Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour: Memphis Beyond Beale

Backbeat Tours
4.8
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Cancellation Policy
Up to 24 hours before your scheduled admission.
elizabethpN6745KN
36 days ago
Definitely recommend this walking tour around Memphis - really interesting facts and historical background. Kate our guide was excellent and the 2 1/2 hours went so quickly!

This 2-hour walking tour of Memphis explores the city's rich history at a fun and leisurely pace. You'll explore historic Cotton Row and Court Square, the lovely and historic heart of 19th century Memphis; enjoy sweeping views of the Mississippi River; and hear fascinating tales of rebels during the Civil War as well as Prohibition Era bootleggers. You'll also experience a time-honored Memphis tradition, the famous March of the Ducks at The Peabody Hotel. This tour is suitable for the whole family. Also available is an additional guided tour of the historic Orpheum Theater (if option selected, Monday-Wednesday only).

Departure Point

  • Please meet your guide inside the Peabody Hotel Lobby, near the Concierge Desk.
Return Details
  • Please meet your guide inside the Peabody Hotel Lobby, near the Concierge Desk.
Duration2 hours - 3 hoursLanguages Available
  • Human tour guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Barboro AlleyBarboro Alley, Memphis, TN 38103History of yellow fever in MemphisDuration: 10 minutesStop At: WDIA-WHRK Radio Building112 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103History of WDIA, the "Goodwill Station"Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Court Square45 N 2nd St, , Memphis, TennesseeHistory of one of Memphis' oldest and most beautiful parksDuration: 20 minutesStop At: Confederate ParkNear Mud Island River Park, , Memphis, TennesseeRenamed Fourth Bluff Park in 2016, site of the Battle of Memphis in June 1862Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Mississippi RiverMemphis, TN 38103History and importance of the Mississippi RiverDuration: 15 minutesStop At: The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange65 Union Ave, Memphis, TennesseeHistory of the Cotton Exchange and historic Cotton RowDuration: 10 minutesStop At: Memphis Tourism47 Union Ave, Memphis, Tn 38103, United States, Memphis, TennesseeOnce known as Howard's Row, see the oldest collection of original buildings in Downtown MemphisDuration: 10 minutesStop At: The Peabody Ducks149 Union Ave, The Peabody Memphis, Memphis, TennesseeHistory of the South's Grand Hotel and the Peabody duck marchDuration: 20 minutesStop At: The Orpheum Theatre203 S Main St, , Memphis, Tennessee**IF OPTION SELECTED** Visit the Orpheum Theater, the premier entertainment venue in Memphis since 1928. If the add -on option is selected, guests will be allowed to participate in a guided tour of the building (available Monday-Wednesday only and subject to change based on availability).Duration: 1 hour

Additional Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Within a few blocks there are four different parking garages, and several open-air parking lots. The closest garage to our location (just two blocks away) is at 149 Peabody Place between Second Street and BB King Blvd., next to the Hampton Inn. You can try your luck with on-street metered parking, too, on Second Street just south of Beale; on Beale between Front and Second; or along Peabody Place from Front to Fourth Street.
  • Guests who choose the Orpheum Theater guided tour (AVAILABLE MONDAY-WEDNESDAY ONLY) will arrive at the theater for the 12:00pm tour. Your tour guide will depart at that time; the Orpheum Theater is just 2 blocks from where the tour begins.
Inclusions
  • Professional guide
  • Local taxes
  • Orpheum Theater guided tour (if option selected, MONDAY-WEDNESDAY ONLY)
Exclusions
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Orpheum Theater guided tour (not available Thursday-Sunday)
Redemption Instructions• Departure Point: Peabody Hotel Lobby, 149 Union Ave. (meet near Concierge Desk)Within a few blocks there are four different parking garages, and several open-air parking lots. The closest garage to our location (just two blocks away) is at 149 Peabody Place between Second Street and BB King Blvd., next to the Hampton Inn. You can try your luck with on-street metered parking, too, on Second Street just south of Beale; on Beale between Front and Second; or along Peabody Place from Front to Fourth Street.Voucher InfoMobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Backbeat Tours in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon. This offer is not eligible for promo codes.

Need To Know Info

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings

Customer Reviews

4.8
based on Groupon 414 reviews
100% Verified Reviews
All Groupon reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant. Review requests are sent by email to customers who purchased the deal.
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elizabethpN6745KN
Definitely recommend this walking tour around Memphis - really interesting facts and historical background. Kate our guide was excellent and the 2 1/2 hours went so quickly!
167catrinah
A fascinating tour. Our guide Shannon, was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and very friendly. A great couple of hours that gave us some tips of places to go back to.
D3432IYnorbertb
Our guide was knowledgeable,considerate, and communicated very well. Highly recommend this tour. The length of the walking tour was just right. It’s a shame that the city wasn’t as vibrant as it could have been. Lots of vacant retail and not much going on but full of history.
martinxxxx2013
Interesting. Good pace and only 1.5 hours that fit into our day. Would recommend to get more than the music story of Memphis.
marthamW297GJ
Kate met us at the Peabody and shared the history of that hotel. We then walked to the alley where we learned that funeral homes were at each end. We went on to learn about the history and causation of the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis. Kate then wove together these facts, along with the brothel-turned-hospital and the heroic efforts of the brothel’s madame and her staff in treating victims of the fever. She brought all those details together to explain the nickname given the earlier alley Deadman’s Alley - where bodies were held because the two funeral homes were overrun. We then went to the waterfront to be shown the site of the various naval battles as well as learning about the cotton trade and river life. We also learned about a number of historic buildings and characters from Memphis’ history. We learned about the groundbreaking civil rights history made through Memphis radio station WDIA. Our tour culminated at the Peabody, where we were treated to a great view of the festivities surrounding the Parade of the Ducks - the icing on a wonderful and entertaining tour!

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