Bridging Memphis’ celebrated past with its cosmopolitan present, The Peabody Memphis is a landmark downtown hotel known for its grand, marble-columned lobby as well as its resident ducks, whose daily parade to the hall's fountain is a tradition that dates back to 1933.
Established in 1869, this luxurious award-winning hotel offers 464 opulently decorated and furnished guest rooms with modern amenities, fine dining and unparalleled guest service.
Located on Union Avenue, the Peabody Hotel was originally designed by noted Chicago architect Walter Ahlschlager and built in an Italian Renaissance style. Having undergone numerous renovations throughout the years, the hotel has been restored to its former glory and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Peabody is probably best known for its custom of keeping ducks in the lobby fountain. In 1933 the General Manager of the hotel at the time, Frank Schutt, thought it amusing to leave his live English Call Duck decoys in the hotel fountain after a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas. Guests loved it, and as a result five Mallard ducks have played in the fountain every day since. The Peabody Ducks, as they are known, make a daily march to the fountain each day, drawing crowds to watch the delightful procession.