W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum
W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum
3
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This tiny shack was once home to "the father of the blues," W.C. Handy.
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3.0
26 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
4
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
5
greenmtntrail
Hot Springs, AR92 contributions
We arrived on the site of the W.C Handy Memphis Home and Museum during the posted hours of operation, but noone was there. We were very dissappointed as we had walked quite a ways in the heat to get there. It looked great. We called the number posted to set up times for large group tours, but noone ever answered that either. I wish they would have at least posted a note telling why they were closed during an unscheduled time. I would recommend checking by phone before you go.
Written 1 August 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
need2trvl
Miamisburg, OH845 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
The museum is closed when we went. It is surprising to see it at the bottom of Beale Street behind the cop station. I thought it would be smaller. It is amazing to see the differences between WC Handy and Graceland. It is amazing to think how much Memphis is the birthplace to so much music. We were glad we saw it.
Written 14 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
50states5years
Charlotte, NC83 contributions
July 2012 • Solo
Hidden at the end of the touristy end of Beale Street, the W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum, tells the story of W.C. Handy- the Father of the Blues. I was the first visitor of the day, getting there right as the lone attendant/ tour guide opened the door. He actually seemed a little surprised I was there, saying that other than tourists from Europe and Asia, and the occasional school group, few people (and especially not locals) came to visit. Quite sad because it sets a beautiful tone for enjoying and seeing everything else on Beale Street and the general music history of Memphis, and it only costs $4 to see. No pictures are allowed inside, but there isn't really much to take pictures of anyway it's only two rooms big. The first is set up with some period pieces and a few artifacts that actually belonged to him, and the second has pictures and sheet music covers framed in (cheap) frames, and a table with merchandise for sale. There's a bathroom and I'm assuming an office or closet that I was told was added on later. While not thoroughly impressed with the presentation (I understand that money is tight for places like this, but I think a fixtures upgrade and thorough dusting is very much so doable) I loved the story of this place and the important life and history it preserves.
Written 27 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dawnaddy2017
Melbourne, FL152 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Drive to Beale St specifically to see Handy’s home, the birth is the blues. We arrived at 2:30 on a Saturday. There was a sign in the door that said they were out to lunch until 2:00. But the 2 was crossed out and they changed it to a 3. The door was partially opened but the door was locked. So we went to Beale St for a drink. One hour later we returned…. Still locked with lights on but no one letting us in. The sign also said the house closed at 4:00. So we took this photo and headed back to our hotel. So much for blues Heritage.
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon T
London, UK27 contributions
Songwriter and trumpet player William Christopher Handy lived in this house with his family, but it was in Jeanette Place, Memphis - it was transported to Beale Street late last century. Handy had an office in Beale and wrote many of his best known songs there. We found the memorabilia, artifacts and photos fasciniating and our guide was excellent. Well worth three dollars! - JT
Written 22 November 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Demetria D
Memphis, TN6 contributions
July 2014 • Couples
I moved to Memphis from Little Rock, Arkansas because every other weekend we would come to Memphis to visit. We now have the luxury of listening to great music, seeing people from all over the world come to listen to the BLUES. When you hear a little 8 year old singing "Mustang Sally" and a 78 year old dancing to it, you are officially having a good time.
Written 18 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HarryLTW
Scarborough, England40 contributions
As others have found, despite the fact that opening hours are displayed at the property, it was locked and deserted on the two separate occasions that we called, wasting precious vacation time.
Written 10 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert S
Edmonton, Canada97 contributions
May 2011 • Couples
This museum is tucked away at the end of Beale Street and is kitty-corner to Church Park.
This small museum had many interesting photographs that reflected the society and times when W.C. Handy was active.
The museum guide was highly engaging and informative. My wife and I were the only visitors at that time, and the guide spent quite a bit of time with us, explaining historical significance of the artifacts and sharing her personal knowledge.
We spent approximately one hour in the museum and found it very informative.
This small museum had many interesting photographs that reflected the society and times when W.C. Handy was active.
The museum guide was highly engaging and informative. My wife and I were the only visitors at that time, and the guide spent quite a bit of time with us, explaining historical significance of the artifacts and sharing her personal knowledge.
We spent approximately one hour in the museum and found it very informative.
Written 7 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MizzGWizz
S. Carolina26 contributions
June 2010
We made the point of bringing our kids to see this attraction, to further their understanding of life in the past. The house was not open, even thought it was scheduled to be. No notice was given why. While we were standig around waiting, we were hassled by a homeless man. Not pleasant.
Written 23 May 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jockular
MO5 contributions
A modest house relocated to near Beale St. but FULL of great history presented by an enthusiastic and well-informed guide.
Handy wrote St. Louis Blues (greatest blues tune ever?) as well as Memphis Blues (the first blues ever to include a sax solo). This song derived from a jingle Handy was hired to compose and play by the trailing mayoral campaign of Mr. Crump - who then won, in part upon the strength of the public's reaction to this tune. Handy is a seminal (and under-appreciated) figure in the development of American music.
After being taken advantage of in the publishing of his first rag, he vowed, "Never Again!" and became his own music publisher. St. Louis Blues ended up selling millions of copies of sheet music, and helped him build a fine business, which he moved to New York. His descendants were musical too, and still operate this company, and (we were told) call Handy House (from New York) on a regular basis to see how things are going.
If you want to know where America's music came from, don't miss Handy House! (For me this gem gleams more brightly than Graceland.)
Handy wrote St. Louis Blues (greatest blues tune ever?) as well as Memphis Blues (the first blues ever to include a sax solo). This song derived from a jingle Handy was hired to compose and play by the trailing mayoral campaign of Mr. Crump - who then won, in part upon the strength of the public's reaction to this tune. Handy is a seminal (and under-appreciated) figure in the development of American music.
After being taken advantage of in the publishing of his first rag, he vowed, "Never Again!" and became his own music publisher. St. Louis Blues ended up selling millions of copies of sheet music, and helped him build a fine business, which he moved to New York. His descendants were musical too, and still operate this company, and (we were told) call Handy House (from New York) on a regular basis to see how things are going.
If you want to know where America's music came from, don't miss Handy House! (For me this gem gleams more brightly than Graceland.)
Written 31 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Appears to be $6 - providing you can get someone to show up. House has a history of displaying hours they don't honor.
Written 1 November 2016
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