While we were in Memphis we visited the Pink Palace Museum (an ASTC member). The huge mansion was built by the founder of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain, Clarence Saunders. Things did not end well for Clarence as his empire was usurped by financial rivals before the home was finished. The property was later donated to the city and it became the home of the Memphis History Museum.
Inside we found a little bit of everything - part natural history, part science and part local history. They had an extensive collection of minerals and gems as well.
Rhesus Monkey
"Giant Owl Butterfly" Caligo memnon
Ventral View (belly)
When we saw the electron microscope below, Joani and I were both reminded of the response of a frustrated Dr. Frasier Crane to an obnoxious caller:
"Roger, at Cornell University they have an incredible piece of scientific equipment known as the Tunneling Electron Microscope. Now, this microscope is so powerful that by firing electrons you can actually see images of the atom, the infinitesimally minute building blocks of our universe. Roger, if I were using that microscope right now, I still wouldn't be able to locate my interest in your problem."
Walking through a replica of the first Piggly Wiggly really made us appreciate today's modern grocery stores especially when it came to the refrigerated and frozen foods sections.
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