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

The First Lee House

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

1. The First Lee House Marker

Inscription. Built in 1869 by James Lee, Jr. (1832–1905), lawyer, riverman and leader in the development of Memphis, the first Lee House was designed by architect Joseph Willis. In this home of Italianate-Victorian design also lived James Lee, Sr. (1808-1889), who in 1866 founded the Lee Line with its home port at Memphis. Their packets and “floating palace” excursion boats plied the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers between Cincinnati and New Orleans.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 71.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 35° 8.813′ N, 90° 2.832′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is on Adams Avenue west of North 4th Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 239 Adams Ave, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

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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: Let Freedom Ring (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eugene Magevney (about 400 feet away); 1862 Post Office (about 400 feet away); Forrest's Early Home (about 500 feet away); St. Peter Catholic Church (about 600 feet away); Forrest and the Memphis Slave Trade (about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Statuary at the Shelby County Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Malcolm Rice Patterson (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed by Judith Barber, February 5, 2013

2. The First Lee House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,036 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 16, 2013, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.