2009 Design Competition: Architecture and Our Youth

Memphis Heritage and AIA are proud to announce the 5th Architecture and our Youth Design Competition for 4th-12th grade students of Shelby County. Participants are asked to explore historic buildings and spaces around them through an art medium of their choice. In addition, an essay should be submitted describing how the individual responds to the art emotionally and/or physically. Winners of each division will be awarded prizes during the opening reception and will have their artwork exhibited along with their essay during the month of May 2009. The goal of this exhibit is to communicate, through images and words, how today's youth respond to the architectural environment around them. Deadline for entry is Monday April 14th at 4pm. Entry forms and more information for parents and educators can be found here.

Memphis Heritage Bumper Stickers...Yes We Can!

Make a donation of $3 or more and Memphis Heritage will send you the above bumper sticker of your choice. These are available on the Memphis Heritage site HERE.

Did you Know.....

The wonderful Orpheum Theatre that stands in downtown Memphis is not the original. The original Orpheum building was actually a vaudeville house. In 1890 the Grand Opera House was built on this site. According to the Orpheum site, the Grand Opera House was made a part of the Orpheum circuit in 1907 when the name was changed. In 1923, a fire (that was interestingly enough started by a strip tease artist) burned the building down. The current building was built in 1928 and remained a vaudeville theatre until 1940 when Malco movies purchased it. It remained a first run movie theatre until 1976 when it was sold. Between 1982 and 1984, the theatre was closed for renovations. Since it's grand re-opening the Orpheum has been a jewel of downtown Memphis.