What makes Memphis' Dixon Gallery & Gardens shine? Contemporary art, robust gardens & more

After Graceland, it is perhaps Memphis' most visited former private home. And, unlike Graceland, you can tour this house and its gardens for free.

The Dixon Gallery & Gardens sits in the heart of East Memphis at Cherry Road and Park Avenue, across from the much-larger Memphis Botanic Garden. While the Dixon, which opened in 1976, sits just off a busy street across from Audubon Golf Course, it is often overlooked on any list of Memphis places to visit.

"The Dixon is kind of a hidden gem and has a variety of wonderful things to experience, including world-class galleries and education programs," said Kevin Sharp, director of the Dixon. "And we are a 17-acre park that is absolutely gorgeous in the heart of the Memphis. Given how many great things Memphis has, from Graceland to Sun Studio to Beale Street, the things that are top of the mind to visit, we'd like (people) to think about the Dixon."

Sharp says the museum has traditional Old Masters' artwork, including a Renoir, and contemporary pieces, with a strong Memphis tint that represents the city's "visual arts community."

The Dixon's Gardens shine year round, but Sharp says spring showcases an explosion of tulips. And he noted the hardwood forest is impressive. A cutting garden near the Dixon greenhouse serves a dual purpose: It is where workers get the rotating collection of fresh flowers inside the museum while visitors see a variety of perennials they could grow in their gardens. In addition, the garden includes a pavilion and outdoor area for weddings and receptions, available for rental.

How did the Dixon Gallery & Gardens start?

Sixty-six years ago, cotton merchant Hugo Norton Dixon established The Hugo Dixon Trust, a charitable and educational foundation. After Dixon and his wife, Margaret Oates Dixon, died in 1974, the Trust receive the couple’s residence, their 17-acre property, art collection, financial assets and the rest of their estate. The Trust was later re-established as a foundation.

The original 1941 residence designed by Houston, Texas, architect John Staub and the gardens designed by Mr. Dixon and his sister, Hope Crutchfield, became the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. The Dixon was chartered as a not-for-profit corporation and opened in 1976.

The 26 paintings in Margaret and Hugo Dixon’s private collection became the start of the museum’s permanent collection. In 1977, the construction of eight new galleries on the east side of the residence was completed and opened that same year. The museum further expanded in 1986, adding 15,030 square feet, a museum shop and a 250-seat auditorium. A year later, additional office space and a multi-purpose room were added totaling 2,500 square feet.

Mark Russell is executive director of The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at [email protected] or 901-288-4509.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Dixon Gallery & Gardens in Memphis: Take a look inside this hidden gem