| Beale Street Historic District | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark District) | |
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| Location: | Beale St. from Main to 4th Sts. , Memphis, Tennessee |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Area: | 27 acres (0. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U 109 km²) [1] |
| Built/Founded: | 1900 |
| Architectural style(s): | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| Designated as NHL: | May 23, 1966[2] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966[3] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000731 |
| Governing body: | Local |
Beale Street is a street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately 1. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to 8 miles. It is a significant location in African-American history and the history of the blues. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Today, the blues clubs and restaurants that line Beale Street are major tourist attractions in Memphis. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Festivals and outdoor concerts periodically bring large crowds to the street and its surrounding areas. As of August 2007, local media reports point to an increase in violent crime on the part of nightclub security guards and clientele at this tourist destination. Panhandling is also seen as a problem at this time. [4][5][6][7][8] Though given an exemption by the state of Tennessee to keep clubs open until 5 am, there is now an effort to scale back the hours of operation to reflect a 3 am closing time. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States.
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History
Beale Street was created in 1841 by entrepreneur and developer Robertson Topp (1807-1876), who named it for a forgotten military hero. [9][10][11] The original name was Beale Avenue. Its western end primarily housed shops of trade merchants, who traded goods with ships along the Mississippi River, while the eastern part developed as an affluent suburb. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to [10] In the 1860s, many black traveling musicians began performing on Beale. The first of these to call Beale Street home were the Young Men's Brass Band,[10] who were formed by Sam Thomas in 1867. Sam Thomas (born 17 June 1983 is a New Zealand fashion and fitness model perhaps best known for his frequencies in Australian COSMOPOLITAN and re-occurring
In the 1870s the population of Memphis was decimated by a series of Yellow Fever epidemics, leading the city to forfeit its charter in 1879. Yellow fever (also called yellow jack, black vomit or sometimes American Plague) is an acute viral disease [10] During this time Robert Church purchased land around Beale Street that would eventually lead to his becoming the first black millionaire from the south. [10] In 1890, Beale Street underwent renovation with the addition of the Grand Opera House, later known as the Orpheum. The Orpheum in Memphis Tennessee, built in 1928 is one of the few remaining "movie palaces" of the 1920s In 1899, Robert Church paid the city to create Church Park at the corner of 4th and Beale. It became a recreational and cultural center, where blues musicians could gather. A major attraction of the park was an auditorium that could seat 2,000 people. [12] Some of the famous speakers in the Church Park Auditorium were Woodrow Wilson, Booker T. Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5 1856 &ndash November 14 1915 was an American educator orator author and leader of the African-American community [10]
In the early 1900s, Beale Street was filled with clubs, restaurants and shops, many of them owned by African-Americans. In 1889, NAACP co-founder Ida B. Wells was a co-owner and editor of an anti-segregationist paper called Free Speech based on Beale. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is one of the oldest and most influential Civil rights organizations Ida Bell Wells ( July 16, 1862 &ndash March 25, 1931) aka Ida B Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without Censorship or Limitation. Beale Street Baptist Church, Tennessee's oldest surviving African American Church edifice built in 1864, was also important in the early civil rights movement in Memphis. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. See also Protests of 1968 Historically the civil rights movement was a concentrated period of time around the world of approximately twenty years (1960-1980 in
In 1905 Mayor Thornton was looking for a music teacher for his Knights of Pythias Band, and called Tuskeegee Institute to talk to his friend, Booker T. Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. Washington, who recommended a trumpet player in Clarksdale, Mississippi, named W. Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. C. Handy. Mayor Thornton contacted Mr. Handy, and Memphis became the home of the famous musician who created the "Blues on Beale Street". Mayor Thornton and his three sons also played in Handy's band.
In 1909, W.C. Handy wrote "Mr. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting William Christopher Handy ( November 16 1873 &ndash March 28 1958) was a Blues Composer and Musician, often Crump" as a campaign song for political machine leader E. H. Crump. A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on Patronage, the Spoils system, "behind-the-scenes" control and longstanding Edward Hull "Boss" Crump ( October 2, 1874 &ndash October 16, 1954) was a Memphis Tennessee Insurance broker The song was later renamed "The Memphis Blues". "The Memphis Blues" is a song described by its composer W Handy also wrote a song called "Beale Street Blues" in 1916 which influenced the change of the street's name from Beale Avenue to Beale Street. "Beale Street Blues" is a 1916 song by American composer and lyricist W Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a Street. From the 1920s to the 1940s, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Memphis Minnie, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon and other blues and jazz legends played on Beale Street and helped develop the style known as Memphis Blues. Louis Armstrong (August 4 1901 &ndash July 6 1971 nicknamed Satchmo or Sachimo and Pops, was an American Jazz Trumpeter For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. Albert King ( April 25 1923 &ndash December 21 1992) was an American Blues Guitarist and Singer Memphis Minnie McCoy-Lawler (born Lizzie Douglas, June 3, 1897 in Algiers, Louisiana; died B B King (born Riley B King, September 16 1925 is an American Blues Guitarist and Singer-songwriter. Rufus Thomas Jr ( March 26 1917 – December 15 2001) was a Rhythm and blues, Funk and soul singer and Rosco Gordon ( April 10 1928 – July 11 2002) was an African American Blues Singer and Songwriter Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The Memphis blues is a style of Blues music that was created in the 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes,
In 1938 Lewis O. Swingler, editor of the Memphis World Newspaper, a Negro newspaper, in an effort to increase circulation, conceived the idea of a "Mayor of Beale St. ", having readers vote for the person of their choice. Matthew Thornton, Sr. , a well-known community leader, active in political, civic and social affairs and one of the charter members of the Memphis Branch of the NAACP, won the contest against nine opponents and received 12,000 of the 33,000 votes cast. Mr. Thornton was the original "Mayor of Beale St. " an honorary position that he retained until he died in 1963 at the age of 90.
In the 1960s, Beale became run down and many stores closed, although on May 23, 1966, the section of the street from Main to 4th was declared a National Historic Landmark. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the [2][1] On December 15, 1977, Beale Street was officially declared as the "Home of the Blues" by an act of Congress. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Despite this national recognition of its historic significance, it was not until the the 1980s that Beale Street received attention from local lawmakers, which led to an economic revitalization, with many new clubs and attractions opening. The street is now home to a chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Inc is known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS.
During the first weekend of May (sometimes including late April), the Beale Street Music Festival brings major music acts from a variety of musical genres to Tom Lee Park at the end of Beale Street on the Mississippi River. Memphis in May is a month long festival held in Memphis Tennessee. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to The festival is the kickoff event of a month of festivities citywide known as Memphis in May. Memphis in May is a month long festival held in Memphis Tennessee. [13]
Attractions
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Musical References
- The songs "My Jesus" and "On a Corner in Memphis" by Todd Agnew contains references to Beale Street. Todd Agnew (Born March 15 1971 in Dallas Texas is a Christian musician and songwriter who has recently appeared in the Contemporary Christian
- The body of singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley was found at the foot of Beale Street after he drowned in the nearby Wolf River Harbor. Jeffrey Scott Buckley (November 17 1966 – May 29 1997 raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American Singer-songwriter and Guitarist He was the son
- Clutch (a rock band from Maryland) has an album titled From Beale Street to Oblivion. Clutch is a United States based musical group originally from Germantown, Maryland. From Beale Street to Oblivion is the eighth full-length studio album by rock band Clutch. A song on that album, "The Devil & Me", contains a reference to Beale Street.
- The song "Walking in Memphis" by Mark Cohn contains the line "walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale," in a reference to Beale Street. " Walking in Memphis " is the Signature song of American Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, from his self-titled 1991 album Marc Cohn (born July 5, 1959) is a Singer-songwriter and Musician.
- Joni Mitchell's song, "Furry Sings The Blues", is a lamentation of the redevelopment of Beale Street in the late 1960s. Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and Furry Lewis ( March 6 1893 - September 14 1981) was a Country blues Guitarist and Songwriter It references W.C. Handy and both the Old and the New Daisy theaters, among others. William Christopher Handy ( November 16 1873 &ndash March 28 1958) was a Blues Composer and Musician, often [14]
- The Depression era Memphis band known as The Beale Street Sheiks, the most notable member being Frank Stokes, recorded a song called "Beale Town Bound", which is an obvious reference to Memphis itself. Frank Stokes ( January 1 1888 &ndash September 12 1955) was a Blues Musician, Songster, and Blackface
References
- ^ a b Cecil McKithan and Horace Sheely (1988), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Beale Street / Beale Street Historic DistrictPDF (32 KB), National Park Service and Accompanying 15 photos, from 1965 and undatedPDF (32 KB)
- ^ a b Beale Street Historic District. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-02-29. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Leap years Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor
- ^ Memphis Flyer - Beale Street Beggars?
- ^ Smart City Memphis - Begging For Help With Panhandlers
- ^ Commercial Appeal - Memphis getting tough on panhandling
- ^ WMCTV - Panhandlers might have more cash on hand than you do
- ^ Commercial Appeal - Panhandling threatens Downtown growth
- ^ About Beale Street. BealeStreet. com. Retrieved on 2007-06-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish
- ^ a b c d e f Raichelson, Richard M. (1999). Beale Street Talks: A Walking Tour Down The Home Of The Blues. Memphis, TN: Arcadia Records. ISBN 0-9647545-1-7.
- ^ Genealogical Tidbits, Memphis Daily Appeal, 1876
- ^ Barlow, William. "Looking Up At Down": The Emergence of Blues Culture. Temple University Press (1989), p. 208. ISBN 0-87722-583-4.
- ^ Memphis in May Webpage.
- ^ jonimitchell.com - Lyrics: Furry Sings The Blues
External links
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