On the Road with the Cardinal Orchestras! Memphis, Tennessee May 23-27, 2009

Why Memphis? It’s a center of musical development in the United States, the birthplace of both the blues and rock-and-roll. It’s the home of the National Civil Rights Museum. It’s far away enough to be different, but close enough to get there in one day. It’s a great place to experience authentic Southern history, culture and cuisine.

Our first day in Memphis!

At the Gibson Guitar Factory, we watched guitars being manufactured.

Crooning on the mic that Elvis used at Sun Studios

We ate and ate and ate…! Here at the famous Interstate Barbecue

Shopping on Beale Street, day…

…and night! (with our chaperones, of course)!

Eating again, this time at B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale Street

Still eating, at B.B. King’s

We had a great view of the stage!

Revisiting the early days of rock at the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum

A sobering morning at the National Civil Rights Museum

The museum is housed at the Lorraine Motel…

…where Martin Luther King was assassinated.

Down the Mighty Mississippi on the Mississippi Queen

By the river, waiting for the concert to begin- Three Dog Night with the Memphis Symphony

The concert site, as seen during our riverboat cruise The concert site, as seen during our riverboat cruise. The big black structure is the stage.

Three Dog Night played songs that we knew (but didn’t know we knew), and the Symphony was GREAT (of course)!

The concert ended with a fireworks show that seemed to last forever.

Visiting Graceland, Elvis’ family home

We learned about Elvis’ life, his generosity to others, and his incredible impact on the development of popular music.

The Elvis Pressley Automobile Museum is on site at Graceland…

…and so is Elvis’ private jet, the Lisa Marie.

Our last day in Memphis, at Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

An unforgettable experience… We learned so much about music, the Civil Rights Movement, and the culture of this part of our great country. We even went to Mississippi and Arkansas! Plus, we had a great time just being together! The students were wonderful- even the chaperones had a great time! We can’t wait for our next big adventure!