Friday, June 5, 2009

Pink Saturday--The Pink Palace Museum




Beverly at How Sweet the Sound is once again hosting Pink Saturday! She had a tremendous response to her one year anniversary last week. I can't believe it has taken me this long to post a picture of one of my city's and the entire region's largest pink attractions!







The Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium is an elegant home built in the 1920's by Clarence Saunders founder of Piggly Wiggly Supermarkets (remember those ?). The huge stately manor was referred to by the locals as the pink palace because of the pink Georgian marble covering the facade. When Mr. Saunders lost his fortune because of reversals on Wall Street, he donated the mansion to the city of Memphis. Today the Pink Palace is the home of one of the Mid-South's major science and historical museums and a planetarium. Each year the palace museum hosts thousands of school children, tourists, and native Memphians. I have personally chaperoned field trips to this site and the children loved it! Perhaps the most interesting to me is the replica of the first Piggly Wiggly store. The interactive and hands-on display enthralls both children and adults! In addition there are exhibits ranging from archaeology to chemistry. Recently one of my friends served as a guide for the traveling exhibit "The Scoop on Poop". Now I ask you-- what elementary age child could resist a parent-sanctioned educational tour with this title?



The Pink Palace grounds are beautifully landscaped and a popular wedding and charity event site. I hope you enjoy my big pink offering for Pink Saturday and visit if you are ever in town! Now head over to visit Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ for a Saturday filled with pinkness!

17 comments:

  1. Gorgeous building!...Christine

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  2. Saturday mornings are mine. I spend them traveling the web, hopping from page to page visiting some of the most lovely blogs loaded with pink all thanks to Beverly and her great idea.

    Thanks so much for sharing your pink this week and for making my morning just a little bit brighter. Wishing you a special weekend filled with fun and family.

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  3. That is so very interesting.

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  4. Moving from the North to the South I always thought the Piggly Wiggly was the cutest name for a store. Sad to see that the family had to give up such a magnificent home but good for the city of Memphis. I am laughing at the Scoop on Poop and would be curious about that myself:) Thanks for starting my day off with a SMILE.
    Joyce

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  5. ♥´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ HAPPY PINK SATURDAY ♥

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  6. I cannot imagine living in a place like that. Happy Pink Saturday,

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  7. Living in Canada, I had heard the term "Piggly Wiggly" on the American television stations. It always made me laugh, but I never did get to shop at one. Who would imagine that this home would have been connected that chain? It's sad that he lost his fortune, but what a wonderful gain for Memphis. How terrific that this pink beauty has been turned into such a wonderful fount of knowledge for everyone. My granddaughters would love something like "The Scoop On Poop." Come to think of it, I would have enjoyed it as well.

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  8. Beautiful architecture and grounds... Yes I would go on a field trip there any day!
    Having a good weekend?
    ~Really Rainey~

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  9. I forgot it was your daughter's wedding week Susan! I hope it is all wonderful and that every thing goes well! Little Buddy will be coming on Tuesday, and I would love to see pictures of Charlie and more of Jessie. Yes post pictures of your son and your daughters. I would love to see all of it. I wish you the very best week ever!

    Sue

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  10. What an interesting story! Thanks for sharing it with us. Happy Pink Saturday!

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  11. What a stunning building - and those poppies, gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing - and for the history. Happy Pink Saturday to you!

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  12. What a magnificent mansion! Being pink makes it that more special, don;t see that too often! Laughed at the traveling exhibit name!

    Hope your wedding week has been everything you wished for... can't wait to see photos!!

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  13. Lovely! It's a very pink place!

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  14. My son would love a tour with a name like that one! Very interesting! And very beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing the pictures!

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  15. beautiful pink place! Happy Pink Saturday ~ I hope you have a great weekend ~ Susan

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  16. I would LOVE to tour Memphis and these pink palace grounds someday!! Happy Pink Saturday, and have a wonderful week!

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  17. stunning home!

    one-day-late-HaPpY PiNk SaTuRdAy!

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