About
Imagine exploring a stately home featuring works by French Impressionist painters or walking through 17 acres of gardens. Such adventure awaits at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens.
This iconic Memphis landmark is the result of the generosity of two individuals, Margaret Oates Dixon (1900–1974) and Hugo Norton Dixon (1892–1974). As philanthropists and community leaders, they bequeathed their property, ensuring a richer cultural life for locals and visitors.
The gallery houses an exquisite collection of American and French Impressionist works. You'll see firsthand works of masters like Monet and Matisse while its rotating exhibitions bring discoveries to the home.
The well-maintained gardens are rich with seasonal blooms, towering trees, and elegant sculptures. Each garden adopts a unique theme, making it easy to lose track of time as you traverse the meandering trails.
The facility is conveniently located near other popular attractions, making it easy to visit multiple landmarks in a single day. For instance, continue exploring nature's best at the Memphis Botanic Garden, or take your little ones to the Children's Museum of Memphis beforehand. With so many things to do, the possibilities are endless!
With engaging events and yearly educational programs, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens will connect you to the arts and nature. It's a must-visit for those seeking cultural enrichment and tranquility.
Dixon Gallery & Gardens: Fun Facts & Cool Features
Aside from breathtaking paintings, the Dixon is home to decorative art, such as the Warda Stevens Stout Collection. The collection features over 600 objects of Eighteenth-Century German Porcelain, along with Meissen tableware and figures, and a large assemblage of Höchst figures.
Equally impressive is the Adler Pewter Collection, donated in 1991 by Herta and Dr. Justin Adler. It features over 300 utilitarian, commemorative, and decorative pewter objects from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. Add the rotating exhibitions, and you'll find something new to discover regularly at the Dixon.
Stepping outside, you'll marvel at the English-inspired gardens, which feature open vistas and intimate spaces.
The Memphis Garden Club Cutting Garden features something blooming year-round, including roses, annuals, and perennials. The fountain was designed by Frank Fleming, an Alabama sculptor, and represents the four seasons.
Walking the Woodland Garden trail takes you through two acres of towering oaks and hickories. Beneath this canopy, understory dogwoods, ferns, and wildflowers grow. It's an ideal spot to reflect while hiking.
The Learning Gardens, located around the Liz and Tommy Farnsworth Education Building, feature a series of independent yet interconnected outdoor spaces designed for teaching opportunities. A standout is the Mary Alice Quinn Butterfly Garden, which attracts monarchs, swallowtails, and other pollinators.
When hunger strikes, you're never far from a delicious meal and a cold drink. Combine a visit to nearby Shelby Farms Park with a meal at the Coastal Fish Company. Only a few blocks from the Dixon is Brother Juniper's, offering hearty, homemade breakfasts.
Visiting Dixon Gallery & Gardens is a chance to immerse yourself in creative inspiration and natural serenity. It's a destination that will add wonder to your Memphis vacation.
Getting There
Here are step-by-step driving directions from downtown Memphis to the Dixon Gallery & Gardens:
- Head south on Front Street toward Beale Street.
- Turn left onto Beale Street.
- Merge onto I-240 E toward Nashville.
- Take Exit 17 for Perkins Road and turn right onto Perkins Extended.
- Turn right onto Park Avenue.
- Address: 4339 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38117.
Local Tips
- Review the online Visiting Guidelines for dos and don'ts.
- Plan a visit around special exhibits or events.
- Picnics are allowed; check online for details.
- The onsite cafe Park+Cherry offers seasonal dishes.
