Travelore News: Memphis Art Museum To Open In December 2026

Memphis Art Museum announced that its new cultural campus in the heart of Downtown Memphis, along the Mississippi River bluff, will open to the public in December 2026. Currently known as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, it is both the oldest and largest art museum in Tennessee, with a collection of more than 10,000 works spanning from ancient to contemporary art.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and architect of record archimania, with landscape design by OLIN, the new 122,000-square-foot museum will expand the institution's existing gallery space by 50 percent and provide 600 percent more art-filled free public space, including a 10,000-square-foot community courtyard at street level and a 50,000-square-foot rooftop sculpture garden.

The building's design will capture the warmth and texture of the region, with natural tones inspired by the clay banks of the river. Designed as an open invitation to the city, its transparent glass façade will let passersby see the art inside, while street-level galleries will let that creativity spill out onto the sidewalks, blurring the line between the museum and Memphis itself.

New, wider sidewalks will connect downtown to the riverfront, bringing people directly to the museum as a new hub of civic life. A public plaza shared with the historic Cossitt Library will create a lively cultural commons along the bluff. At its center, a broad, shaded courtyard will serve as a gathering space open to everyone.

Encircling the courtyard in a continuous, single-story loop, the galleries provide generous, flexible spaces for displaying Memphis' diverse art collection. Five galleries will include large windows overlooking either the Mississippi River or the community courtyard, keeping visitors connected to the landscape and the life of the city. Nearby, light-filled classrooms with ideal northern exposure will offer inspiring spaces for making and learning art at every level—from school groups to adult artists—further connecting the act of seeing art with creating it.

Atop the building is a full-roof garden—an “art park in the sky”—featuring several sculptures, native plants, an event pavilion, and sweeping views of Downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River. The building's River Window offers a framed view of the historic waterway, while the Riverview Terrace provides an elevated overlook of the horizon. Occupying an entire city block, the new museum redefines Downtown Memphis.

The building is among the first major U.S. museums constructed using laminated timber. Wood elements incorporated throughout the campus honor Memphis' legacy as the Hardwood Capital of the World and serve as a defining architectural element, from the entry porch and lobby to galleries, the café, education areas, classrooms, and event areas.

Joining the Memphis Art Museum in a year of landmark cultural milestones across Memphis are the National Civil Rights Museum, which will open its expanded Legacy Building in spring 2026, the National Ornamental Metal Museum which will also unveil a new, centrally located facility offering expanded space for exhibitions, permanent collections, and educational programming. In addition, 2026 marks historic anniversaries for many of Memphis's beloved cultural institutions, including 90 years of live music at Overton Park Shell, 70 years of Opera Memphis, 50 years of Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 40 years of Ballet Memphis, 20 years of the Hattiloo Theatre, and 20 years of Collage Dance Center. Together, these milestones reflect a powerful moment of cultural investment and celebration in the city where blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll were born.

“Memphis has a long history as a vibrant hub for art and culture. This expansive and innovative new campus will further reinforce the city's status as a global cultural destination,” said Dr. Zoe Kahr, Executive Director of the Memphis Art Museum. “We look forward to welcoming visitors to experience the very best of what Memphis has to offer, in 2026, and for years to come.”

With community at the heart of its mission, the new museum prioritizes accessibility through a design that features abundant free and publicly accessible spaces. Once inside the museum, visitors will have access to the mezzanine-level theater as well as galleries, educational areas, the café, and store all on the street level, with a direct connection to the Mississippi River waterfront. The museum will be able to accommodate more than 400 cultural, creative, and community-based initiatives and also will be available for rentals.

About Memphis Brooks Museum of Art / Memphis Art Museum

Located at 1934 Poplar Avenue in historic Overton Park, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is one of the leading art museums in the American South. Over 10,000 works make up Memphis' art collection at the museum including ancient works from Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Americas; Renaissance masterpieces from Italy; English portraiture; American painting and decorative arts; contemporary art; and African Diasporic art.

In December 2026, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will open its new home as Memphis Art Museum: a state-of-the-art, 122,000-square-foot facility at the heart of downtown Memphis. For more information on the current programming and future plans for Memphis' art museum, call (901) 544-6200 or visit brooksmuseum.org / memphisartmuseum.org.

Graceland Commemorating 45th Anniversary Of Presley’s Death

Elvis Presley’s Graceland will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of the singer and actor’s death with new museum exhibits, record giveaways, concerts and other special events at the tourist attraction centered around Presley’s life and career in Memphis, Tennessee.

Each year, Graceland commemorates Presley’s death with Elvis Week, which includes a candlelight vigil attended by fans from around the world. Presley died in Memphis on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42.

This year, Graceland will be giving out 1,000 special Elvis 45 rpm records to visitors who tour on six select days. All records will feature a custom jacket.

Also planned are four new exhibits featuring Presley’s guitars, his clothing, a celebration of the 40th anniversary of his Graceland home opening to the public, and a fan tribute.

is also celebrating Presley’s birthday this week with a party, a sing-along to the film “Viva Las Vegas,” and a cake cutting He was born on Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Graceland Plans In-Person Events During Elvis Week

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — On the 44th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, fans will get to celebrate the musician once again at the annual Elvis Week event in Memphis, Tennessee.

Presley’s Graceland is preparing to host visitors and offer in-person events for Elvis Week from Aug. 11 through Aug. 17. Organizers said public health protocols will be in place, including the requirement of masks, temperature screenings and socially distanced seating.

The event will feature appearances by celebrities and musicians, live concerts, panel discussions, parties, bus excursions and the Elvis Presley tribute artist contest, officials with Elvis Presley Enterprises said. The keystone event, once again, will be a candlelight vigil as fans visit his grave.

Since Presley’s death on Aug. 16, 1977, fans of the late singer and actor have flocked to Memphis to commemorate his life and career in the week leading up to his death anniversary. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Elvis Week events were mostly held online last year.

Elvis Presley's Graceland Opens A New $45 Million Complex

w $45 million complex

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Nearly four decades after Elvis sang his last tune, his legacy got a $45 million boost with the Thursday opening of a major new attraction at his Graceland estate -- an entertainment complex that Priscilla Presley says gives "the full gamut" of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

About 200 people streamed into "Elvis Presley's Memphis" after the late singer's wife cut a ribbon and allowed fans to see the $45 million complex for the first time.

Priscilla Presley, former wife of Elvis Presley, speaks during the grand opening of the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" complex on Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. Nearly four decades after Elvis sang his last tune, his legacy got a $45 million boost with the opening of a major new attraction at his Graceland estate -- an entertainment complex that Priscilla Presley says gives "the full gamut" of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Resembling an outdoor mall, the 200,000-square-foot campus sits across the street from Graceland, Presley's longtime home-turned-museum. The complex features a comprehensive Presley exhibit with clothing he wore on stage and guitars he played; a showcase of the cars he owned and used; a soundstage; a theater; two restaurants and retail stores.

"You're getting the full gamut of who Elvis Presley was," Priscilla Presley said during an interview after the grand opening. "You're getting to see and participate a bit in his life and what he enjoyed and what he loved to collect."

It's part of a $140 million expansion, which also includes a $90 million, 450-room hotel that opened last year. The complex replaces the aging buildings that have housed Presley-related exhibits for years. An old, gray, strip-mall style visitor center will be torn down to make room for a greenspace along Elvis Presley Boulevard, the street that runs in front of the house.

Visitors take a selfie in front of Elvis Presley's pink 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood on display at the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" complex Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. The complex features a comprehensive Presley exhibit with clothing he wore on stage and guitars he played; a showcase of the cars he owned and used; a soundstage; a theater; two restaurants and retail stores. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Graceland has been updating its tourist experience. Visitors now use iPads for self-guided tours of the house. The new Guest House at Graceland, with modern amenities like glass-encased showers with wall-mounted body sprays and Keurig coffee makers in room, has replaced the crumbling Heartbreak Hotel, which is scheduled for demolition.

"We want to keep updating ... If you don't keep up with what's going on in the times, you get left out," Priscilla Presley said. She was joined at the ribbon-cutting by Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden and Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Graceland Holdings.

The opening comes just before the 40th anniversary of Presley's death on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42.

Adults pay $57.50 for a standard tour of the house and access to the complex. Visitors can also choose to tour just the house for a lower price. Discounts are offered for seniors and children. A self-guided tour of two airplanes owned by Presley is $5 more.

A woman watches the Elvis Presley film "King Creole" in a theater in the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" complex Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. The complex features a comprehensive Presley exhibit with clothing he wore on stage and guitars he played; a showcase of the cars he owned and used; a soundstage; a theater; two restaurants and retail stores. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

From the ticketing area, people line up to wait for buses that take visitors to the museum, or they can move through the entertainment complex's large, high-ceilinged buildings.

Gladys' Diner — named after the singer's mother — has the feel of a 1950s eatery, complete with pictures of Presley, aqua-colored chairs and stations where patrons can order hot dogs, burgers and ice cream.

There's also Presley's favorite: Gladys' World Famous Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, fried in bacon grease. Another PB&B sandwich is cooked in butter.

Across a wide walkway lies the automobile museum, filled with some of Presley's favorite toys. Among them is a pink 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood — a custom painted model that he gave to his mother — and a sleek, black 1973 Stutz Blackhawk that he drove the day he died.

Some of Elvis Presley's performance outfits are displayed at the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" complex, Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. The $45 million entertainment complex, located across the street from Graceland, Presley's longtime home, features exhibits and restaurants focused on his life and career. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The walkway leads to the 20,000-square foot museum called "Elvis: The Entertainer," which features white and purple jumpsuits he wore during concerts and gold-colored guitars he played on stage.

Several retail stores line the complex. A second restaurant, a barbecue joint called Vernon's Smokehouse — named after Presley's father — will also open. So will an exhibition focused on Sam Phillips, the Sun Records producer and rock 'n' roll pioneer who recorded Presley for the first time.

The complex is still being finished. Priscilla Presley said there's a warehouse full of artifacts, ready for display.

During the interview with The Associated Press, Priscilla Presley declined to comment about a court battle in Los Angeles between Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter she had with Elvis, and Lisa Marie's estranged husband.

Elvis Presley fans enter the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" complex Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn. The $45 million entertainment complex, located across the street from Graceland, Presley's longtime home, features exhibits and restaurants focused on his life and career. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Among the fans eager to get a glimpse at the new exhibits Thursday was Carol Carey, a retiree who made the short trip across the state line from Southaven, Mississippi, with her son.

Wearing a pink shirt with the words "Wild About Graceland" on it, Carey beamed a wide smile as she talked about the complex.

"We couldn't wait to see it," she said. "We've been here every other day, checking it out. Getting used to saying goodbye to the old, and seeing friends who are all taking pictures of everything."

By ADRIAN SAINZ

New Hotel Being Built At Graceland Set To Open In October 2016

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In this Aug. 8, 2016 photo, workers are seen in the circular lobby area of the new 450-room Guest... Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Elvis Presley used to dream about building a guest house at his Graceland property, for friends who would visit the rock 'n' roll icon in Memphis.

Presley didn't get to see his dream come true, but his fans will. The Guest House at Graceland is a six-story, 450-room hotel, opening Oct. 27 just steps from Presley's former home. The exterior, with columns, arches and a portico, evokes the feel of a comfortable Southern Colonial home, but the interior design and amenities are modern.

Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, and Graceland was eventually turned into a museum. Priscilla Presley, the singer's former wife and a caretaker of his legacy, said Elvis had made plans to build a guest house at Graceland as far back as 1960. But it was never built, so when people visited Graceland, they would stay at a Howard Johnson's down the street.

"This luxury hotel is the most significant enhancement to Graceland since we opened in 1982," Priscilla Presley said Monday. "This is huge ... I feel that it's just so right for fans, and our guests, and tourists."

The hotel is the first of its kind in the working- and middle-class Memphis neighborhood of Whitehaven. Droves of applicants flocked to a job fair Saturday, and the hotel will employ about 450 people. When the hotel opens, room prices will range from $149 for basic rooms to $1,300 for the highest-priced suite.

The location lets Elvis fans stay within walking distance of Graceland and the tourist attractions across the street, but it will likely attract other visitors as well. It will offer the most upscale accommodations in the immediate area, which has a Days Inn and a couple of other budget hotels. Also nearby, the aging Heartbreak Hotel is scheduled for demolition.

The Guest House at Graceland also promises to become one of the city's top lodging options, along with the Peabody and the Madison several miles away in the downtown area.

"If you ever thought that you wanted to hang out with Elvis and feel like one of his guests, this is your opportunity," said Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the Graceland tours and also produces and licenses Elvis-themed live events worldwide.

Weinshanker said the total investment in the hotel is about $92 million. Memphis officials approved a tax break for the hotel project.

The hotel is still under construction, with bulldozers outside and workers installing electric outlets and carpets. But colors associated with The King already are present, such as touches of purple and gold in the carpeting and hallways, gold lighting in the 464-seat theater, and a picture of Elvis in a gold jacket hanging on the textured gray walls of guest rooms. At 386,000 square feet, it's about 22 times the size of the Graceland house.

"There's not a whole lot of Elvis bling," said Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden. "It's much more subtle. It's very cool."

The circular lobby is illuminated by natural light streaming through large windows. The lobby ceiling features mirrors shaped like elongated hexagons. The gray and purple carpet is decorated with a geometric pattern.

Turn right and you get The Lobby Lounge, an eating and drinking spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Nearby is E.P.'s Bar and Grill, a sports bar-themed restaurant with televisions and a pool table.

A left turn from the lobby leads to another restaurant, Delta's Kitchen, which will feature locally sourced products and a breakfast buffet. There's also a coffee bar, and room service will be available.

Beyond Delta's Kitchen is a large ballroom and four meeting rooms. The theater venue can be used for musical performances and company conferences.

The rooms feature textured vinyl wall coverings, a glass-encased shower with a wall-mounted body spray, and sleekly designed chairs next to a window with a blackout curtain. Rooms also have a Keurig coffee brewing system and a flat screen TV.

Priscilla Presley said suites will have unique themes. The King's Suite will be designed like Elvis Presley's master bedroom, with rich red and black tones and a custom-draped canopy bed.

The property will also include a swimming pool, adding to the resort feel.

"It really is quite beautiful, and it is subtle, and it is contemporary, and it's classy," Priscilla Presley said. "I think our guests will be very happy."

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This story corrects Weinshanker's title to managing partner.

By ADRIAN SAINZ

Elvis Presley’s Graceland Named Best Music Attraction

Elvis at the gates of Graceland

MEMPHIS, TN - Elvis Presley is known and loved around the world as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and now his legendary Memphis home, Graceland, was voted #1 in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers' Choice contest for “Best Musical Attraction” from a field of iconic music-themed landmarks. As 10Best describes the win, “After four weeks of voting, one legendary attraction won the title of Best Musical Attraction by a landslide: Graceland.” Elvis Presley’s Graceland was voted into the top spot by readers of USA TODAY, who were asked to cast their online ballot for their favorite global music attraction from a pool of 20 museums, memorials, historic studios and epic record stores originally selected by 10Best’s travel experts and journalists. Voting began on May 11 and ran through noon EDT June 8, 2015.

Based on the number of votes cast, 10Best announced that Graceland was a “clear favorite with our music-loving readers,” in their voting recap, which is music to the ears of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. CEO Jack Soden. “This honor confirms what our guests from around the world have been telling us for years -- that Graceland is a must-see destination, not only for Elvis fans, but for anyone who appreciates music and history. We have a rich story to tell here at the King’s castle, as we honor Elvis’ legacy and celebrate a music and pop culture revolution that started right here in Memphis, Tennessee,” said Soden.

Graceland was in good company as neighbors in Memphis and across the state of Tennessee also received honors in the 10Best poll. The city known as the “Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” was well represented with Sun Studio, which cranked out hits not only for Elvis but Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lewis taking the second spot on the list along with the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in the fifth position. The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville placed fourth in addition to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge with the sixth spot on the list.

"Readers of the nation's No. 1 newspaper have declared Tennessee the No. 1 best state for music," said Kevin Triplett, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. "These five Tennessee attractions are at the top, but that's just the beginning of all Tennessee has to offer to music fans from around the world."

Additional nominees for Best Musical Attraction included the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Detroit’s Motown Museum, the famed Abbey Road studio in London and historic Apollo Theater in New York.

Last month, Elvis Presley’s Graceland was chosen “Best Historic Southern Attraction,” by USA TODAY 10Best readers, ranking #1 in a list that included Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.