What’s happening: The Metal Museum’s planned relocation and expansion into Overton Park received a welcome financial contribution from Shelby County earlier this week, with Shelby County Commissioners and Mayor Lee Harris presenting museum officials with a $250,000 check. The uniquely Memphis attraction plans a $25 million redevelopment of the shuttered Memphis College of Art’s Rust Hall at Overton Park.
Why it’s important: “We are committed to keeping the arts alive and flourishing in Shelby County,” says Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. “The Metal Museum enriches the lives of artists, students, and our community by providing essential resources such as educational programs, exhibitions, and collections. This helps elevate the region’s status as a hub for the arts.”
What it is: Touted as the only institution dedicated to fine metalwork in the United States, the Metal Museum first opened in 1979, renovating several buildings on the campus of a former U.S. Marine Hospital that itself opened in 1884 on the Mississippi riverfront.
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Metal MuseumA rendering of a renovated Rust Hall in Overton Park.
What’s planned: The Metal Museum plans
a $25 million redevelopment of Rust Hall, an architecturally significant building designed by noted Memphis architect Roy Harrover. The museum will add six-times the space for education as compared to its current site; a cafe overlooking the park; new gathering spaces, including a rooftop terrace; and more.
What it does: “This expansion is not only innovative and transformative but will also strengthen our outreach and educational programs,” says Carissa Hussong, Executive Director of the Metal Museum. “It signifies our commitment to accessibility and engagement so that the beauty and ingenuity of fine metalwork continues to inspire and enrich our community for years to come.”
The Metal Museum is currently located at 374 Metal Museum Dr. in Memphis.
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