News

A Great Way to Learn About Your Neighborhood and Surrounding Communities

Memphis, TN – July 13, 2020 - Ever stop to read the historical markers in your neighborhood, or wonder about the history behind nearby statues? The Pink Palace Museum Community Scavenger Hunt Challenge starting July 17th is a great way to learn more about neighborhood history.

The Museum is challenging Memphians to get to know their neighborhoods better with weekly Community Scavenger Hunts.  Those with a sense of community curiosity and a competitive spirit will enjoy the Museum’s Community Scavenger Hunt Challenge which is modeled after the popular TV show Amazing Race.

“The way it works, is people will create their own teams with 1-4 members and race to complete all the tasks on the scavenger hunts. The first three teams to complete the challenge will win prizes,” said Bill Walsh, Museum marketing manager.

Each weekend during July, the Museum will be highlighting a different zone of the city with three neighborhoods. People can sign up for one weekend for $25, or compete in all three rounds for $50. The three zones for July are:

7/17 Midtown: Vollentine-Evergreen, Cooper Young, and Binghampton/Broad Ave.
7/24 Downtown/West Side: Soulsville, Victorian Village, and Frayser
7/31 South Memphis: Chickasaw Gardens/East Buntyn, Orange Mound, Whitehaven

For details about the Community Scavenger Hunt Challenge, interested parties can visit https://www.memphismuseums.org/pink-palace-museum/events/events-568335/

Walking or biking is sufficient to complete the hunts once people make it to a neighborhood. It is suggested that competitors drive, take the bus, or catch a Lyft to the starting point for each.

In addition to the team challenge, there will also be a self-guided version of the scavenger hunts after August 8 which will allow participants to enjoy a self-guided tour of Memphis by visiting historical sites, solving puzzles, seeing photo ops and landmarks, and meeting community partners. In addition, any participant under age 18 who completes the scavenger hunt will earn a limited edition Pink Palace Museum patch.

“Neighborhoods” Campaign Kicks off with Virtual Trivia Nights July 7th

 Memphis, TN – July 1, 2020 - How much do you know about Memphis neighborhoods? The Pink Palace Museum is inviting people to test their neighborhood knowledge on Virtual Trivia Nights beginning July 7th.

 The Pink Palace Museum Virtual Trivia Nights will kick off the Museum’s “Neighborhoods” campaign focusing on the people, places, history and science related to Memphis neighborhoods.

 “We’ll be hosting virtual trivia nights for families each Tuesday and an adult trivia night on Thursdays,” said Alex Eilers, Programming Manager at the Pink Palace Museum.

 Trivia Nights will begin at 7pm using the Zoom platform. There will be a $10 entry fee for each family or team of 2-4 people. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams. Teams can learn more and enter online at https://www.memphismuseums.org/pink-palace-museum/events/virtual-trivia-nights-/

 Along with the Virtual Trivia Nights, the Museum will be highlighting Memphis neighborhoods in their “A Closer Look” blog throughout the months of July and August with posts about Memphis neighborhood history, legends, lore and more.

The Museum will also be hosting Community Scavenger Hunt Challenges focusing on primary Memphis neighborhood areas including Downtown/West Side, Midtown and South Memphis.  Each week a different zone of the city with three neighborhoods will be highlighted. Teams will race to complete the challenges in each neighborhood and the first three teams to do so each week win a prize.

Scavenger hunts will begin July 17th with Midtown being the first neighborhood area. Cost for one scavenger hunt is $25 per team. Registration begins July 1st. For more information and to enter, the public can visit https://www.memphismuseums.org/pink-palace-museum/events/events-568335/

Annual Crafts Fair is The Latest Victim of COVID-19 closings

 Memphis, TN – June 26, 2020 - The Friends of the Pink Palace Museum, host of what would have been the 48th Annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair have decided to cancel this year’s Crafts Fair. “I am so disappointed that we had to cancel the fair due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the concern with holding large events,” said Pam Dickey, Chairman of the Pink Palace Crafts Fair.

The Crafts Fair has been a staple in Memphis since 1973, when the Crafts Fair had its modest beginnings on the lawn of the Pink Palace Museum with roughly 30 craftsmen. The Crafts Fair has been host to over 200 world-class craftsmen from across the nation and crowds of visitors annually.

The Pink Palace Crafts Fair has had a long history of providing an intriguing array of one-of-a-kind crafts, live performances, and of course the ever-popular Choo Choo train that hustled passengers of all ages around the Fair grounds. “I’ll miss lots of things about the crafts fair… the amazing crafts of course, but also the Pronto Pups and funnel cakes,” joked one longtime Fair visitor.

The Friends of the Pink Palace are the largest donor to the Pink Palace Museum system. Their time, effort and financial support allow the Museum to provide high-quality programming and events for the community, free admission and programs to Title 1 students through the Open Doors/ Open Minds program. This program includes the Pink Palace Museum exhibits, AutoZone Dome Planetarium shows, Mallory-Neely historic house tours, Lichterman Nature Center Exploring Nature Your Way program and the Museum’s Suitcase programs.

Making Memphis: 200 Years of Community Exhibit Wins Highest Award

Memphis, TN- June 11, 2020 - The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has announced the Pink Palace Museum is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for their Making Memphis: 200 Years of Community exhibit -  Bicentennial Project. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 75th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

The Museum’s Bicentennial Project featured the Making Memphis: 200 Years of Community exhibit that highlighted two centuries of Memphis history and culture. Through interconnecting exhibit displays highlighting Memphis culture, business, nature, neighborhoods and arts, Making Memphis tied together Memphis’ rich history of diversity, heritage and soul. Community engagement was at the core of the exhibit with multiple interactive opportunities that allowed visitors to illustrate what being a Memphian today meant to them. Photographs, recordings, and community thoughts were featured.

This year, AASLH presented fifty-seven national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. 

The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and

local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.

 Members Only Reopen June 2nd – General Public Reopen June 9th

Memphis, TN - May 26, 2020 - The Pink Palace Museum and Lichterman Nature Center will be reopening for MEMBERS ONLY June 2 – June 7, 2020. The Theater, Planetarium, Mallory-Neely House and Magevney House will not re-open at this time.

“We want to have a soft opening of sorts for our members as a way to show our appreciation. We’ll be reopening to the general public June 9, ” said Bill Walsh Pink Palace Museum marketing manager.

The reopening will come with special days and hours of operation, and COVID-19 protocol. (Theater, Planetarium, Mallory-Neely House and Magevney House will not re-open at this time)

What to Expect When You Visit:

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOL

• Employees are required to wear masks and will be subject to

  temperature screenings.

• Guests will be required to undergo temperature check screenings

  upon entry. 

• Guests are highly encouraged to wear masks, but not required.

• Guests will be asked screening questions upon entry.

SANITIZATION

• All public areas for all facilities will be wiped/disinfected three times a

  day.

• Hand sanitizer will be available at ticket counters, in restrooms and at

  locations in our facilities.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

• Signage has been placed throughout our facilities to create awareness

  of proper physical distancing between guests.

DAYS & HOURS OF OPERATION – PROVIDED CITY STAYS AT STAGE 2 OR HIGHER

Pink Palace Museum & Lichterman Nature Center will be operating at reduced capacities and special hours.

Members Only Opening-  June 2 – June 7, 2020

Museum Days of Operation:  Tuesday - Sunday

Hours: 

Tuesday –Saturday    Open:  10:30 am – 6:30 pm

Sunday                     Open:  NOON– 5:00 pm

CLOSED MONDAY

Lichterman Nature Center Days of Operation:  Tuesday –Saturday

Hours: 

Tuesday – Thursday   Open: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Friday & Saturday       Open: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

CLOSED SUNDAY

Members & General Public Opening June 9   

Museum Days of Operation:  Tuesday - Sunday

Hours: 

Tuesday –Saturday     MEMBERS ONLY - Open:  10:30 am – 12:30 pm

                                  MEMBERS & GENERAL PUBLIC – Open 12:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Sunday                       Open:  NOON– 5:00 pm

Lichterman Nature Center Days of Operation:  Tuesday –Saturday

Hours: 

Tuesday – Thursday   Open: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Friday & Saturday       Open: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

CLOSED SUNDAY

To our friends and supporters,

We thank you for your patience as we have remained open these two days in order to wind down scheduled activities between now and the end of May.  In just two short days, our staff has worked incredibly hard at winding down operations affecting over 11,000 people who had scheduled visits through May.  For the few of you we have been unable to reach, we are continuing to reach out.

At this time, we are closing our museum facilities to the general public indefinitely. This includes all of our facilities – Mallory Neely and Magevney Houses, Lichterman Nature Center and the operations at the Pink Palace Central Avenue facility.

We plan to roll out online services next week in order to continue to engage with you.  We have an initial set of items for next week, and plans are in the works to continue to create online environments to share our history.  Please check our website and social media outlets for more information.

Thank you again for your support.  Your kind words of support are much needed and appreciated by all here.

Sincerely,

Kevin Thompson

Executive Director

Pink Palace Family of Museums

For more than a century, basketball at what is now the University of Memphis has in many ways mirrored the struggles and successes of the city of Memphis itself. Sometimes for better or for worse, Tiger Hoops tells a story about Memphis.

Tiger Hoops is a story of striving for success, struggling from self-inflicted wounds and battling racial divide. It is also an inspiring story of racial unity and civic pride.

The University of Memphis men’s and women’s basketball teams have been a vehicle for relevance and respect for Memphis since the school’s founding as West Tennessee Normal School in 1912 to its evolution to Memphis State University in 1957 and later to the University of Memphis in 1994.

From the days of legendary coach Zach Curlin to the 1928 women’s team winning the initial tournament of the Mississippi Valley Conference to the glory days of Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson and Gene Bartow to the unforgettable era of Penny Hardaway, Memphis basketball has often times been the glue that has held this diverse city together.  It has been a source of interracial unity that helped Memphis heal from the scars of the Sanitation Strike and King assassination.

The exhibit features eclectic memorabilia, photos and artifacts from Tiger fans, former players and coaches.

Tiger Hoops is a story rich in history both on the court and off. Whether you’re a Memphis Tiger fan or not, you’ll find this exhibit enlightening and inspiring.

Race to the End of the Earth exhibit highlights epic race to the South Pole

The Pink Palace Museum is excited to announce the opening of its new Race to the End of the Earth exhibit opening February 8th.

Race to the End of the Earth follows the footsteps of two legendary explorers in one of the most stirring tales in the annals of Antarctic exploration, the contest to reach the South Pole.

The hands-on, interactive  exhibit focuses on the challenges that the two legendary explorers —Roald Amundsen on the Norwegian side and Robert Falcon Scott on the British—faced as they undertook their separate 1,800-mile journeys from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole and back.

Dioramas, Photos, Paintings, Artifacts and more provide a rare look at the race to the South Pole. Highlights include clothing and equipment used by both crews during their journeys, life-sized models of portions of their base camps and a diorama featuring the largest penguin species alive today — the Emperor Penguin.

Hands-on activities help visitors of all ages understand what it would have been like to travel to the coldest place on Earth 100 years ago, as well as what it is like to conduct research there today. Visitors can choose a character card featuring a member of one of the expeditionary teams and, while moving through the exhibit, find clues about the character's experiences on the way to the South Pole. With the aid of touch-screen exhibits, visitors can explore photographs, drawings, and documents relating to the expeditions and the men who went south with Scott and Amundsen.

Come discover the full journey and see the expedition play out at the Pink Palace Museum. Race to the End of the Earth opens on February 8, 2020.

The Pink Palace Family of Museums is proud to announce Crew Training International (CTI) Flight Training School located in Millington, Tennessee, has renewed their naming sponsorship of the Museum’s CTI Giant Screen Theater.  CTI has been the naming sponsor of the Theater since 2004.

“Crew Training International, Inc. (CTI) recently extended our sponsorship of the CTI Giant Screen Theater at the Pink Palace for an additional three years. Training and education is CTI’s mission, particularly at our Flight Training Academy on Millington-Memphis Airport. The Pink Palace shares that commitment, so we’re excited to continue this partnership,” said Alan L. Mullen, CTI President and CEO.

In addition to being a prolific supporter the Pink Palace Family of Museums, CTI has been an integral part of helping the University of Memphis establish a top notch flight school program. The CTI Flight School entered into a partnership with the University of Memphis in 2018 to offer a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation.

For over 26 years, CTI has been providing exceptional instructional and learning services to the United States Air Force, United States Navy and Marine Corps.  CTI’s reach extends to 79 locations across the US through over 28 different military and civilian contracts. 

The CTI Giant Screen Theater offers state-of-the-art 3D documentaries as well as classic Hollywood movies.  A schedule of movies can be found at www.MemphisMuseums.org.

Storyboard Memphis podcast listeners enjoyed a behind-the-scenes Pink Palace tour with museum curators Caroline Carrico and Steve Masler, as they reminisced over their efforts in the 4-year+ mansion renovations and talked about the current slate of Pink Palace exhibits. 

Click here for podcast https://storyboardmemphis.com/storyboard-30-podcast/sb-30-episode-15-talking-pink-palace-restoration-with-curators-caroline-carrico-steve-masler/