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
On April 1st, Porter-Leath opened its new Early Childhood Education Center, which is the first phase of the Porter Jr. High redevelopment—an important milestone for the South City Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. Designed to serve up to 160 children ages two to four, the center includes ten classrooms, a nursing room, a commercial kitchen, administrative space, a playground, and multipurpose rooms. The $16 million project was funded through federal, city, MHA, NMTC, and philanthropic support.
In mid-January 2026, the South City Museum and Cultural Center launched its updated website, transitioning from the initial project page to a more interactive and user-friendly platform. The new site debuts the final museum logo and features an improved layout designed to better share updates, engage visitors, and highlight the museum’s ongoing work. This enhanced digital presence supports broader community access as the project continues to grow.
The South City Museum and Cultural Center began engaging local youth through design charrettes with BTW and Soulsville Charter schools, led by Self+Tucker Architects. By involving young people in the design process, the museum ensures their voices are heard and they are active participants in preserving and shaping their community.
