The Peabody Memphis is the grand historic hotel on Union Avenue in the heart of downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The current 13-story building opened in 1925, and its Italian Renaissance Revival facade, topped by the glowing “The Peabody” rooftop sign, has been a downtown landmark ever since. Locals often call it “the South’s Grand Hotel,” and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The hotel is famous for the Peabody Ducks. Every day at 11 a.m., a small flock of mallards rides the elevator down from their rooftop “Duck Palace,” marches along a red carpet to the tune of John Philip Sousa’s “King Cotton March,” and spends the day splashing in the travertine marble fountain in the Grand Lobby. At 5 p.m. they march back out again. The tradition dates to the 1930s, and the hotel even has an official Duckmaster who leads the parade.
Beyond the ducks, the Grand Lobby is one of the city’s favorite gathering spots, with its ornate ceiling, balconies and lobby bar where visitors stop for a drink and a bit of people-watching. The hotel offers guest rooms and suites, on-site dining, a spa, shops and event and ballroom spaces, plus a rooftop with views across downtown and toward the Mississippi River.
The Peabody is a short walk from Beale Street, FedExForum, AutoZone Park and the Orpheum Theatre, making it an easy base for exploring downtown Memphis. Even if you are not staying overnight, arriving early to catch the duck march in the lobby is one of the classic Memphis experiences.
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