The National Civil Rights Museum is built around the former Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, in downtown Memphis. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning a visit — part of my wider Memphis travel guides.
This guide was last checked in August 2026. Note: The Legacy Experience, a fully reimagined second building across the street from the Lorraine Motel, reopened on 16 May 2026 after a major renovation. It extends the museum’s story from Dr. King’s 1968 assassination to the present day, so a visit now covers significantly more ground than older guides describe.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Mon, Wed–Sun: 9am–6pm. Closed Tuesdays. Last admission 5pm. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $25; Child (5–17) $22; Senior (65+) $23; College Student $23. |
| Address | 450 Mulberry Street, Memphis, TN 38103 |
| Nearest transport / parking | Free parking for museum guests; enter the visitor lot from G.E. Patterson Avenue onto Mulberry Street. |
| Typical time needed | Around 2 to 3 hours, covering both the Lorraine Motel galleries and The Legacy Experience. |
National Civil Rights Museum opening hours: when to visit
The Museum is open Monday, and Wednesday through Sunday, from 9am to 6pm, and closed on Tuesdays. Last admission is 5pm, though the last ticket is sold at 5.15pm; guests arriving within the final hour may have a condensed experience. Extended summer hours run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Tennessee residents receive free admission on Mondays from 3pm until closing, with a valid state-issued ID, covering one adult and up to five children; this offer doesn’t apply during major holidays or to groups.
Five great things to do in Memphis
- 🎸 Enjoy a private luxury tour of Memphis – with Graceland tickets included.
- 🍖 Get a taste of Tennessee – on a Downtown Memphis food tour.
- 🛥️ Take a Memphis discovery tour – with Mississippi cruise and Sun Studio add-on options.
- 🏙️ Discover Memphis beyond Beale Street – on a historic walking tour.
- 🚗 Hop on a day tour to Tupelo – and see Elvis’ childhood home.
National Civil Rights Museum ticket prices: how much does entry cost?
Standard admission is $25 for adults, $22 for children aged 5 to 17, $23 for seniors (65+), and $23 for college students. Tickets are sold as timed entry, online only, with no refunds; walk-up visitors are admitted on a standby basis subject to availability, so booking ahead is worth doing.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. Check the official site for current details or to buy tickets online.
Groups of 20 or more qualify for a discounted admission rate. The museum does not appear on any bundled city sightseeing pass; its main savings route is the free Monday afternoon period for Tennessee residents.
How to get to the National Civil Rights Museum: transport guide
The Museum is located at 450 Mulberry Street, in the South Main District of downtown Memphis. Check in 15 minutes before your timed entry slot, and bring your online ticket confirmation.
The surrounding South Main District is walkable from much of downtown Memphis, making it easy to combine with other nearby attractions on foot.
Parking at the National Civil Rights Museum
Free parking is available for museum guests in the visitor lot. To reach it, turn north on Mulberry Street from G.E. Patterson Avenue.
How long to spend at the National Civil Rights Museum
A typical visit to the original Lorraine Motel galleries takes 1.5 to 2 hours. With The Legacy Experience now open in the building across the street, allow 2 to 3 hours or more to see both parts of the museum properly.
Accessibility at the National Civil Rights Museum
With at least two weeks’ notice, the Museum offers complimentary sign-language interpretation for hearing-impaired guests, and with 48 hours’ notice, complimentary tour guide interpretation for visually-impaired guests; tour guides are arranged for groups of up to 10 people. Assisted listening devices for the museum’s two main theatre experiences, and transcripts for audio elements, are available on request at the admissions desk, and all films carry open captions.
Trained service animals are welcome; other pets and animals aren’t permitted. To arrange accessibility support, contact Guest Services at (901) 521-9699.
Inside the National Civil Rights Museum: what to see
The Lorraine Motel galleries trace more than 350 years of history, from the arrival of enslaved people in America through the Civil Rights Movement, using exhibits such as “A Culture of Resistance,” “The Year They Walked” (the Montgomery Bus Boycott), and “We Are Prepared to Die” (the 1961 Freedom Rides). The experience culminates at Room 306, preserved as it was on the day of Dr. King’s assassination, viewed from behind glass with a wreath marking the balcony where he stood.
Across the street, The Legacy Experience picks up the story from 1968 to today, housed in the renovated boarding house connected to the assassination, now reimagined with immersive exhibits on the decades since, including “Movements: 1968 to Now” and “Say Their Names.” Because the museum addresses sensitive and sometimes disturbing subject matter, a downloadable family guide is available to help parents prepare younger visitors.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Booking early in the day leaves more time before the condensed final-hour experience. |
| Crowds | Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends, particularly around the King Day and April 4 commemoration events. |
| Layout | Plan for two buildings — the Lorraine Motel galleries and The Legacy Experience across the street. |
| Entry process | All guests pass through a security screening, and bags larger than a small purse or backpack must be checked. |
| On-site logistics | Photography without flash is allowed inside; video recording requires prior authorisation. |
Frequently asked questions about the National Civil Rights Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the National Civil Rights Museum suitable for children? | It covers sensitive historical material; the museum’s family guide offers advice on preparing younger visitors. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Yes, tickets are timed and sold online; walk-ups are admitted only on a standby basis. |
| Is the National Civil Rights Museum open on Tuesdays? | No, it’s closed on Tuesdays; open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday. |
| Is parking free at the National Civil Rights Museum? | Yes, free parking is available for museum guests in the visitor lot. |
| Is the National Civil Rights Museum wheelchair accessible? | The site offers accessibility accommodations including interpretation services with advance notice; contact Guest Services to arrange support. |
Things to do near the National Civil Rights Museum
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music: A museum on the site of the original Stax Records studio, a short drive away.
- Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: A Smithsonian-affiliated museum tracing Memphis music history, downtown near Beale Street.
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame: A compact museum celebrating Memphis musicians, also downtown.
- Sun Studio: The recording studio where Elvis Presley made his first records, a short drive away.
- Memphis Botanic Garden: A large botanic garden, roughly a 15 to 20-minute drive away.
- Shelby Farms Park: A large urban park with trails and a lake, about a 20-minute drive away.
More Tennessee travel
Other Tennessee travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Gettting to Memphis: Guides to the Dallas to Memphis drive, Houston to Memphis drive, Nashville to Memphis road trip, Little Rock to Memphis drive and Louisville to Memphis drive.
- Where to stop on the Memphis to Austin drive and Memphis to Oklahoma City drive.
- Visiting Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens from Chattanooga.
- Plan your visit to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Legends of Country Music Museum and Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville.
- Getting to Nashville: What to see on the Detroit to Nashville drive, Lexington to Nashville drive, Louisville to Nashville drive and Pittsburgh to Nashville drive.
