South City Museum and Cultural Center will showcase the profound cultural and historic impact of South Memphis. Opening 2027.
Join us in honoring the history of South Memphis as we celebrate the future of one of Memphis' oldest African American neighborhoods.
LEARN ABOUT OUR MISSION
This three-story building is planned as a mixed-use space, with nonprofit and commercial tenants anticipated for the first floor and residential units on the upper levels. Final uses are still being refined—stay tuned as the vision for this important community anchor continues to take shape.
This newly constructed building expands the Early Childhood Education Center, housing four of its ten classrooms. Located just off Building 2, it features outdoor playgrounds on both sides and supports the center’s mission to provide high-quality early learning for neighborhood families.
Formerly the cafeteria of MLK Transition Academy, this renovated facility now serves as the main entrance to the Early Childhood Education Center operated by Porter-Leath. The center will welcome up to 160 children and features classrooms, a nursing room, a commercial kitchen, offices, playgrounds, and multipurpose spaces.
The former boys’ gym at Lauderdale and Georgia will become the primary exhibit hall for the South City Museum and Cultural Center. This space will serve as the main entrance and exit for visitors, anchoring the museum’s future public experience.
Connected to the boys’ gym, the former girls’ gym, with its adjoining locker rooms and classrooms, will be transformed into additional museum and cultural center space. These areas will support future exhibits, programming, and community engagement throughout the museum campus.
South City Museum and Cultural Center will anchor Porter Jr. Hi., a mixed-use community redevelopment in the heart of South Memphis. The campus will also be home to the South City Early Childhood Education Center while creating space for nonprofit initiatives, offices, housing, and commercial ventures.
Explore the VisionThis three-story building is planned as a mixed-use space, with nonprofit and commercial tenants anticipated for the first floor and residential units on the upper levels. Final uses are still being refined—stay tuned as the vision for this important community anchor continues to take shape.
This newly constructed building expands the Early Childhood Education Center, housing four of its ten classrooms. Located just off Building 2, it features outdoor playgrounds on both sides and supports the center’s mission to provide high-quality early learning for neighborhood families.
Formerly the cafeteria of MLK Transition Academy, this renovated facility now serves as the main entrance to the Early Childhood Education Center operated by Porter-Leath. The center will welcome up to 160 children and features classrooms, a nursing room, a commercial kitchen, offices, playgrounds, and multipurpose spaces.
Connected to the boys’ gym, the former girls’ gym, with its adjoining locker rooms and classrooms, will be transformed into additional museum and cultural center space. These areas will support future exhibits, programming, and community engagement throughout the museum campus.
The former boys’ gym at Lauderdale and Georgia will become the primary exhibit hall for the South City Museum and Cultural Center. This space will serve as the main entrance and exit for visitors, anchoring the museum’s future public experience.
South City Museum and Cultural Center will anchor Porter Jr. Hi., a mixed-use community redevelopment in the heart of South Memphis. The campus will also be home to the South City Early Childhood Education Center while creating space for nonprofit initiatives, offices, housing, and commercial ventures.
Explore the VisionExplore the notable people, places, and events of South Memphis — and submit your own.
See the Hall of History
In June 2025, the South City Museum and Cultural Center launched the first issue of its quarterly newsletter to keep stakeholders and the community informed about the project’s progress. Each issue shares updates, highlights milestones, and showcases the stories and people shaping the museum. Community members are encouraged to subscribe and stay connected.
The South City Museum and Cultural Center unveiled a new logo, designed by Baby Grand, along with a fresh color palette to guide the development of its website. An abstract map of South Memphis accompanies the design, honoring the neighborhood’s boundaries and identity. While the map remains a conceptual element, the logo and visual branding set the tone for the museum’s digital presence, reflecting its commitment to celebrating the history and culture of South Memphis.
The South City Museum and Cultural Center established its Capital Campaign Committee to lead fundraising efforts for a $22.5 million goal, including a $5 million endowment. The committee made up of community leaders Willie Gregory, Estella Mayhue-Greer, Tyrone Burroughs, Loise Stockton, and Rodney Herenton, began meeting to develop strategies and plans, laying the groundwork for the museum’s long-term financial sustainability. Their first strategy session was held in the summer of 2025.
