The Peabody Memphis

Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the original Peabody Hotel opened as a symbol of wealth and prestige in 1869. Named for philanthropist George Peabody, it quickly became the business and social hub of Memphis, and in 1925, was rebuilt on its present Union Avenue location. In 1933, General Manager Frank Schutt returned from a weekend hunting trip and mischievously placed live duck decoys in the hotel’s lobby fountain; it was a stunt that became the genesis of the hotel’s unique signature tradition, the "Peabody Duck March." As Memphis experienced economic decline in the mid-1970s, The Peabody closed its doors; however, the "South’s Grand Hotel" would not stay shuttered for long. It reopened in 1981 after an extensive restoration and breathed new life into downtown Memphis. A member of Historic Hotels of America since 1996, this spectacular holiday destination has since remained one of Tennessee's best vacation retreats.