From little-known roadside attractions to quirky museums to obscure natural wonders, Local Hidden Gems will introduce you to some of the unique and unexpected treasures that make America extraordinary. Our focus will be on charm, surprise, and delight.
Hidden local gem: Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tennessee.
After Graceland, this is perhaps the most visited former private residence in Memphis. And unlike Graceland, you can tour this house and its gardens for free.
THE Dixon Gallery and Gardens is located in the heart of East Memphis, at Cherry Road and Park Avenue, across from the much larger Memphis Botanical GardenAlthough the Dixon, which opened in 1976, sits just off a busy street across from the Audubon Golf Course, it's often overlooked on any list of places to visit in Memphis.
“The Dixon is kind of a hidden gem that has a variety of wonderful things to explore, including world-class galleries and educational programs,” said Kevin Sharp, Dixon’s director. “And we’re a 17-acre park that’s absolutely beautiful in the heart of Memphis. Given the number of great things Memphis has to offer, from Graceland to Sun Studio to Beale Street, the things that are the most worth seeing, we’d like (people) to think about the Dixon.”
Local Hidden Gems:Spotlight on American treasures in our backyards
Sharp says the museum has traditional works of art by Old Masters, including a Renoir, and contemporary pieces, with a strong Memphis hue that represents the city's “visual arts community.”
Dixon Gardens are beautiful year-round, but Sharp says that in the spring, the tulips are in full bloom. He also noted the impressive hardwood forest. A cut flower garden near the Dixon Greenhouse serves a dual purpose: Workers can enjoy the rotating collection of fresh flowers inside the museum while visitors can discover a variety of perennials they could grow in their gardens. Additionally, the garden includes a pavilion and an outdoor space for weddings and receptions, available for rent.
How did the Dixon Gallery & Gardens come about?
Sixty-six years ago, cotton merchant Hugo Norton Dixon established the Hugo Dixon Trust, a charitable and educational foundation. After Dixon and his wife, Margaret Oates Dixon, died in 1974, the Trust received the couple's home, their 17-acre estate, their art collection, their financial assets and the remainder of their estate. The Trust was later reestablished as a foundation.
The original 1941 residence designed by architect John Staub of Houston, Texas, and the gardens designed by Mr. Dixon and his sister, Hope Crutchfield, became the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. The Dixon was chartered as a nonprofit and opened in 1976.
The 26 paintings from the private collection of Margaret and Hugo Dixon formed the starting point for the museum's permanent collection. In 1977, eight new galleries on the east side of the residence were completed and opened that same year. The museum expanded again in 1986, adding 15,030 square feet, a shop, and a 250-seat auditorium. A year later, additional offices and a multi-purpose room totaling 2,500 square feet were added.
Or: 4339 Park Ave, Memphis, Tennessee
Mark Russell is the Executive Director of The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at mark.russell@commercialappeal.com or 901-288-4509.
