The Bison: American Icon
The Highsmith Collection of Indian pottery
Greatest Little Show on Earth
CTI IMAX® Theater
Sharpe Planetarium
Lichterman Nature Center
Events and Progams
Exhibitions
The Bison: American Icon
January 28 through May 25, 2012
A symbol of our shared past, the North American bison is a special animal. Painted on tipis or canvases hung in museums, minted on nickels, or breathing plumes of steam on a frosty morning in Shelby Farms Park, few animals conjure such deep loyalties to the North American wilderness as the mighty bison.
The Bison: American Icon, a new exhibition opening January 28 at the Pink Palace Museum, explores the history and science of these iconic creatures from their role in the Plains Indian culture of the 19th century to their status as a national symbol of the present. Along the way, The Bison charts the changes forced upon these animals, taking them to the very brink of extinction and back into our parks, our wilderness and our modern lives.
The exhibit opens with a primary mystery; until the 1860s, there were tens of millions of bison roaming the plains of North America. By 1890, there were fewer than 300. So, what happened? The Bison examines this question, before and after the bison’s shockingly rapid decline, and tells the story of how this important animal’s extinction was ultimately averted by conservationists.
Originally developed by the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, and co-curated by Anne Morand and Dr. Lynn Spriggs, the Pink Palace exhibits staff has added extra artifacts. The Field Museum in Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology have loaned the Pink Palace more than 30 Plains Indians artifacts, chosen to compliment the story told by The Bison. With these additions, The Bison: American Icon will be the largest traveling exhibit of Plains Indian bison culture ever shown in the Mid-South.
This exhibition has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is brought to you by Mid-America Arts Alliance. The Bison: American Icon was organized by the C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT.
Bison Fun Facts
“…and as the people watched her going suddenly it was a white bison galloping away and snorting, and soon it was gone.”- Black Elk
- For 500,000 years, the bison has roamed North America, with a peak population of about 30 million individual animals.
- For thousands of years, the lives of the Plains Indians and the bison were closely linked. Native people relied on the bison for food, building materials, clothing and tools.
- By the end of the 19th century, bison had become a commodity to non-Indian people, and the bison population dropped to only a few hundred animals.
- To call a bison a buffalo is an insult. Theories about the origin of the misnomer include English colonists equating the shaggy brown fur with the undyed leather “buff” coats worn by soldiers, or perhaps the French term les boeufs, which means beef cattle or oxen. Perhaps most likely, early Westerners might have found bison similar to the buffalo of Asia and Africa, which are completely different creatures.
- The Plains Indians employed many methods in hunting bison. In one of the most dramatic, the hunters herded the animals over the edges of cliffs, collecting their bodies below.
- By 1889, when Smithsonian naturalist William Hornaday published his report The Extermination of the American Bison, only a few hundred animals survived. This publication contributed to the last-ditch efforts taken at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries to save the species from extinction.
- In 1904, William Hornaday and Theodore Roosevelt founded The American Bison Society, their efforts leading to the creation of four national bison preserves by 1913. By the 1920s, the survival of the species was assured. The Bison: American Icon is on exhibit at the Pink Palace Museum January 28 through May 25, 2012.
The Highsmith Collection of Indian pottery
Ongoing
This amazing array of 15th century Native American pottery comes from the collection of Memphian M.V. Highsmith. The artifacts, recently donated to the Pink Palace Museum by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, were all discovered at the Belle Meade archaeological site near Hughes, Arkansas by Highsmith, an avid hunter and gifted gunsmith who lives in East Memphis. He had an early interest in archaeology and noticed the numerous mounds and village sites on his hunting trips, collecting artifacts over several years.
The pottery vessels are exquisite examples of Mississippian Indian potters’ craftsmanship during the late prehistoric period in the Central Mississippi Valley. The 255 completely-intact vessels are in exquisite condition and many of them are beautifully-decorated with painting, incising, punctuation, engraving and noding. The Belle Meade site, one of the best preserved remaining Mississippian villages in the area, was occupied for a short period, between 1400 and 1600 A.D. Made of backswamp clays and ground mussel shells, low-fired pottery was vitally important to these Native American people. Clay jars and bowls were used in the preparation and storage of food. Embellished with simple decorative designs, the vessels often had strap handles. Frequently painted, engraved and appliqued with esoteric symbols, many of the bottles and jars were used to prepare sacred medicines used in rituals.
Greatest Little Show on Earth
Clyde Parke minature circus
Ongoing
In 1930, Clyde Parke lost his job and found his passion, carving a miniature circus. He was eight when he saw his first real circus and became hooked enough to try building his own tiny circuses.
When the Depression hit and Mr. Parke had time on his hands, he turned to his circus passion and began constructing a 1-inch-to-1-foot scale model of a three-ring Big Top Circus. He never stopped. Mr. Parke carved and mechanized acrobats, horses, clowns, animals, sideshows, wagons, barkers and concession stands for up to 18 hours a day, every day for 30 years.
There’s a 15-foot rigged canvas Big Top, menagerie, side shows, cook tent, blacksmith, shop, dressing tent, street parades, grand entry parade and horse tent. There are fifty horse-drawn wagons, one hundred horses, chariots and 60 menagerie animals. There’s a barker, sword swallower, fan dancer, snake charmer, clowns and magician pulling rabbits from a hat. In all there are 2000 people including drivers, performers, roustabouts and an audience of 1500…and 98% are animated.
Everything runs off a single one-half horsepower motor that ingeniously drives the belts and pulleys that swing the acrobats, move the animals and pull the Grand Parade at a speed of one-half mile every two hours!
The days of the tent-show circus with wagons and grand street parades are gone. So is the depression that inspired Clyde Parke to focus on his fantasy. In 1970, Mr. Parke donated his “Greatest Little Show on Earth” to the Memphis Pink Palace Museum, hoping, “children of all ages who see my miniature circus can form a picture in their minds of those “good ole days.”
Circus schedule:
The circus schedule daily: 10-10:30 am, 12-12:30 pm, 2-2:30 pm, 3:30-4 pm
CTI IMAX® Theater
PLEASE NOTE TICKET PRICES: $8.25 Adults, $7.50 Seniors, $6.50 Children (3-12)
PLEASE NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBERS: Showtimes/tickets/reservations, 901.636.2362
3050 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38111
The Light Before Christmas
November 19 through December 31, 2011
The classic holiday poem, The Night Before Christmas, comes to life in this stop-motion animated IMAX film featuring a brother and sister, and their friend, The Candleman. A little holiday magic also takes you behind the scenes to see artists creating sets and characters, and animators bringing the script to life. Sponsored by WREG TV, KIX 106 & WYPL.
Santa vs. The Snowman<
November 19 through December 31, 2011
This heart-warming, animated holiday film is a family favorite. Meet Santa, the Snowman and all the elves and reindeer at the North Pole in this story of holiday spirit and friendship. Sponsored by WREG TV, KIX 106 & WYPL.
The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti
June 25, 2001 through March 2, 2012
Plunge into the jaws of Tahiti's famed Teahupo'o, with the world's best surfer, Kelly Slater, on a voyage of adrenaline-drenched discovery. Ride with Kelly as he challenges Tahiti's toughest wave and at the same time, understand how waves influence and shape our entire planet.
Legends of Flight
March 5 through November 11, 2011
In the history of aviation truly radical aircraft designs come along only once in a generation. Strap in and experience aerial innovation at the dawn of a new era in flight transportation. Legends of Flight will give you an insider’s view of how a modern aircraft is built, and make you privy to the manufacturing challenges and incredible financial risks companies assume when they embark on state-of-the-art new designs. Sponsored by Crew Training International.
Hubble
January 8, 2011 through January 6, 2012
Take a journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings. With narration by lifelong stargazer Leonardo DiCaprio, Hubble explores the legacy of the Hubble Space Telescope and its impact on our understanding of the universe and our place in it. Strap yourself in; the countdown has begun. Sponsored by Trustmark Bank.
Sharpe Planetarium
PLEASE NOTE TICKET PRICES: $4.50 Adults, $4 Seniors, $4 Children (3-12). Open
Tuesday-Saturdays only.
PLEASE NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBERS: Showtimes/tickets/reservations, 901.636.2362
3050 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38111
Star of Wonder
November 19 through December 31, 2011
Planetarium Holiday Show
This reverent program explores the mystery “star” sighted by the Magi and recorded in the gospel according to Mathew. Using scientific principles to investigate this mystery leads us to some possible candidates for the Nativity Star and possibly a more accurate date for the birth of Jesus. Science can only take us so far and leaves each of us to decide for ourselves the true nature of The Star of the Magi.
Dark Matters
September 10 through November 12, 2011
Centuries ago, Shakespeare wrote, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Commanding much of astronomers’ attention in recent years are the mysteries of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Explore how these invisible entities affect our universe.
Autumn Nights
September 17 through December 10, 2011
Here are the stars that shine in the fall night sky along with meteor showers, such
as the Orionids, Leonids and Geminids. Learn the fascinating Greek mythology behind
the constellations including the hero Perseus and his mighty winged horse, Pegasus!
Lichterman Nature Center
Regular admission: $6 Adults, $5.50 Seniors, $4.50 children (3-12).
Tickets/reservations 901.767.7322, x 121. Tues – Thurs, 9am to 4pm and Fri & Sat, 9am to 5pm
5992 Quince Road Memphis, TN 38119
Lichterman Volunteer Native Plant Sale
Regular admission: $6 Adults, $5.50 Seniors, $4.50 children (3-12).
Tickets/reservations 901.767.7322, x 121. Tues – Thurs, 9am to 4pm and Fri & Sat, 9am to 5pm
5992 Quince Road Memphis, TN 38119
Plant Pointers Garden Lectures
12:00 noon, 11/16/11, 1/18/12, 2/15/12, 3/20/12, etc.
Admission & parking to Plant Pointers is free.
Find out about all things ‘garden’ from area experts. With a different subject the third Wednesday of every month (except December), your green thumb will stay up-to-date and ready to dig.
Scarecrows at Lichterman
September 8 through November 18, 2011
See the coolest, greenest and even scariest scarecrow around! Scores of
Scarecrows--fun, colorful, ecological, educational, whimsical, serious, alien and otherwise--in Lichterman’s natural habitats and gardens, conveying message on conservation, ecology, recycling and planting for wildlife. A collaborative effort of the Memphis Area Master Gardeners, District 1 of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs and more.
Wild Lunch at Lichterman
Tuesdays through Saturdays at noon
Watch the Backyard Wildlife Center’s animal keepers feed the animals at 12 noon.
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday: Box Turtle; Wednesday: Red Tailed Hawk; Friday:
Snakes.
Wild Lunch at Lichterman<http://www.memphismuseums.org/li-event_program-13505/>
Conducted the 4th Saturday of the month
Organized by Volunteer Mid-South.
Trail Blazers help keep our pathways clear. Bring your gloves and we'll provide the
hot chocolate.
Events
