City: Memphis, TN

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (901) 761-5250

Address: 4339 Park Avenue

Description: The Dixon, as Memphians call this small museum, is a pretty, quiet oasis compared with its busy Park Avenue surroundings. Located in a Georgian-style mansion that was once a private estate, the museum features traditionally furnished galleries, as well as pleasant gardens and a lawn used for performances and other events. Most notable, though, are the special exhibitions, in particular its 2004 exhibition of the work of Mississippi visionary painter Walter Anderson. Others have included the Painters of Normandy, an exhibition of French paintings, and the art of Dr. Seuss. This privately funded museum also has a number of permanent collections, including French and American impressionist and postimpressionist paintings donated by the Dixon family as well as one of the most extensive collections of decorative pewter pieces in the world.The gardens are particularly nice in spring, when the azaleas are in bloom, adding bright splashes of color and white all around the museum and its grounds. The south lawn is a popular spot among Memphians, who flock there to enjoy concerts, plays, and the Dixons’ annual family picnic. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon.