Chicago to Memphis
Wrigley Field, Soldier Field & Beale Street
Day 41 — leaving Chicago and heading south to Memphis, with stops at two of the most iconic sports venues in America.
Day 41 started in Chicago — and Ray wasn't leaving without seeing both Wrigley Field and Soldier Field.
Wrigley Field: the home of the Chicago Cubs, opened in 1914 and the second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The ivy-covered outfield walls, the hand-operated scoreboard, the rooftop bleachers on Waveland Avenue — Wrigley is one of the great cathedrals of American sport.
Soldier Field: the home of the Chicago Bears, on the lakefront. The stadium had just undergone a controversial renovation that preserved the original colonnaded exterior while adding a modern bowl inside.
Then south through Illinois — Springfield, the state capital and Abraham Lincoln's hometown — before crossing into Missouri briefly and heading south to Memphis.
Memphis: Beale Street. BB King's. Elvis's old haunts. The birthplace of the blues.
Photos from the Day
The Day's Route
Wrigley Field — Chicago, IL
Wrigley Field — the home of the Chicago Cubs, opened in 1914. The ivy-covered outfield walls, the hand-operated scoreboard, and the neighborhood atmosphere make Wrigley one of the most beloved ballparks in baseball.
Soldier Field — Chicago, IL
Soldier Field — the home of the Chicago Bears, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The stadium's classical colonnaded exterior, built in 1924, contrasts dramatically with the modern bowl added in the 2003 renovation.
Springfield, IL — State Capitol & Lincoln Country
Springfield — the Illinois state capital and Abraham Lincoln's hometown. Lincoln lived here from 1837 to 1861; his home, his law office, and his tomb are all here.
Dead End onto the Mississippi River — Missouri
A brief detour into Missouri — Ray found himself at a dead end on the Mississippi River. A reminder that not every road leads somewhere useful.
Memphis, TN — Beale Street
Memphis — Beale Street, the 'Birthplace of the Blues.' BB King's Blues Club, the W.C. Handy statue, and the spirit of a century of American music.