Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange

Visiting the Cotton Museum in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee gives us a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of historic figures and pivotal individuals who shaped the world's first burgeoning international economy. Our museum is located on the floor of the original Memphis Cotton Exchange, a place where cotton traders once congregated to engage in the world’s global cotton market. Historically, only elite members of the Cotton Exchange were allowed to enter, keeping this crucial piece of history reserved for a select few. However, today, the doors are open to everyone, allowing our visitors to explore and learn about the crop that had a profound impact on the world.

The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange is the only place in Tennessee solely dedicated to shedding light on the story of cotton. It's not just about the fibers themselves but the broader narrative of how cotton influenced our region, our nation, and the global economy. This museum offers insights into the integral role cotton played across different eras.

Did you know that when the cotton gin was invented in 1793, the South exported only 974 bales of cotton, and a mere 4% of clothing in the US and Europe was made of cotton? Fast forward to today, and 75% of the world’s clothing contains cotton. By the year 1860, cotton had become a cornerstone of the world's economy, with over half of the US’s exports being cotton. This surge in demand caused a dramatic rise in slavery, as the 1790 census reported fewer than 700,000 enslaved people in the United States, while fifty years later, the number had soared to over 4 million. Historians often state that the Industrial Revolution, heavily powered by cotton, stands as one of the most significant events in world history. Moreover, for over fifty years, the Memphis Cotton Exchange was renowned as the largest market for cotton trading in the world.