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.
Church Park. . 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.
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.)
Location. 35° 8.342′ N, 90° 2.858′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. Marker 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.
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 593 times since then and 65 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 15, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
