The Most Famous Hotel In Tennessee Is Also One Of The Most Historic Places You'll Ever Sleep
By Meghan Kraft|Published February 03, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
The city of Memphis, Tennessee sits on the banks of the grand Mississippi River on the western side of the state. It lies on a natural bluff, and the area was first settled by Native Americans for its prime location. The Chickasaw Native Americans later called the area home, and it wasn’t until the 16th century that French settlers made their way to the area. The city of Memphis was founded in 1819, and the original Peabody Hotel wasn’t far behind in 1869. Known potentially as the most historic hotel in Tennessee, this Memphis gem is famous for the “Peabody Ducks” and its membership within the Historic Hotels of America.
The current rendition of the Peabody is located on Union Avenue in Memphis, and it was designed by Walter W. Ahlschlager, a Chicago architect. The hotel experienced years of surplus and famine alongside the fluctuation of the Tennessee economy through the 20th century, but it was eventually purchased and renovated for a grand reopening in 1981.
The original hotel, pictured here around 1898, was built on the corner of Main and Monroe Streets in 1869. The hotel was built by local businessman Robert Campbell Brinkley, and it was named to honor a dear friend, George Peabody. Peabody was known globally for his philanthropy and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in England for his generosity. It’s quite the legacy for the Peabody Hotel!
Known as one of the most iconic hotels in the city of Memphis, this luxury hotel has been renovated and enhanced repeatedly since its original 1869 opening. There are 464 guestrooms and suites available for reservation, and the timelessness of the location is elevated by an emphasis on both contemporary and historic design. The well-known "Peabody Hotel" neon sign burns high above the building, a beacon of extravagance in downtown Memphis.
The hotel’s exquisite design lends itself to music, TV, and radio programs, and headliners at the hotel have included Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra as well as the Andrews Sisters. Musical acts visited the top floor of the hotel, the Skyway Ballroom, for live shows. There are 13 floors total at the Peabody Hotel, but due to industry superstition, you must press floor "S" in the elevator to reach it. The top floor also plays host to the rooftop and Duck Palace.
The duck palace?! The Peabody hotel is perhaps best known for its historic march of the ducks, a custom that dates all the way back to the 1930s. The Peabody Duck March is a sight to behold and takes place every day at 11 a.m. The Peabody ducks are escorted from the penthouse to the lobby, and they march to the hotel fountain where they spend the day until 5 p.m. Led by a Duckmaster, the role is well respected and has been held by celebrities like Paula Deen, Kevin Bacon, and Queen Noor of Jordan.
Here you can see an undated shot of the historic hotel, and even through the gloom of a sepia-toned photograph, you can see the upscale design that gave the Peabody Hotel its luxurious reputation.
A stay at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee is unlike any other stay in the Volunteer State. Make sure you check the hotel’s event calendar for summertime "Rooftop Parties" as well as on-site conferences and holiday occasions throughout the year.
You can find out more about the Peabody Hotel either on its official website or Facebook page. The hotel is a true gem on the western side of the state, and it remains one of the most historic hotels in Tennessee and Memphis. Have you been? Make sure you leave your own experiences in the comments!
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