Preserve Aretha Franklin Birth Home

Aretha Franklin’s birthplace and childhood home is in bad condition.  For decades, the house has suffered and only survived demolition due to a small grant.   Even in it's current state, visitors have come by the hundreds since Aretha Franklin's passing to sign their respects on the building's boarded up windows.

With the vibrant and storied musical history of the city of Memphis, and the powerful legacy of Aretha Franklin, we cannot allow the house to continue to deteriorate.  In a city known for Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, the early childhood home of Aretha Franklin should also become a landmark.  The time to act is now.

Today is your chance to help turn this house into a permanent symbol that celebrates the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin. Memphis is a city that is internationally known for music. This landmark can be preserved in a way that powerfully honors the memory of Aretha’s beginnings.

The home is located in the neighborhood known as Soulsville, USA, which includes the birthplaces of many well-known musicians, as well as the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at the original site of Stax Records. The Stax Museum, operated by the Soulsville Foundation, is an international destination and will support the efforts to save Ms. Franklin's birthplace once it assists the City of Memphis, the community, and other stakeholders to decide its best use. 

This means the more funding this project can get, the bigger the impact to this landmark and property will be. It will be our city’s honor to pay respect to Aretha Franklin with this memorial project.

Every donation helps, so please share this project and spread the word!