Victorian Village
The Basics
Most Memphis city tours pass through Victorian Village, which officially comprises 14 historic properties, a dozen of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three houses—the Magevney House, Mallory-Neely House, and Woodruff-Fontaine House—are now museums with original period furniture. The James Lee House operates as an upscale bed-and-breakfast, and the Mollie Fontaine Lounge has become a trendy cocktail bar serving modern Southern comfort food. The other homes can only be viewed from the outside.
Things to Know Before You Go
Victorian Village is a must-see for architecture and history buffs.
Wear comfortable shoes to for a self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood.
The Mollie Fontaine Lounge and the first floors of the Mallory-Neely House and Woodruff-Fontaine House are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
The homes of Victorian Village run along Adams Avenue on the east side of Downtown Memphis. It’s easy to get there on foot from downtown.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
It’s possible to take in the sights of Victorian Village anytime, but you’ll want to visit during daytime hours to tour the museums or in the evening to sip a cocktail at the Mollie Fontaine Lounge, where there’s live music on the weekends.
History of Victorian Village
From 1845 to 1890, when the dozen or so Victorian-style homes along Millionaire’s Row were being built, this stretch of Adams Avenue was on the outskirts of Memphis. As the neighborhood grew in prestige, wealthy riverboat and cotton tycoons scrambled to establish residencies in this trendy area. Eventually Memphis grew past the area, and by the end of World War II, many of the elite families abandoned their Victorian Village mansions.