Pee Wee’s Saloon

Pee Wee’s Saloon is a Tennessee historical marker in Shelby County.

Shelby Co, Memphis, Beale St.

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Pee Wee's Saloon was the favorite meeting spot for Memphis musicians in the early 20th century. W.C. Handy used the cigar counter to write out copies of the Beale Street Blues for his band members. One of those songs, written for the 1909 political campaign was first named "Mr. Crump," for the Memphis mayor and political boss. Later with new lyrics it became famous as "The Memphis Blues."

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1901 · Memphis. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1903 · Arkansas. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1909 · Arkansas. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1916 · Memphis, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1925 · Memphis, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

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Marker text and location from the Tennessee Historical Commission, as the Commission publishes them on its marker map.

More markers nearby

On the National Register nearby

Beale Street Historic District230 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.