Pink Palace Museum has something in store for everyone

By J.J. Kindred

The Pink Palace Museum is more than just one museum.

More than 200,000 people come to visit the Pink Palace and its associated museums each year. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Southeast.

Those who visit have the opportunity to experience things such as walking through a replica of Piggly Wiggly, reported to be the first self-service grocery store in the country.

History buffs can discover the cultural and natural history of the Mid-South region through exhibits and audio-visuals, as well as the history of the development of the city of Memphis.

The museum also hosts a number of touring exhibits for visitors to experience year-round.

Some of the other Pink Palace attractions include the following:

• Crew Training International IMAXTheater - The theater draws approximately 200,000 regional visitors and tourists annually. Opened in 1995, the theater is reportedly the only underground IMAX Theater in the world; it is known for its versatility as either a 240-seat IMAX theater or 403-seat auditorium. New films open every four months.

• Sharpe Planetarium - A 130-seat theater, featuring star projectors to show star fields, visual images and patterns on its domed ceiling. Featured programs explore the most recent findings about comets, stars and black holes, plus the latest images from the Hubble Space Telescope. There are also educational programs and a laser light show.

• Lichterman Nature Center - A 65-acre wildlife sanctuary and environmental education facility, the center is reported to be the first accredited nature center in the United States. It includes three miles of trails through forest, field, pond and marsh habitats, as well as a greenhouse where native wildflowers are prepared for use and sale.

• Coon Creek Science Center - Located in McNairy County, Tenn., the site has produced more than 600 species of animal and marine fossils that are more than 70 million years old. The fossils are in original form and preserved. The center also offers acres of fields and forests, with five ponds for studying aquatic life and a telescope site for night stargazing. Visitors can also experience camp-style cabins, a large dining hall with kitchen facilities, and an enrichment study site for groups. The museums hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For further information, call 901-320-6320 or go online to www.memphismuseums.org.