Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Tennessee and the county seat of Shelby County. The first settlers in the Memphis area were the Mississippians, followed by the Chickasaw Indian tribe. In 1820, Memphis was founded and named after the ancient capital of Egypt. Memphis is considered as the largest city in the state of Tennessee. The racial makeup of the city is composed largely by African Americans, followed by Whites and Pacific Islanders. People in Memphis have different religious affiliations, there are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists in the city. Some of the colleges and universities located in Memphis are the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Memphis College of Art and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The city of Memphis is home to a number of museums and parks, including but not limited to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Brooks Museum of Art, the Pink Palace Museum, the Cotton Museum, W.C. Handy Park, Tom Lee Park and Overton Park. Other tourist destinations in the city include the Memphis Zoo and Graceland. Some of the famous native and residents of the city include actor Morgan Freeman, singer and actor Elvis Presley, actress Cybill Shepherd and director Hal Needham. Memphis, Tennessee Tourist Attractions Visitors to Memphis, Tennesse, will surely have a good time exploring the must-see places in the city. The city of Memphis is fortunate enough to have some of the most wonderful tourist attractions in the United States. Listed below are some of the most recommended attractions in Memphis. Graceland Graceland, the home of music legend Elvis Presley, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1991. The home features the singer's private airplanes, automobile and motorcycle collection, and other memorabilia. National Civil Rights Museum The National Civil Rights Museum is located in the former Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while speaking on the balcony in 1968. Visitors will be able to learn the history of the civil rights movement here. Sun Studio Sun Studio is a recording facility where singers and musicians such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Charlie Rich started their careers. Pink Palace Museum Pink Palace Museum is the major science and historical museum in Mid-South with exhibits ranging from archeology to chemistry. The museum includes a planetarium and an IMAX Theatre. Memphis Zoo The Memphis Zoo features 3,500 animals of various species. Memphis, Tennessee Restaurants The city of Memphis is home to a number of restaurants that offer a variety of dining options. There are restaurants that capture the essence of Mississippi River cuisine and those that mix French, Spanish, African and Cajun flavors to create truly unique dishes. There are also those that serve American, Brazilian, Italian and Japanese cuisines. Some of the best restaurants in the city are Bari Ristorante Enoteca, Bluefin, Daily Grill and Lolo's Table. Bari Ristorante Enoteca is an Italian restaurant that is both casual and elegant. The restaurant serves succulent meats, tasty seafood and crisp salads. Bari Ristorante Enoteca features an extensive wine bar with imported Italian wines. Bluefin is a fusion restaurant featuring a sushi bar. Besides sushi, the restaurant also serves American, European and Asian dishes. Its billiards room and lounge setting make the restaurant a popular nightspot in the city. Daily Grill is an American grill and steakhouse located near Memphis' Beale Street. The restaurant serves juicy angus steaks and fresh seafood at reasonable prices. Lolo's Table offers casual fine dining in downtown Memphis. In this restaurant, Tuscan, French and Mediterranean flavors are mixed to create delicious and unique dishes at very affordable prices.