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

Church Park

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

1. Church Park Marker

Inscription. At this location Church Park and Auditorium was established in 1899 by Robert R. Church Sr., a Memphis business man and former slave, to provide recreational facilities for members of his race who had no other place to meet. Many famous Americans, including Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt spoke here. After the death of its founder, who had become the first Negro millionaire in the South, the park and auditorium was managed by his son, Robert Church, Jr., who, at this site organized the Lincoln League and the Memphis Chapter N.A.A.C.P., the first chapter in Tennessee.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 67.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt, and the Tennessee Historical Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 35° 8.342′ N, 90° 2.858′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is on Beale Street east of South 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Located in Robert Church Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 412 Beale St, 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sara Roberta Church (a few steps from this marker); Mary Church Terrell (a few steps from this marker); Phi Beta Sigma/Abram Langston Taylor (a few steps from this marker); Church Park Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); This Plaque is Dedicated to Father and Son, Leaders of Their Race (within shouting distance of this marker); Solvent Savings Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Beale Street Baptist Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); "The Tree of Strange Fruit" (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

2. Church Park Marker

Robert Church Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

3. Robert Church Park

Marker is to the left of the entrance to the park.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,009 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 15, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.