The King in Memphis - No Not Elvis ;)

[Rural King]

So I was in Memphis this past week (just before the start of Elvis week ) and got a chance to wander around to various parts of downtown to take photos. Not in a real comprehensive way like I have Nashville (as seen on another forum), but enough to take alot of good pictures with my digital camera.

This will be a totally random thread of pics from downtown and Mud Island so as to throw out alot of variety and keep things interesting.

Looking up.

The historic Sterick Building.

One of my favorite shots.

My favorite building in Memphis - the Porter Building.

Looking up at the Porter Building.

The old, but now refurbished, Kress Building.

Pictures of Main Street

Work on the Lincoln American Building!!!!

Which is this lovely old tower.

The other side of the Lincolm American construction site.

The Hernando Desoto Bridge -from Mud Island

The Mud Island Channel - does it have a more specific name anyone?

Mud Island Ampitheatre on the right and a barely readable flower sign that says " Mud Island"

Skyline from Mud Island

Morgan-Keegan - another fav of mine.

I like Suntrust alot too...but like the old National Bank of Commerce (NBC) logo better.

Well that enough for now. I will do a part two that will show off the rest of the photos I have to share, which will be a random collection of Beale Street, South Main, and downtown pics.

I hope everybody has enjoyed these and will check out the next thread when it gets posted!

[it's just dave]

Yeah, that's what we're talking about. No matter what the stats say now, Memphis was always the "big city" in the state. I'm with you on the Porter, beautiful. I think when the weather cools a bit, I'll head down for an up close look, camera in hand. Those old highrises are so cool. Excellent tour, I'm ready for more.

[showtime21]

Great picture, I never been to downtown memphis in the day time. its really a beautiful place.

[linclink]

WOW! Memphis is one beautiful city!! I love those old buildings... the tall trees in downtown, and that park/square right in the middle of it all!! Love it!!

[cdarr]

The Mud Island Channel - does it have a more specific name anyone?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wolf River Harbor. The Wolf River originally emptied into the Mississippi this way, but the Corps of Engineers created a diversion channel at the north end of Mud Island. This is now a slack-water harbor which has no current, but is still used by some commercial traffic.

I like Suntrust alot too...but like the old National Bank of Commerce (NBC) logo better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm still sore about this. Not only did we lose a local bank, but a nifty logo too.

I hope everybody has enjoyed these and will check out the next thread when it gets posted!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great photos! You picked a great day for sightseeing. I hope you enjoyed your visit.

[sleepy]

Nice pics! Too bad you missed Dead Elvis Week! lol

Hey, where'd you stay? Our old friend the Best Western, or did you upgrade to the Sleep Inn? I've gone to Memphis and stayed at motels on Hwy 51 up towards Millington. That was interesting. lol

I've always resented the Morgan-Keegan Tower. They tore down the old King Cotton Hotel to build it 20 years ago. I had many fond memories of tagging along there in the 60's with my dad to lunch with his business friends. Good news: Morgan-Keegan is now the investment banking headquarters of Regions Bank..

Any news on the 28 story Vue apartments on Main? When I was there, they were still moving dirt back and forth. Good to see they're actually working on the Lincoln-American Tower--another deal that was "proposed" a year or so ago.

I look forward to the rest of your photo shoot.

I've still got some from my trip down there in June. I've posted them about everywhere else in cyberspace, maybe I'll post them here too.

[ricky_the_great]

Nice pics!  Too bad you missed Dead Elvis Week!  lol

Hey, where'd you stay?  Our old friend the Best Western, or did you upgrade to the Sleep Inn?  I've gone to Memphis and stayed at motels on Hwy 51 up towards Millington.  That was interesting.  lol

I've always resented the Morgan-Keegan Tower.  They tore down the old King Cotton Hotel to build it 20 years ago.    I had many fond memories of tagging along there in the 60's with my dad to lunch with his business friends.  Good news:  Morgan-Keegan is now the investment banking headquarters of Regions Bank..

Any news on the 28 story Vue apartments on Main?  When I was there, they were still moving dirt back and forth.  Good to see they're actually working on the Lincoln-American Tower--another deal that was "proposed" a year or so ago.

I look forward to the rest of your photo shoot.

I've still got some from my trip down there in June.  I've posted them about everywhere else in cyberspace, maybe I'll post them here too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ya, about vue on main, werent they supposed to start in april??

anyone know anything about No 1 Beale?

[Rural King]

@ Sleepy - Actually it was just a day trip. I left in the morning and got back home about 10. On this trip I ate BBQ at the Rendevous, that was a treat and a first. It was pretty darn hot out and that limited the extent of my excursion to some degree.

The Vue is that same hole in the ground, piled dirt, and two pallet of bricks it was last May when I last past the site on the trolley. LOL This time though there were a couple of cars parked down in the hole, not sure what that indicates.

[doormanpoet]

Nice photos of Memphis R.K.!!! I need to get back to Memphis. My wife and I could use a long weekend away this fall. We were thinking Mobile, Birmingham, Memphis or Knoxville again for the UT-Vandy game. You have a great eye for photography. Do you ever get "serious" and shoot film?

[satalac]

oh come on rural, you tricked me. i thought this was going to be a photo thread of you hanging out with jerry"the king" lawler. awesome pics!!!

[Rural King]

Thanks for all the great positive responses everyone. They are most appreciated!

@doormanpoet- At one time I used to use an Advance Films Technology camera and scanned all my pics. That gets expensive though when you like to take pictures, limits the number of shots and experimenting, takes time to scan them to post, etc.

@satalac - No Jerry "The King" Lawler on this trip. I have seen him in person many times though. LOL He still worked all of West Tennessee pretty regulary up to a few years ago. In my next Memphis thread I will have a picture of somebody else famous along those lines though. You'll like it I'm sure.

[TennBear]

Nice pics!  Too bad you missed Dead Elvis Week!  lol

Hey, where'd you stay?  Our old friend the Best Western, or did you upgrade to the Sleep Inn?  I've gone to Memphis and stayed at motels on Hwy 51 up towards Millington.  That was interesting.  lol

I've always resented the Morgan-Keegan Tower.  They tore down the old King Cotton Hotel to build it 20 years ago.    I had many fond memories of tagging along there in the 60's with my dad to lunch with his business friends.  Good news:  Morgan-Keegan is now the investment banking headquarters of Regions Bank..

Any news on the 28 story Vue apartments on Main?  When I was there, they were still moving dirt back and forth.  Good to see they're actually working on the Lincoln-American Tower--another deal that was "proposed" a year or so ago.

I look forward to the rest of your photo shoot.

I've still got some from my trip down there in June.  I've posted them about everywhere else in cyberspace, maybe I'll post them here too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sleepy,

I know what you mean about the King Cotton. For those too young, the emplosion is in the motive "Heathers". When the Morgan-Keegan building first opened, the Griffins from the King Cotton were in the restaurant at the top. does anyone know if there is still a restaurant there and if the Griffins are still in it?

[satalac]

In my next Memphis thread I will have a picture of somebody else famous along those lines though. You'll like it I'm sure.

i can't wait to see who it is!

[mandrws1]

Great shots! The shots that you got from Court Square are spectacular!

[TennBear]

They are greats shots. I think that everyone agrees with that. Funny thing that age difference does to you. I still miss the Warner Theater that was taken down to put up Commerce Square/Suntrust Bank Building.

[mandrws1]

Work on the Lincoln American Building!!!!

Which is this lovely old tower.

The other side of the Lincolm American construction site.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://www.downtownmemphis.com/domain/news...er/June_03.html

Plans for the redevelopment of the Rhodes Jennings and Court Annex buildings are moving forward. Now, the Lincoln American Tower is being added to the project. The new development will be called Court Square Center. According to information provided by developers, CGI & Partners Court Square Center, LLC, "three landmark buildings occupying an entire city block, will be transformed into a complex of striking design, craft detailing and openness, for use as residential, commercial loft and retail space." The Center will also include a three level, secured underground parking garage.

[Bears]

I tracked back thru the forum and thought I would just bump this thread.

Wow! Awesome pics RK. Thanks! Has anyone else noticed how many parks/greenspace downtown Memphis has? The heat, greeness and humidity is only a few months away!

You can see the other parts of his thread:

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15011

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15016

[Hankster]

http://www.downtownmemphis.com/domain/news...er/June_03.html

Plans for the redevelopment of the Rhodes Jennings and Court Annex buildings are moving forward. Now, the Lincoln American Tower is being added to the project. The new development will be called Court Square Center. According to information provided by developers, CGI & Partners Court Square Center, LLC, "three landmark buildings occupying an entire city block, will be transformed into a complex of striking design, craft detailing and openness, for use as residential, commercial loft and retail space." The Center will also include a three level, secured underground parking garage.

That is one exciting project! I know the finished product is going to be stunning, and a landmark for both Tennessee and Memphis for years to come. They are such wonderful buildings to begin with that the end product will just have to be spectacular!

And, RK thanks for all the photos. They were most excellent, my man!