The Metal Museum's New Home: Your Updated Guide to Overton Park

Plan Your Visit to Overton Park

First Up, the Metal Museum

The Metal Museum is moving from its longtime home overlooking the Mississippi River to Overton Park. The new campus gives the museum lots more room for exhibitions, education, and hands-on metalworking, including dedicated studio space and expanded community programming. It should be one of your first stops when visiting the park!

The bigger galleries are the perfect showcase for the museum’s permanent collections and rotating exhibits. Two new exhibits will debut along with the museum’s Grand Opening on September 5 – read all about it here. Plan your visit around a free family fun day or an amazing public demonstration of a metalworking skill. And don’t miss the free, year-round Sculpture Walk, with gorgeous, large-scale art to admire. 

There’s also a full restaurant and a rooftop terrace overlooking the surrounding greenspace. Overton Park is a great setting for the world’s only museum of this kind!

Talk to the Animals

We can’t talk about Overton Park without talking about one of Memphis’ biggest attractions: the Memphis Zoo. Home to more than 3,500 animals representing more than 500 species, the zoo has been a Memphis must-visit for over a century. 

The zoo is big enough to make a full day of it, so give yourself a few hours. And if you’ve got kids in tow, plan accordingly – they do like to dawdle in Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Animals of the Night, China, and … well, all of the exhibits! 

Wander Through the Old Forest

The Old Forest is one of Overton Park’s gems: a genuine old-growth forest tucked inside the city. It’s crisscrossed by walking trails, and the perfect place to slow down after a museum visit. Bring a water bottle, wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, and wander without an agenda.

Hit the Trails

Walk, hike, or stroll your choice of trails: Limestone Loop Trail is a 1.4-mile soft-surface running loop. The longer Old Forest Dirt Trails take you on a nearly 4-mile exploration of the forest. Two miles of paved trails are popular with cyclists, and last but not least, the iconic Bike Gate Plaza serves as a trailhead for the Hampline and Shelby Farms Greenline, linking Overton Park to citywide trail systems.

Spread Out on the Greensward

If you can’t get enough of the outdoors, head for Overton Park’s beautiful, wide-open greensward. Bring a blanket and a book. Toss a Frisbee. Let the kids run around. Have a picnic. People-watch. Lie in the grass and stare at the clouds for a while. No itinerary required! 

Catch a Show at the Overton Park Shell

No Overton Park guide would be complete without the Shell. The historic open-air venue has been a Memphis music institution for decades, and its free concert series remains one of the city's best summer traditions. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab some food and drinks, and settle in for live music under the trees.

The Rainbow Connection

If you’re visiting Overton Park with little ones, make time for Rainbow Lake Playground.

The adventure-style play space is near Rainbow Lake and the park’s walking trails, making it easy to combine with a family stroll or picnic. If the kiddos want slides, swings, and space to run, head for the East Park Playground.

Dogs Welcome!

Overton Park is a favorite for four-legged Memphians, and Overton Bark gives pups a dedicated place to run off-leash and socialize with their doggie pals. (Just remember that dogs should remain leashed throughout the rest of the park.)

Play a Few Holes at Overton Park 9

Squeeze in a round of golf at Overton Park 9, a public nine-hole course inside the park, weaving through the Old Forest. Originally built in 1907, the course got a huge renovation in 2021, including the clubhouse. It’s short, fun, and lots more relaxed than spending the day at a country club.

Stroll Through the Formal Gardens

If you’d like a little peace and quiet, the Formal Gardens are the perfect spot. Landscaped paths, symmetrical plantings, shade, and benches make this a lovely place for a slower stroll, a few photos, or just some downtime between activities. A relatively new addition, the pollinator garden, features native plants that attracted 270 insect species in its first season. 

Spend Time at Veterans Plaza

This is another place for peace and quiet – two acres honoring local veterans. The space has pathways, reflective spaces, benches, and commemorative markers. You’ll find it between the Greensward and the Formal Gardens. 

Make It A Day

The beauty of Overton Park is that you really don't have to choose between activities. It's not just one destination; it’s a collection of Memphis favorites gathered in one place. And with the Metal Museum adding even more art and creativity to the mix, you’ve got the perfect reason to rediscover it right now.

HOURS & ADMISSION

Overton Park: Open daily from dawn until dusk, no admission cost

Metal Museum: Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm; free admission on Thursdays for Tennessee residents; ticket prices range from $4-$8 with free admission for children 5 and under; book tours online. 

Memphis Zoo: Weekdays, 9am to 5pm; weekends 9am to 6pm; ticket prices vary, go online to find out more.

Overton Park Shell: Schedule for the 2026 concert series is here; admission is free

Overton 9: Book your tee time here; green fees start at $12