The Pink Palace is the most family-friendly museum in Memphis and one of its odd treasures. The mansion, built in 1923 of pink Georgian marble, was the home of Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly, the world’s first self-service grocery. Saunders lost his fortune in the Wall Street collapse and sold the unfinished house to the city in 1928, and in 1930 it opened as the Memphis Museum of Natural History and Industrial Arts. A large annex followed in 1977, and the museum later carried the MoSH name before the Pink Palace name returned in 2024. Inside, the collection mixes natural science and local history. A replica of the original Piggly Wiggly shows how shoppers first walked the aisles and picked their own goods. Other highlights include fossils, dinosaurs and mounted animals, 15th-century Native American pottery, Clyde Parke’s Miniature Circus, and history galleries covering music, cotton, the Civil War, the changing roles of women and notable Black Memphians. The lobby murals by Burton Callicott, commissioned in 1934, depict the expedition of Hernando de Soto. The campus also includes the Sharpe Planetarium, a 145-seat theater in the round with a dome that shows star fields and laser displays, and a giant-screen theater. Admission is sold through the museum’s own ticket page, with separate options for the theaters, so decide whether the shows are worth adding. The Pink Palace suits families, curious travellers and anyone who wants a rainy-day option that is more than music.
How to visit
The museum is at 3050 Central Avenue in the Midtown and University area, a short drive from downtown. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from late morning to late afternoon and closed on Mondays, based on the museum’s website, though hours can change. Buy tickets through the museum’s site, where theater and planetarium shows are offered as optional extras.
What to expect
A large, multi-part museum that rewards browsing. Younger children usually head straight for the dinosaurs and the miniature circus, while adults enjoy the Piggly Wiggly story and the history galleries. Plan on two to three hours for the museum alone, and add time for a planetarium show. The building is a mix of the original mansion and a modern annex, so wear comfortable shoes.
Making the most of it
Arrive at opening on a weekend and head to the busiest galleries first. Check the show schedule when you buy tickets, because planetarium and theater shows run at set times. It pairs well with the Dixon Gallery and Gardens or a walk in Overton Park, and it is the best wet-weather option in the city for families.
What to expect
The experience
A large self-guided museum of Memphis history and natural science in a 1920s marble mansion, with an optional planetarium and giant-screen theater.
Best time
A weekend morning after opening, or any rainy day.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with a planetarium show.
Tips
Check show times when you buy tickets and note that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, history lovers and anyone needing a good rainy-day option.
- Families
- Dinosaurs, a miniature circus, a replica grocery store and planetarium shows make it a strong family stop.
- Couples
- Better as a relaxed afternoon than a romantic highlight.
- Pair with
- The Dixon Gallery and Gardens or a walk in Overton Park.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Why is it called the Pink Palace?+
The mansion was built in 1923 of pink Georgian marble for Clarence Saunders, the founder of Piggly Wiggly, and the nickname stuck after it became a museum.
What are the opening days?+
The museum’s website shows Tuesday to Sunday from late morning to late afternoon. Confirm before you travel.
What is there to see?+
Expect a replica Piggly Wiggly, fossils and dinosaurs, Native American pottery, Clyde Parke’s Miniature Circus and history galleries on music, cotton and the Civil War.
Is there a planetarium?+
Yes, the Sharpe Planetarium is a 145-seat theater in the round with a dome. There is also a giant-screen theater, and shows are ticketed separately.
Is it good for children?+
Yes. It is one of the best family museums in the city.
