Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Photo: Stax Museum & Satellite Record Shop Uploaded by shoulder-synth — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Located at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, the Stax Museum showcases interactive exhibits, films, and memorabilia honoring artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes.
Planning your visit
Stax Records operated from a converted cinema in South Memphis, and what it produced between 1957 and 1975 defined Southern soul: Otis Redding, Booker T. and the M.G.s, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers.
The house band was racially integrated at a time and in a place where that was genuinely dangerous, and the label's collapse followed King's assassination in Memphis in 1968, which changed the atmosphere in the city and the industry around it.
The original building was demolished in 1989. The museum, opened in 2003, is a reconstruction on the same site, holding over 2,000 items including Isaac Hayes's gold-trimmed Cadillac, instruments, stage costumes and a relocated Mississippi Delta church that grounds the music in gospel.
The sloping studio floor, inherited from the cinema, is reproduced.
Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Stax Museum of American Soul Music?
Stax Museum of American Soul Music is in Memphis, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Stax Museum of American Soul Music?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
What are the opening hours of Stax Museum of American Soul Music?
Monday Closed. Hours change on public holidays, so check the official site before travelling.
Do I need to book Stax Museum of American Soul Music in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
