Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

John James Audubon

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, February 18, 2022

1. John James Audubon Marker

Inscription. On Friday, Dec. 1. 1820, this naturalist and artist landed nearby, on his way by flatboat from Cincinnati to New Orleans. He kept a diary and sketched animals and birds seen en route. Near here, he saw gulls, cormorants, “white-headed eagles, ”grackles, purple finches, teal parakeets, sandhill cranes, and numerous types of geese. These sketches helped form the basis for parts of his monumental book of engravings, Birds in America, published 1826-38.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commisaion. (Marker Number 4E 51.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Exploration. A significant historical date for this entry is December 1, 1820.

Location. 35° 8.384′ N, 90° 3.624′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is on Riverside Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James A. Hyter, “Ol’ Man River” (here, next to this marker); They Passed This Way (here, next to this marker); Alexis De Tocqueville (here, next to this marker); The John Alexander Austin House (approx. 0.2 miles away);

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Tom Lee Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Gayoso Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Grand Opera House / The New Orpheum Theatre (approx. 0.3 miles away); Spain (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

More about this marker. Located along a trail at north end of Tom Lee Park, near the Mississippi Riverfront.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

John James Audubon (born Jean Rabin; April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) image. Click for full size.

Public domain, 1826

2. John James Audubon (born Jean Rabin; April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851)

Painting by John Syme (The White House Historical Association).

John James Audubon Marker (marker on far right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 6, 2022

3. John James Audubon Marker (marker on far right)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 6, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on March 7, 2022. 3. submitted on April 5, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.