reunion of Neshoba School 1869 - 1994 In Honor Barbara Davis Isiah Davis, Jr. Julia Lane Janice M....

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Oaklawn Garden

The house was built in 1854 on Wm. Carter's land. Its 493 acres were subdivided in 1872. In 1918 Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes owned and named 20 acres Oaklawn Garden. Harry and Becky Cloyes...

The house was built in 1854 on Wm. Carter's land. Its 493 acres were subdivided in 1872. In 1918 Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes owned and named 20 acres Oaklawn Garden. Harry and Becky...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

New Winchester Burying Ground

New Winchester Burying Ground was established in 1828 by deed from the original proprietors of Memphis. It occupied almost 11 acres within an area now bounded by Lane Ave. on the south, Danny...

New Winchester Burying Ground was established in 1828 by deed from the original proprietors of Memphis. It occupied almost 11 acres within an area now bounded by Lane Ave. on the south,...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Millington, Tennessee

Millwood, by the plank road leading to Memphis, and Glencoe, often flooded in the Big Creek area, merged to form Millington around 1875. To stay near the railroad, Glencoe accepted George...

Millwood, by the plank road leading to Memphis, and Glencoe, often flooded in the Big Creek area, merged to form Millington around 1875. To stay near the railroad, Glencoe accepted...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Memphis City Beautiful Commission 1930

In 1930, Memphis City Beautiful became the nation's first urban beautification commission. Over three decades "Clean Up, Paint Up, and Fix Up" campaigns won Memphis the "Cleanest City Award."...

In 1930, Memphis City Beautiful became the nation's first urban beautification commission. Over three decades "Clean Up, Paint Up, and Fix Up" campaigns won Memphis the "Cleanest City Award."...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee