Sightseeing in New South Memphis

The interactive exhibits and programs compiled by the Pink Palace Family of Museums reinforce a mission that has stayed constant for 80 years: to "inspire people to learn how history, science, technology, and nature shape the Mid-South." Attached to Clarence Saunders' mansion built in the 1920s, the museum's permanent exhibits take an eclectic approach to chronicling the past, revealing everything from ancient fossils to contemporary southern history. Inside, visitors can chart the history of Memphis from the early Spanish explorers through the Civil War or walk through a replica of Saunders' original Piggly Wiggly—the country’s first self-service grocery store, and even see a shrunken head. Global adventures are chronicled on a four-story screen at the CTI-IMAX theater, and the Sharpe Planetarium explores the cosmos from the comfort of a 130-seat theater.

Traveling to east Memphis, one can discern the natural side of the Pink Palace Family of Museums. Lichterman Nature Center encompasses 65 acres of lush gardens filled with native wildflowers, trees, and wildlife. The center combines self-guided nature walks with plant sales and educational activities to expose visitors to the natural world.

When Jack and Marilyn Belz first stepped into a Los Angeles art gallery in 1968, it was their first step into a lifelong passion for Chinese art. Over the years, their collection grew so much that in 1998, they opened a museum that featured their expansive collection. According to the couple, "the intricate creations of Chinese artists rank among the most inspiring" to them. Visitors to the museum today find not only Chinese artwork from eras past, but also modern Judaica art.?

• Size:?The Chinese collection ranges from 202 B.C. to early 2008 and encompasses more than 1,400 individual objects such as paintings, carved jades, textiles, and sculptures.?
• Eye Catcher: An ornate and intricate wedding carriage carved completely from jade, including the horse.
• Permanent Mainstay: According to staff, the museum holds the largest displayed collection by renowned Judaica artist Daniel Kafri, including 32 bronze relief sculptures illustrating biblical scenes.
• Don't Miss: a rare carved mammoth tusk from the late 18th century
• Newest Exhibit: The Holocaust Memorial Gallery honors survivors, refugees, and liberators who live in Tennessee with displays of their personal stories and artifacts from that time.
• Special Programs: The Emperor's Lunch program includes a guided tour of the museum followed by a Chinese box lunch.

Named by Time Magazine as the most Authentic American Experience in Tennessee, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a state-of-the-art facility with films, videos, interactive exhibits, 2,500+ artifacts, and more to showcase the unique history of American soul music, and specifically that of Stax Records. Using video footage of sermons and early 20th-century gospel performances, the Roots of Soul exhibit investigates soul and gospel's close-knit relationship forged out of a mutual distaste for sea shanties, and a chronologically ordered stretch of 912 singles and 292 full-length albums adorns the winding Hall of Records. Elsewhere, the "Express Yourself" dance floor coaxes tapping toes and curmudgeonly steam engines to boogie along to continuous Soul Train footage, and inside the reconstructed Studio A, patrons glimpse the room where numerous Stax hits were recorded, accompanied by original instruments and samples of recording-session outtakes. Additional unearthed remnants include Albert King's Flying V purple guitar, a Mavis Staples stage dress, and Isaac Hayes's completely restored, gold-trimmed and fur-lined 1972 Cadillac El Dorado.

The perfect frame can make a work of art leap off of a wall. For the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, the overall layout frames a 2,000-piece museum with 17 acres of lush English gardens. Tulip-lined walkways, scenic vistas, and the occasional sculpture surround visitors on tours of the Tennessee woodlands, where oaks and hickories climb towards the sky where all the good sunlight is. In total, more than 120 identified species of trees live and breathe within the gardens' level IV arboretum.

Even more sights await visitors behind the museum?s corinthian columns and brick fa?ade. Eight to ten rotating exhibitions a year hang alongside a permanent collection that touches on paper works, sculptures, and paintings by French and American impressionists?from Claude Monet to Mary Cassatt. Beyond these ever-present attractions, the museum also hosts live performances, educational programs, and other special events.

Metal Museum celebrates the centuries-long tradition of metalwork with exhibits, restoration, and classes. Its exhibitions include in-depth looks at contemporary knife making, kinetic sculpture that imitates the mechanics of the solar system, and solo collections by prominent artists. The museum even gives folks a glimpse into the process by showcasing professional blacksmiths at work. Visitors who are inspired by the fine and intricate lines in a metal sculpture can take a class on metalworking and hone their skills in the on-site foundry. The museum also regularly honors working artists and trains young people to work with diverse materials including hollowware, jewelry, and enameling. Every year, a three-day fundraiser gives folks the chance to have professional artists repair their metal items and see demonstrations by artists from around the country.

Catering to the mid- to mid-mid-life needs of 21- to 40-year-olds, Bravo presents its members with complimentary admission to a dynamic schedule of arts-oriented events featuring an array of artistic media, from photography to live music. Enjoy private tours of unique cultural destinations such as the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (November 10), as well as cinematic and theatrical affairs such as a screening of Trouble Man, accompanied by a live performance of Marvin Gaye's soundtrack (December 10) and an operatic adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream (January 20). In addition to their artistic content, many Bravo events also include complimentary hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and other perks usually available only to Burton Gilliam and members of the Illuminati.