Touring the Country - Memphis Flags Over Hatteras
By Cierra Tomaso
Memphis, Tennessee, has to be one of the greatest cities on earth. It has
such a unique flavor and stood apart from all the other cities my family and I vis
ited on our recent RV trip out west. We stayed there twice, on the way to Vegas and
on the way back. It is perhaps best known as Elvis’s town and the birthplace of rock
and roll, but it has many other awesome qualities.
The city seems to move at a slower pace than other cities of a similar size I have
seen. There are still operating trolleys, and cars are not allowed in some sections
of the city. The people were extremely friendly, and-it was perhaps one of the most
tourist friendly cities, while not being “touristy” that we visited.
The food was amazing. There was a little restaurant called Blues City Cafe, and
we ate there once and loved it. I had what has to be the best chicken and fries. I also
tried their ice cream, which was great. My mom offered me some of her chocolate
cake. It proved to be too rich for everyone at the table except me. It was some deli
cious chocolate cake, that’s for sure. I also tried barbeque in a place called Marlowe’s
where they pick you up in a big pink limousine. They had phenomenal macaroni
and cheese and food in general, but I still preferred the Blues City Cafe.
We visited a number of historical landmarks. The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Sun
Studios, Graceland and a replica of the Mississippi were all things we were able to
see while staying in Memphis. Sun Studios would perhaps be boring to someone
who wasn’t interested in music, but it contains a wealth of history within its hal
lowed walls. Elvis recorded there as well as Johnny Cash and many other remark
able musicians. I was able to stand in the same place these famous artists had once
stood. Our guide was great, and we even had background music (I have always
thought life should have a soundtrack. Apparently the guide held the same view).
We listened to numerous different tracks while our guide told us fascinating facts
about them.
The model of the Mississippi is something I really liked. I’ve wanted to see the
Mississippi ever since I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn many years ago. I
walked through the model, and there was even a big pool where you could go wading
safely in the Mississippi without venturing into its fast moving waters.
I also took a walking tour. There are many fascinating things about Memphis,
things one would not even think about. Memphis is famous for its landmarks, but-it
has many stories to tell beyond that. Memphis is a great place, a place infused with
history and music. If we were to take another cross-country trip, Memphis would be
one of the top places I would want to visit again.
Galling All Budding Young Writers!
We would like to have a “Youth Corner” as a regular
feature and invite children or teens to submit articles.
Ciera Tomaso, who is starting the “Youth Corner” for us
this month, has been writing for the The Shoreline for
six years. We welcome other young writers—residents
or visitors. Tell us about an activity, a new experience
or'something of interest to you. Please send articles as
e-mail attachments to shoreline@townofpks.com.
20-, The Shoreline. I Augu^Ugil .
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Leading experts on the Civil War and its impact on the United States and the
world will take part in the Flags Over Hatteras Sesquicentennial Commemoration
held August 25-27. The event, sponsored by the Graveyard of the Adantic Museum
www.ncmaritimemuseums.com, features a powerful cadre of keynote speakers;
authors James McPherson, Craig Symonds and Ed Bearss.
“It is unprecedented for us to have such a distinguished group together. This event
offers the very best,” said Joseph Schwarzer, Director of the North Carolina Maritime
Museums. “McPherson is known for his Pulitzer-winning book, Battle Cry of Free
dom. As a former history professor of the U.S. Naval Academy, Symonds has pub
lished multiple works on Civil War naval battles. And, Bearss is a former National
Park Service Chief Historian.” For more information on speakers, go to www.neh.
gov/whoweare/mcpherson/meet.html.
The significant Civil War battles on the Outer Banks took place in August 1861,
when two Federal expeditions were sent to Hatteras Inlet. The Union attack signified
many firsts in the war: the first combined Army and Navy operation, the first am
phibious assault, and the first African American gun crew to fire on Confederates.
While space is limited for the conference event, the museum will also offer many
free programs and a new Civil War exhibit called Flags Over Hatteras. The exhibit
will be open Aug. 22 of this year through July 31, 2012.
The ejdiibit will showcase items and documents spanning from across our country
that are related to Eastern North Carolina activities and actions during 1861, with
the primary focus being the Battle of Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark, Aug. 28-29,1861.
Free living history demonstrations will be held at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on
Saturday August 27, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday August 28, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Additionally, bargain hunters can have some fun with an old-fashioned “Ole Time
Civil War Auction,” on Saturday August 27, at 5 p.m. at the Hatteras Village Civic
Center. For a complete listing of auction items, visit www.fiagsoverhatteras.com.
Registration for the Flags Over Hatteras Conference is $175 per person. Pre-reg
istration is required and includes light refreshments, three evening events and three
dinners. Thirty spaces are reserved for students at $75 per person. For more infor
mation or to register, go to www.fiagsoverhatteras.com.
For more Civil War stories, timelines and documents, visit the North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources website on “Freedom, Sacrifice and Memory” and
the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration, www.nccivilwarl50.com.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is located at 59200 Museum Drive in Hat
teras. The three North Carolina Maritime Museums are the Graveyard of the Atlan
tic Museum located in Hatteras, the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort
and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. All three Museums are
part of the Division of State History Museums in the North Carolina Department of
Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communi
ties and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s
social, cultural and economic future. Information on Cultural Resources is available
at www.ncculture.com.