AveniAdventures
  • aveniadventure
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Peabody Hotel

2/9/2016

1 Comment

 

Known the world over, the Peabody hotel is one of the top attractions in Memphis. A few months ago, our son, Carl, and his wife, Valerie, stayed here and upon learning that our travels would take us to Memphis, encouraged us to have a look at it.

www.peabodymemphis.com

It is luxuriously appointed, with the lobby centerpiece being a beautiful water fountain, sculptured from a single piece of Italian marble. What makes this fountain even more memorable is the fact that it serves as the daytime home of the "Peabody Ducks." Precisely at 11:00am each day, the five mallards (1 drake and 4 hens) are paraded from the rooftop "Duck Palace"; herded into an elevator; and then marched across a red carpet to the lobby fountain. It is a huge spectacle! At 5:00 pm, the process is reversed, so the ducks can spend the night in their rooftop accommodation.

YouTube - Peabody Ducks on Animal Planet's Most Outrageous Pet Digs.

One day, following the morning ritual, we met with the current Duck Master, Anthony, who gave us a wonderful two hour tour of the hotel. We learned that many famous folks have stayed at the Peabody (e.g. Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Queen Noor of Jordan, and every U.S. President since Harry Truman). We had a fabulous time! The staff at the Peabody were all very friendly and helpful, especially Anthony.

Picture
The Peabody hotel, circa 1921.
Picture
The beautiful marble fountain, as seen from the mezzanine. All of the flowers are kept fresh daily.
Picture
Duck Master Anthony delivering his introduction just before the Duck March...
Picture
...and here they come...
Picture
...finally entering the fountain.
Picture
The official "Legend of the Ducks."
Picture
The Memorabilia Room on the mezzanine level.
Picture
Included here is an original brass cash register from the first Peabody...
Picture
...and an early telephone, also from the original hotel.
Picture
Elvis Presley's signing bonus contract with RCA records, which was signed in the lobby in 1955.
Picture
The shoeshine stand from the first Peabody hotel.
Picture
Current Duck Master, Anthony, in front of a portrait of Edward Pembroke, the first Duck Master. He served in that position for 51 years.
Picture
Location of the rooftop Duck Palace. The front of the building was designed to hide the maintenance equipment for the hotel, while the Duck Palace is around back.
Picture
The ducks have their very own pool within the living quarters...
Picture
...along with a replica of the hotel.
Picture
None of the "wood" on the elaborate lobby ceiling is real, but rather plaster which is painted to look like wood.
Picture
Off the lobby is the Lansky Brothers Clothier store. They provided suits, shirts, and shoes for Elvis and many of his contemporaries (e.g. Johnny Cash etc.).
1 Comment
Tony Aveni
2/13/2016 07:22:31 am

Carl, I stayed at the Peabody several times on business in Memphis, specifically at FedEx. Great history. enjoy the city.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Carl and Lorraine  Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.