JUL/AUG 2014 AT THE P!NK PALACE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOURS & INFORMATION
Executive
Joy R. Bowen, President Kevin Thompson, Vice President, President-Elect, Treasurer Brent Nair, Vice-President, Development Jordan E. Reifler, General Counsel Natalie Prater, Secretary, Friends President Jan Coleman, Friends President-Elect
TRUSTEES
Sudhir K. Agrawal, Immediate Past President Jerry C Beyl Peggy Bodine Stephen R. Franklin Lisa Lichterman Leach John Levesque
Rita Moore Edward M. Rafalski Teri Shanahan Casey Shannon Margaret H. West
Pink Palace Museum hours: Monday - Saturday: 9AM - 5PM • Sunday: 12PM - 5PM CTI 3D Giant Theater and Sharpe Planetarium open MON-SUN Bella Caffe OPEN during museum hours 3050 Central Avenue • Memphis, TN 38111 Showtimes & Ticket Information: 901.636.2362 check for showtimes: www.memphismuseums.org
Lichterman Nature Center hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 10AM - 3PM • Friday - Saturday: 10AM - 4PM
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Richard S. Bodine William L. Reed John D. Walt
5992 Quince Rd. • Memphis, TN 38119 Program/Ticket Information: 901.767.7322 ext. 100
EX-OFFICIO
Janet Hooks Steve Pike
Mallory-Neely House hours:
The operation of the Pink Palace Family of Museums is a successful public-private partnership.
Friday - Saturday: 10AM - 4PM 652 Adams Avenue • Memphis, TN 38105
Magevney House hours: First Saturday of the month: 1PM - 4PM 198 Adams Ave • Memphis, TN 38103 Tour & Ticket Information: 901.523.1484
DIRECTOR'S DISPATCH All Critters Cute and Not This is, among other things, a science institution. We make a point of not naming the animals at Lichterman Nature Center. We don’t want to get all anthropomorphic. But the truth is, meerkats are cute. And in our new 3D movie Meerkats, the narrator gives them names. He shouldn’t, but I don’t care. They are cute. That is one good reason to see this movie. A second is that it is a wonderfully well-made film from National Geographic. And a third is that it will give you a lot of good, scientific information… about these incredibly cute animals... in an enjoyable format. So, come see this great movie because the critters are cute or because, unlike me, you’re strictly interested in the facts. And, for something completely different, you will want to see our new temporary exhibit, Twice Bitten: Robotic Insects & Live Tarantulas. I doubt even a tarantula’s mother thinks it is cute. But you will learn a great deal. There are many more insects than meerkats, and they play a hugely important role in our world. There is much more of course… the Changing Role of Women exhibit, Makin’ Whoopee, programs at Lichterman Nature Center, and tours of Mallory-Neely and Magevney House. So, as you plan to enjoy your summer, indoors or out, please include us.
VOL. TWENTY-FOUR, ISSUE FOUR Museum Scope, issn 0145-6555, is published six times a year by the Pink Palace Family of Museums, 3050 Central Avenue, Memphis,TN 38111. Annual subscription is provided with a value of $6.50 per paid membership. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. Postmaster: send address changes to Museum Scope, 3050 Central Avenue.
MUSEUM SCOPE STAFF Ronda Cloud • Editor, Writer Serah DeLong • Designer, Writer
@memphismuseums
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CTI 3D GIANT THEATER Meerkats 3D Opens Saturday, June 28 Burrow into the world of a family of meerkats — headed by fierce matriarch Klinky — learn how they cope with the challenges of life in the Kalahari Desert. Klinky and the rest of her family, including regular babysitters Miss Bean and Harry, must survive turf wars from rival clans and attacks from vicious predators big and small, all the while keeping one eye on the precious pups. The strength of the tiny meerkat lies in the unique solidarity of the clan, which comes in handy for both hunting and protection. Their survival hinges on a single rule: Stick together, and keep calling. Cute, cuddly, and full of mischief, meerkats are also tough, tenacious, and not to be messed with if their pups are threatened. Their adorable looks belie a strength of purpose and innate intelligence that will amaze and beguile audiences of all ages. Narrated by Academy Award®–nominated actress Emily Watson.
Fun Facts About Meerkats! • Meerkats live in a matriarchal society. That means there’s one main Mama, and she’s the boss. She’s also the only female allowed to have pups. •Each meerkat plays a special role in the family unit, such as: • babysitter to the pups.
• food forager (the lucky one who gathers food).
• and sentry or guard for the rest of the family while they eat.
•Every meerkat in the family teaches the pups how to be meerkats. This includes having an adventurous appetite. Go ahead, little one—try the scorpion! • Meerkats dig “bolt holes” throughout their feeding grounds for emergencies. When a sentry sounds the alarm, they can, well, bolt down the hole. • Meerkats have “solar panels” on their bellies. They soak up the sun by day and keep toasty warm on cold desert nights. • With all that sunbathing, meerkats could use sunglasses. The dark circles around their eyes do the trick. They act as reflectors for sunlight. Cool shades!
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CTI 3D GIANT THEATER Flight of the Butterflies in 3D Now Showing! The iconic monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature. Weighing less than a penny, the monarch makes one of the longest migrations on Earth across a continent, with pinpoint navigational accuracy, to a secluded place it has never been. Follow the monarchs' perilous and extraordinary journey and join hundreds of millions of real butterflies in the remote mountain peaks of Mexico. Be captivated by the true and compelling story of an intrepid scientist's 40-year search to find the secret hideaway, with the help of citizen scientists across North America.
Locally sponsored by
Tornado Alley 3D Now Showing! Sean Casey is back, in 3D! Follow him and the researchers of VORTEX 2 in the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes, on this heart-pounding science adventure. Armed with a 70mm camera, a fleet of customized vehicles designed to withstand gale force winds, torrential rains and unrelenting hail, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurement instruments ever created, the stars of Tornado Alley 3D take audiences on a thrilling quest to experience a tornado’s destructive power at point blank range. Experience the adrenaline and the science of nature’s most dramatic phenomena!
Jerusalem 3D Now Showing! Jerusalem immerses audiences into one of the world's most beloved cities. Discover why this tiny piece of land is sacred to three major religions through the stories of Jewish, Christian and Muslim families who call Jerusalem home. Join renowned archaeologist, Dr. Jodi Magness, as she travels underground to solve some of this city’s greatest mysteries. Find out why, after thousands of years, Jerusalem and the Holy Land continue to stir the imaginations of billions of people. Unprecedented access to the city's holiest sites, as well as rare and breathtaking aerial footage of the Old City and the Holy Land, combine to make Jerusalem a unique and stunning cinematic experience. Locally sponsored by
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EXHIBITS Twice Bitten! Robotic Insects & Live Tarantulas Open through September 1 The Pink Palace goes big and hairy this summer with our new exhibit, Twice Bitten: Robotic Insects & Live Tarantulas. The giant insects take the form of mechanical robots that are scientifically accurate, giving you a magnified experience of their behaviors. Check out the locust spreading its wings to take flight, rub elbows with a 20 foot stick insect, and compare the huge faces of a mosquito, honeybee and dragonfly. Each Giant Insect has been carefully researched and designed in collaboration with renowned entomologists, from anatomy and motion to exoskeleton and shell colors! Amazing technology allows these robot creatures to move and interact so realistically, you might be scared, but save that for the rest of Twice Bitten. Tarantulas have a reputation that precedes them - a reputation of being the biggest, the baddest, the most FEARSOME of all spiders. Hairy, fast, scary – sure, but would you believe these giants of the spider world would much rather run and hide than stay and fight? Live Tarantulas takes you on a journey of scientific discovery, presenting tarantulas in a new light. Experience the diversity and natural beauty of these shy giants first-hand. Discover the natural history and fascinating facts of the hidden world of Live Tarantulas!
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EXHIBITS
SHARPE PLANETARIUM
Changing Roles of Women: Makin' Whoopee Now Open!
Hubble Vision 2 Now Showing!
A get away trip or "honeymoon" for the newlyweds following a wedding became increasingly common for the average American in the 1920s and 30s due to the growing popularity of the automobile and the development of the state and national routes. Couples would drive to popular destinations such as Niagara Falls, New York or Hot Springs, Arkansas to see the sights and, well, make whoopee! Another bride, another June Another sunny honeymoon Another season, another reason For makin' whoopee
Embark on a breathtaking odyssey through the Universe, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. This one-of-a-kind instrument allows us to see to the limits of the observable universe, and to explore planets, star birth, supernovae, galaxy collisions, black holes, and more!
Starlit Nights Now Showing! Take a guided tour through the summer skies showing seasonal constellations and telling some historical background and related stories from classical mythology. Visible planets and special astronomical events of the summer months included! For show times, check www.memphismuseums.org
Ask Dave!
"I've been hearing a lot about some upcoming meteor showers over the summer. What exactly are meteors, and where do they come from?"
Meteors are usually debris from the “dirty snowballs” we call comets. Moving in elliptical orbits, comets spend most of their time in the frozen depths of space. They put on a fiery display only when they swing in close to the sun. As the ices melt, the solar wind pushes the light gases and solid particles away, forming the comet's tail. Comets that cross the earth’s path may leave particles behind. Earth then sweeps some of them up as it passes through the stream. Most of them burn up completely upon entering the atmosphere, leaving a bright streak as they pass through the upper atmosphere, but as we saw in Russia a while back, a few rare large ones can reach the ground as meteorites. Typical meteors are sand-sized rocks that burn up as they strike the earth's atmosphere at high speeds (roughly 40 miles per second). The source of the Perseid meteors that we expect to see around August 12, is a comet called Swift-Tuttle. It last passed this way in 1992. "Are there any other astronomical events I should look out for this summer?" Absolutely! We will have planets to view: reddish Mars is located in Virgo toward the southwest during the first part of the evening. Saturn can be found shining with a golden yellow color in the constellation Libra, to the left or upper left of Mars depending on the time of night. If you still see nothing, then you probably live under skies that are too bright. You can always come to the Sharpe Planetarium and enjoy our clear dark sky, any day of the week at one of our two programs: Hubble Vision 2 and Starlit Nights. Also see our collection of meteorites and our moon rock that was brought back by Apollo astronauts! Check our website or call 901.636.2362 for program information. – Dave Maness, Sharpe Planetarium Supervisor
Do you have a question for Dave? E-mail it to museumscope@gmail.com, and be sure to put "Ask Dave" as your subject.
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LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER
EDUCATION
New Arrival at Lichterman Nature Center! Meet the alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii, North America’s largest freshwater turtle. These prehistoric-looking turtles are native to the Mid-South and can reach weights of over 200 lbs. Our newest addition will be calling our 12,000 gallon Bank of America Living Lake Habitat home!
We're Headed Back to the ICE! In November/December 2014, Manager of Education, Alex Eilers will be returning to Antarctica to study Weddell Seals! Get involved! Head to WWW.memphismuseums.org to register for all the fun activities, including:
Sign up for Scarecrows! Life-size (or larger!) scarecrows will be displayed around Lichterman’s special events lawn this fall. These ‘crows will be created by garden clubs, master gardeners, school groups, scout troops and local area artists to compete for best school entry, greenest, most creative, best critter and most popular scarecrow contests. Come participate in our seasonal celebration by creating a Scarecrow to lurk about in the Nature Center. Being a part of this fun event is easy: we provide the framework for the Scarecrow and you provide the creativity. Space is limited, so don’t delay!
• The Pink Palace Penguin and Seal Scavenger Hunt find penguins and seals hiding all over the Pink Palace! • Postcards from the Pole - bring a self-addressed, stamped postcard to us and we will mail it to you from McMurdo Station, Antarctica! • 'Get Fit' Antarctica - get your mind and body fit on a virtual trip to Antarctica! • Fly a Flag - design a flag that Alex will fly in Antarctica!
Winning scarecrows are eligible for cash prizes. Application fee (includes frame & sign) is $30. Visit www.memphismuseums.org for updates and more information!
Color-changing Chemistry! Every Thursday and Friday in July •12PM It bubbles, it fizzes, it changes color - it's CHEMISTRY! Come learn the difference between a physical and chemical change and discover the hints that help us identify a chemical reaction. Members: Children/Seniors: $4.00 • Adults: $4.50 Non-Members: Children/Seniors: $4.25 • Adults: $4.75 For more details, call 901-636 2389. Reservations required: 901-636-2362. Trail Blazin' Saturdays Organized by Volunteer Mid-South, Trail Blazers help keep Lichterman’s trails clear the 4th Saturday of the month from 9AM until noon. Wear tennis shoes or hiking boots, long pants and long-sleeve shirts, and bring work gloves if you have them. Volunteers ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit the Trail Blazin' web page at www.memphismuseums.org to sign up!
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HISTORIC PROPERTIES Take your family on a historic tour!
Mallory-Neely: the Victorian Peak of Cool Sophistication In the days before air-conditioning, clever Memphians chose architectural innovations specifically designed to combat the South’s broiling summers. The builders of Mallory-Neely managed to accomplish the impressive feat of blending the height of 19th century-style with the ability to keep its occupants cool and comfortable. The 22-inch thick, stucco-covered brick walls of this Italianate styled mansion provided insulation from the heat, while the home’s overhanging cornices and wide front verandas gave the walls and windows greatly appreciated summer shade. Louvered shutters could block harsh sunlight and then be folded into recessed wall niches when Mallory-Neely’s long windows needed to be opened to take advantage of cooler evening breezes. The house’s designers were ever mindful of the warmer Delta climate in the central hall feature used in Southern homes of the period, allowing air to pass from the front porch to the back porch unimpeded. In combination with high ceilings and transom windows, central hallways would allow for much needed air circulation on hot summer days and nights. In the days of wood burning stoves, kitchens were in a separate building both for fire safety and to bar the kitchen’s heat from the main portion of the home. Present day visitors to the Mallory-Neely House can view these remarkable features and more with the comfort of modern climate control. Won’t you come visit us at 652 Adams Avenue this summer?
Mallory-Neely House 652 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105 Open Fridays and Saturdays from 10AM–4PM Visit us in July: 4–5 • 11–2 • 18–19 • 25–26 And August: 1–2 • 8–9• 15–16 • 22–23 • 29–30 Free admission to Museum members!
Magevney House 198 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38103 Open the first Saturday of each month from 1–4PM. Visit us Saturday: July 5 and August 2! Free admission to the public!
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MUSEUM STORE
MEMBERSHIP
Take home MEERKAT MAYHEM!
DON'T FORGET, Membership has benefits: • Invitations to Members-only exhibit openings & events! • Club Level & above also receive invitations to CTI 3D Giant Theater premiers • CTI 3D Giant Theater and Planetarium passes • Museum passes for guests (Club Level and above) • 10% discount at Bella Caffe • 10% discount at the Museum Store (excluding audio, video & sale merchandise) • Invitation to the Annual Member’s Day Fossil Dig at Coon Creek Science Center • Free or discounted admission to over 350 ASTC Science & Technology Museums around the world!
SUPPORTERS For membership information: 901.636.2406 To make a contribution: 901.636.2371 Donations $10,000 - $24,999 Tennessee Valley Authority $5,000 - $9,999 International Paper Foundation $1000 - $4,999 Mr. and Mrs. Larry Jensen
ACTIVITIES
$1 - $99 Ms. Anna Hilger Mr. and Mrs. Sharan Salian Dr. and Dr. John H. Pickens Mr. and Mrs. Herman Markell Friends of the Pink Palace Museum Ms. Bonnie Goetzke
Find the Shrunken Head! The Shrunken Head has escaped and is hiding in the Museum Scope! Our staff detectives have determined that he's hiding somewhere on pages 2 - 7. Help us find him for your chance to win four passes to the new CTI 3D Giant Theater. Send us his location along with:
Upper Level Members
Your Name: Your Address: Page #: Location on Page: To museumscope@gmail.com. Deadline for entries is July 31. Winner will be determined at random from all eligible entries and contacted by email. Congratulations to John Goeb and Sarah Beth Gaines for winning for March-June!
MEERKAT MAZE!
Find your way through the Meerkat tunnels! START!
FINISH!
Director's Circle - $ 1000 Mr. and Mrs. Sudhir Agrawal Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Beyl Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Bodine, Jr. Ms. Joy R. Bowen Mr. and Mrs. Frank Childress, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman Dr. James T. Dalton and Dr. Stephanie Scott Mr. and Mrs. Stephen R. Franklin Mr. and Mrs. Jim Harwood Mr. and Mrs Gene Henson Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Hooks Mr. and Mrs. Odell Horton, Jr. Mrs. Lisa Lichterman Leach Mr. and Mrs. John Levesque Dr. Rita Moore Mr. Brent Nair Mr. and Mrs. Steve Pike Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Prater Dr. Edward M. Rafalski Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Schuppe Mr. Casey Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Paul Smith Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Walker S. Uhlhorn, Jr. Dr. Margaret H. West, M.D. Advocate - $500 Mr. Bernice H. Hussey and Dr. Hal Brunt Mr. and Mrs. Brad Martin
Benefactor – $250 Dr. and Mrs. John R. Adams, Jr. Dr. DeRayne Boykins Mr. Robert H. Buckman & Ms. Joyce A. Mollerup Mr. and Mrs. Luther Gause Dr. Shawn Hayden Mrs. Ann J. Huckaba Dr. and Mrs. Mervyn Israel Mrs. Perre M. Magness Mr. and Mrs. Millard Oldham Mr. and Mrs. Michael Uiberall Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker Mr. and Mrs. Craig Weiss Palace Guard - $175 Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Arney Mr. and Mrs. Pervis J. Ballew Ms. Faith Barcroft Mr. Dennis D. Black and Mrs. Helen G. Beeman Mr. Scott E. Bohon Mr. and Mrs. Mark Caskey Ms. Elaine Childs Comprehensive Counsel Network Dr. and Mrs. Roger Cunningham Dr. and Mrs. Ray E. Curle Mr. and Mrs. Winston J. Daws Mr. and Mrs. Milton Ervin Mr. and Mrs. John Fain Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Francisco Mr. Thomas W. Fuller Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Gurlen Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Hall Mr. and Mrs. B. Jerry L. Huff Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Krug Mr. and Mrs. Andrew LoCascio Mr. and Mrs. Earl Magdovitz Mr. and Mrs. Mathew McCrory Mr. Charles H. McNutt Mr. Jeffrey Morrison and Ms. Teresa Bell Dr. and Mrs. Dharmesh Patel Mr. Theodore Poplos & Dr. Stephanie A. Storgion Mr. and Mrs. David Pouncey Drs. Richard and Carol Ranta Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Stapleton Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith Ms. Sharon E. Taylor Dr. and Mrs. Richard J. Van Sickle Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vanderslice Dr. and Mrs. Otis S. Warr, III Mr. and Mrs. John Zanella
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VOLUNTEERS
PINK PALACE FRIENDS
Make History, Science & Nature Come Alive With Lively Learning for All!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
PINK PALACE MUSEUM Twice Bitten: Robotic Insects & Live Tarantulas Help visitors experience robotic Giant Insects, learn to appreciate “bugs,” and share fascinating facts on live tarantulas once a week for 3½ hours or twice a month on weekends.
Scarecrow Festival
CTI 3D Giant Theater Assistants Welcome families and students for 3D Giant Theater Shows. Hand out or pick up glasses during busy afternoons during the week or on the weekend. Sharpe Planetarium Assistants Greet guests, take tickets and assist guests exiting the theater.
Stomp in the Swamp Scarecrow Festival and Fundraiser for Lichterman Nature Center Sunday, Sept. 14 5PM–8PM Admission is $15 2 for $25 advance tickets
FOR QUESTIONS, CALL 901.636.2408
Lichterman Nature Center Program Assistants needed to greet and orient visitors coming for nature programs at the Center. Volunteers can also help in Saturday craft activities and learn about native wildlife while helping in programs. Pink Palace crafts fair “Come have some fun!” October 10-12, 2014 at Audubon Park. Assist in Kids Crafts, Country Kitchen, Parking, Donuts, or where needed. Sign up through our website by September 19.
Call or email to sign up 901.636.2438 / diane.mckinna@memphistn.gov or visit www.memphismuseums.org/be_a_volunteer/
SPECIAL EVENTS
Pink Palace Crafts Fair The premier shopping event of the Mid-South. Families, fun, food and music! Oct 10-12 • Audubon Park Adult Adimission: $9 2 Day Pass: $15
BELLA CAFFE
Say “I do” at one of Memphis’ most beautiful and beloved attractions. Call: 901.636.2394 for more information.
*Present this coupon for $5 off your purchase when you spend $20. Offer good through July 31, 2014. May not be combined with other offers.
The natural place for your special event. Call: 901.767.7322, ext. 113 for more information. 9
Bella Caffe has delicious, fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and yummy desserts, along with refreshing cold and hot drinks.
Call us at 901.636.2407!
DEVELOPMENT What are your favorite memories of the Pink Palace Family of Museums? What is your family’s story about our “family”? An article from “The American Scientist” Magazine entitled The 95% Solution states that average Americans spend less than 5% of their lives in classrooms. So what inspires learning the other 95% of the time? We do! Last year our Pink Palace Family: • Provided more than 171,000 student experiences • Provided Free Admission for more than 75,000 Title 1 Student experiences to Exhibits, the Planetarium and Lichterman Nature Center • Provided our Suitcase Exhibits outreach program free in classrooms to more than 67,000 students • Provided more than 503,000 visitor experiences
The 95% Solution contends that in the U.S., we enjoy the advantage of having Informal Education, such as museums, digital resources, educational TV and radio, zoos, aquariums, national parks, 4-H and Scouting. According to this article, increased investment in these resources is very cost-effective. We need you to invest in the Pink Place Family of Museums so that we can continue to be part of this ‘95% solution.’ We must do well before we can do good! Please help us do well… Visit www.memphismuseums.org and click on the DONATE NOW icon, or complete the form below.
Yes! I want to support education at the Pink Palace! To help us help "our" kids, please complete the information below and mail with your credit card information or your check made out to Pink Palace Museum.
Enclosed is my gift of:
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Name Address City/State/Zip Check enclosed Please charge my credit card ( VISA MasterCard ) Name as it appears on card Card Number Exp. Date Card Security Code
Mail to: Steve Pike Pink Palace Museum 3050 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38111
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Mission Statement: The Pink Palace Family of Museums inspires people to learn how history, science, technology and nature shape the Mid-South. Through rich collections, thought provoking exhibitions and engaging programs, we encourage our diverse community to reflect on the past, understand the present and influence the future.
AT THE P!NK PALACE • JULY-AUGUST
NOW SHOWING! CTI 3D GIANT THEATER Meerkats 3D
Flight of the Butterflies in 3D
Hubble Vision 2
Starlit Nights
Tornado Alley 3D
Jerusalem 3D
SHARPE PLANETARIUM
EXHIBITS! P!NK PALACE MUSEUM Twice Bitten: Robotic Insects & Live Tarantulas
Changing Roles of Women: Makin' Whoopee
The Pink Palace Re-Imagined: The Masterplan
The Pink Palace Crafts Fair • Stomp in the Swamp • On Track in Memphis Watch our website for more information on these and other exhibits and events at the Pink Palace Family of Museums!
P!NK PALACE MUSEUM
A Memphis Museums, Inc. Publication