Mississippi River Museum

Activity Overview

The Mississippi River Museum is a popular family attraction located on Mud Island, a peninsula surrounded by the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee. It features over a dozen galleries with exhibits that tell visitors about the history of the Lower Mississippi River Valley throughout the last 10,000 years. The exhibits also feature thousands of fascinating artifacts, from pottery and musical instruments to life-size boats. If you're planning to visit Mud Island, then this is a must-visit attraction.

Things to Do

• Visit the River Room, where children and adults alike can learn about river engineering and look at huge artifacts like a paddle wheel and a riverboat steam engine.
• Learn all about transportation on the Mississippi River, including canoes, steamboats, and modern diesel towboats while viewing intricate scale models.
• Explore the First People Gallery, which covers the history of the earliest inhabitants of the Mississippi River Valley. You'll also find pottery that is approximately 10,000 years old.

Mississippi River Museum Insider Tips

• Make the most of your visit to Mud Island by checking out the Mud Island River Park and Amphitheater once you're finished in the museum.
• If you plan to visit all of the Mud Island attractions, you can save money by purchasing museum package tickets, which include admission to the museum, access to the Riverwalk, and a round-trip monorail ride for under $10 per person.