Things to do

With more than 500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects from every part of the planet, this zoo is a great place for any animal lover to explore. Exhibits like Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Animals of the Night and Dragon's Lair fascinate visitors of all ages.
Authentic habitats provide a perfect environment for learning more about animals of the wild. More than 50 endangered species live here, and displays teach visitors about environmentalism and animal protection. Seasonal children's rides, a cafe, a gift shop and a tram ride can also be expected.

Expect to spend more time here than you planned to! Occupying a pink marble mansion originally intended as a private residence, the museum boasts a fascinating collection of art and exhibits with a local theme. Offerings include a Civil War display, an exhibit on Memphis history, a mechanized, miniature circus, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, multiple stores and a snack bar. The museum also features a science/natural history exhibit on the first level.

The museum highlights many major events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement. Displays include replicas of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birmingham jail cell and the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the site of "the last great parade." The exhibits, audiovisual programs and other interpretive presentations are well done. The neighborhood is safe during the day but not as secure after 10 p.m.

Visit this unique museum to view the amazing art and see artists at work. Museum facilities include four exhibition galleries, a gift store, a demonstration smithy, an outdoor sculpture garden and a river bluff pavilion built with 19th-century castings that once stood on historic Beale Street.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
1934 Poplar Ave - Overton Park
Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: 901-544-6200
http://www.brooksmuseum.org

Located in a 1916 building that was given a space-expanding, award-winning addition, Memphis Brooks Museum features collections of fine and decorative arts from antiquity to the present. You'll find works representing French Impressionists, the Italian Renaissance, and Baroque masters, along with 20th-century American and modernist works. An on-site restaurant offers American bistro cuisine, and a museum store sells terrific gifts.