Pink Palace: Go and play Chopsticks like Tom Hanks
Thursday, August 16th, 20073050 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 320-6320
Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
My mother-in-law was in town this week and we took advantage of Free Tuesday at the Pink Palace. I have been to Memphis’ version of a science/natural history museum two other times. I enjoyed myself, but found that the majority of the exhibits too old for my toddlers. The museum is an eclectic mix of snake skeletons, cotillion gowns, cotton photos and a miniaturized circus. Many of the exhibits have a “Believe it or Not” kitsch quality — great fun for adults and older children, but not very interesting for toddlers. The museum also has a planetarium, IMAX screen and a traveling exhibit hall. Currently the traveling exhibit hails from the UK and boasts an “All Access Backstage Pass to the Music Industry.”
This is a great traveling exhibit. My kidlets enjoyed playing on many of the exhibits, the staff were very helpful and there was lots to interest adults. The highlight for the children (and me) was the piano you play by walking on it (think “Big”). It was fun, it worked and it was educational. Other toddler-friendly exhibits included a game of hitting musical flashing buttons, singing in the shower, cover songs and make and direct a music video. If you have children who are between the ages of 8 and 13, they will LOVE this exhibit. It is at the museum through September 3.
Briefly the remaining sections of the museum are divided into three other areas: Natural History Exhibits, Cultural Exhibits, and Mansion Exhibits. There is also a gift shop and a snack shop and the aforementioned Planetarium and IMAX theaters.
The Mansion Exhibits focus on Memphis history from 1900 to 1960 (there is one of Elvis’ army uniforms and W.C. Handy’s trumpet), and Pink Palace Memories (real human shrunken head, what’s in the log). The Pink Palace was built to be a home for Clarence Saunders, who founded Piggly Wiggly. The museum derives its name from the mansion’s ornate pink Georgian marble facade. Saunders declared bankruptcy and the unfinished building was eventually given to the city in the late 1920s for use as a museum. Memphians have fond memories of many of the items exhibited over the years in the museum and many of those items are on view in this section.
The Natural History Exhibits features fossils, dinosaurs, mammals of the MidSouth and Minerals. The Cultural History Exhibits feature Memphis history to 1900, a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly (also credited with being the first modern grocery store), the Clyde Parke Miniature circus and African American History.
While most cities boast either a Natural History museum or a Science Musuem, it is interesting to see how the Pink Palace has married these two museum types and integrated several cultural themes. This museum is very much the embodiment of Memphis in its exhibits, approach and slightly run down feel. I also think it is one of those places that if you haven’t been to then you can’t begin to understand Memphis.