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Don’t call it a comeback: Pink Palace reverts to original name

By , Daily Memphian Updated: November 11, 2024 6:35 PM CT | Published: November 06, 2024 3:26 PM CT

Three years after a rebrand, the Pink Palace Museum & Mansion is reverting to its original name. 

The museum group’s leaders have begun to clarify the names of the museum on Central Avenue and its umbrella organization to quell confusion about its brand and locations. The direction also specifies the name of the property as its title for decades known by generations in the Mid-South.


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The museum’s spokespeople issued editorial guidelines on Oct. 29, clarifying that the umbrella organization is called MoSH for the Memphis Museums of Science & History, but the specific complex is the Pink Palace Museum & Mansion. The same goes for its other MoSH attractions, including the Lichterman Nature Center and the Mallory-Neely House. 

“That’s really what we’re trying to do now is really evolve the brand,” said Kevin Thompson, the museum group’s executive director.

“So, first, we had to kind of put the stake in the ground and … get the name recognition out there for MoSH and what it is. And now we’re starting to add the nuance of, ‘OK, put the locations back in,’ so we can be very specific about who we are. And it’s very strategic from our standpoint.”

In 2021, the museum group announced a rebrand to the MoSH name, in the works since 2019. The Pink Palace Family of Museums would be called MoSH, and the Pink Palace Museum & Mansion would be called MoSH at the Pink Palace. The organization also referred to the museum as “MoSH – Pink Palace” and “MoSH Central.” 

But the name change got some blowback from longtime citizens.

Topics

Memphis Pink Palace Museum Memphis Museum of Science & History Pink Palace Clarence Saunders Subscriber Only

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Julia Baker

Julia Baker

A lifelong Memphian, Julia Baker graduated from the University of Memphis in 2021. Other publications and organizations she has written for include Chalkbeat, Memphis Flyer, Memphis Parent magazine and Memphis magazine.


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