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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

The city of Memphis was founded in 1819 and named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River. In the early 19th century, Memphis was major domestic slave trade. Over one million slaves were transported from the Upper South. By the 1850s, Memphis was the largest inland cotton market in the world, but the industry entirely relied on slavery. The domination continued for the next 70 years, and in the 20th century, Memphis became the largest hardwood lumber market and the largest mule market. This attracted a large number of immigrants, and the population was multiplied despite the yellow fever epidemic. World War II brought enormous military and industrial expansion; large supply depots were constructed in Memphis.

During the 1960s, the city was at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel during his visit to Memphis. He came to lend his support to the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.

Here below are some historical photos of old Memphis from the 1900s to 1950s — capturing streets, roads, landmarks, and everyday life.

#1 Cossitt Library and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

Cossitt Library and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#2 Lion house, Carnivora Building, Overton Park Zoo, Memphis, 1910

Lion house, Carnivora Building, Overton Park Zoo, Memphis, 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#3 Tennessee Club, Memphis circa 1906

Tennessee Club, Memphis circa 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#4 Main Street. Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

Main Street. Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#5 The bear pits, Memphis, 1910

The bear pits, Memphis, 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#6 Memphis, Tennessee. View of downtown, Memphis, January 1942

Memphis, Tennessee. View of downtown, Memphis, January 1942

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#7 Custom House and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

Custom House and Post Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#8 Mississippi River levee from the ferry, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1908

Mississippi River levee from the ferry, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1908

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#9 Mississippi River packet James Lee, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

Mississippi River packet James Lee, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#10 Mississippi River levee from the custom house, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1900

Mississippi River levee from the custom house, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1900

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#11 Mississippi River levee, , Memphis, January 1942

Mississippi River levee, , Memphis, January 1942

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#12 Elks Club, Memphis, 1906

Elks Club, Memphis, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#13 The sternwheeler City St. Joseph on the Mississippi River circa 1910

The sternwheeler City St. Joseph on the Mississippi River circa 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#14 Kansas City & Memphis Railway bridge at Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

Kansas City & Memphis Railway bridge at Memphis, Tennessee, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#15 Memphis Bridge spanning Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee, 1958

Memphis Bridge spanning Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee, 1958

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#16 Entrance to a movie house on Beale Street, Memphis, October 1939

Entrance to a movie house on Beale Street, Memphis, October 1939

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#17 Memphis, Tennessee, June 1936

Memphis, Tennessee, June 1936

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#18 Memphis, 1906

Memphis, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#19 Union Depot, Calhoun Street, Memphis, 1907

Union Depot, Calhoun Street, Memphis, 1907

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#20 Main Street, north from Gayoso Avenue, Memphis, 1910

Main Street, north from Gayoso Avenue, Memphis, 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#21 The Mississippi River circa 1900

The Mississippi River circa 1900

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#22 Mississippi River levee from the bluff, Memphis, June 1938

Mississippi River levee from the bluff, Memphis, June 1938

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#23 Elvis Presley at home with his mother, Gladys, Memphis, Tennessee, May 1956

Elvis Presley at home with his mother, Gladys, Memphis, Tennessee, May 1956

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#24 Memphis Trust Building, Main Street, 1906

Memphis Trust Building, Main Street, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#25 A Mississippi River landing, Memphis circa 1906

A Mississippi River landing, Memphis circa 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#26 Greyhound bus trip from Louisville, Kentucky, to Memphis, Tennessee, and the terminals, September 1943

Greyhound bus trip from Louisville, Kentucky, to Memphis, Tennessee, and the terminals, September 1943

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#27 Elvis Presley in 1956 at home in Memphis with his three-wheeled Messerschmitt “bubble car” and Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and grandfather Jessie Presley.

Elvis Presley in 1956 at home in Memphis with his three-wheeled Messerschmitt "bubble car" and Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and grandfather Jessie Presley.

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#28 Elvis Presley, at the love-me-tender age of 21 in 1956

Elvis Presley, at the love-me-tender age of 21 in 1956

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#29 The levee at Memphis, 1900

The levee at Memphis, 1900

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#30 River packet Charles H. Organ landing at Mound City, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

River packet Charles H. Organ landing at Mound City, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#31 Main Street north from Gayoso Avenue, Memphis, 1910

Main Street north from Gayoso Avenue, Memphis, 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#32 Coaling a river packet underway on the Mississippi near Memphis, 1906

Coaling a river packet underway on the Mississippi near Memphis, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#33 Unloading cotton, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

Unloading cotton, Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#34 Cossitt Library, Memphis, 1906

Cossitt Library, Memphis, 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#35 Greyhound bus trip from Louisville, Kentucky, to Memphis, Tennessee, September 1943

Greyhound bus trip from Louisville, Kentucky, to Memphis, Tennessee, September 1943

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#36 Cotton carnival, Memphis, May 1940

Cotton carnival, Memphis, May 1940

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#37 A young Elvis Presley at home in Memphis with mom Gladys, 1956

A young Elvis Presley at home in Memphis with mom Gladys, 1956

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#38 Steamer Georgia Lee at Memphis, Mississippi River circa circa 1906

Steamer Georgia Lee at Memphis, Mississippi River circa circa 1906

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#39 Negro quarter in Memphis, Tennessee, June 1938

Negro quarter in Memphis, Tennessee, June 1938

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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#40 Hotel Gayoso, Memphis, 1910

Hotel Gayoso, Memphis, 1910

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Stunning Historical Photos Of Old Memphis From 20th Century

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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