How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Part 3

When I moved to Memphis, my main focus was finding a job (which took FOREVER) and getting settled in my new house. I didn’t do any of the touristy stuff. I’m trying to make up for some of that. So, yesterday DD and I toured the National Ornamental Metal Museum. The museum is tucked away in a very old part of town on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The main building houses lots of small items, including an extensive collection of enameled pieces, jewelry and small sculptures. Throughout the house and grounds are examples of grillwork and fences. Here’s DD trying to get some money out of this turn-of-the-century teller’s cage. Those little spikes are SHARP!

Here’s one of the more interesting bits of fencing. Can you imagine an entire fence made of this design? It must have been quite the talk of the town when it was installed!

There is also a display of creative barbeque grills on the grounds. They were made of ammunition boxes, car doors, all sorts of tanks and tubes. But, this one was my favorite. It’s not only a grill, it’s the entire picnic. I give you the Stretch Jalopy Grill.

Whimsy and general weirdness greets you at every turn. For instance, have you ever seen a rubber chicken….made of metal?

In the “weirdness” area, I was oddly fascinated by this menacing fountain. I can’t explain why.

There is a blacksmith shop, but he wasn’t actively engaged in smithing at the moment, so we took no pictures. We did enjoy looking at the amazing array of tools and equipment he had, though. I figured a blacksmith would use a furnace and an anvil and that would be about it. Not so. There were all sorts of huge mashers, pressers, rollers, benders and assorted smashing thingies.

After we cruised through the exceptionally good gift shop, DD took a break to research what interesting attraction we might explore next…while this owl read over her shoulder.

We didn’t make a decision, but this is Elvis Week here in Memphis. (Those who are less reverent refer to it as “Dead Week.”) I thought about going out to Graceland to take photos of all the Elvis folk wandering around. But, I decided I didn’t care to fork over the somewhat pricey entry fee just to gawk. So, I assigned DD and her photographer friend to take pix tomorrow when they work the event. Maybe I’ll have something to show you. We’ll have to wait and see.