User:Flutterf12/National Ornamental Metal Museum

Article Draft History
The National Ornamental Metal Museum was originally a hospital. The historic hospital first opened in 1884. This hospital’s main use was treating civil war patients; however, it was also used as a scientific research center to explore curing yellow fever.

Its estate was originally comprised of 6 buildings. These buildings were made up of a stable, a surgeon’s house, two wards, a nurse’s building, and an executive building. Now only the Nurses building, and the executive building remain in their most original forms. The rest of them were demolished in the New Deal Program/ by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930’s. It is stated on the official website that the two building were moved using wagons and mules while other buildings were added to the estate.

In the 1960’s the hospital closed. According to the Museum’s website the Ownership was transferred to the City of Memphis by the Heritage and Conservation Act which eventually led to the Metal Museum gaining the lease.

Jim Wallace was hired to orchestrate the metals museum in about 1977. After 1979, Lots of work and money has gone into renovation to make the Metal Museum an interactive place for learning. About $2.5 million went into creating the Blacksmith’s shop, the Lawler Foundry and the repairs and restoration lab, constructing a gazebo, and restoring the library. Wallace led the museum for almost thirty years and with his guidance the museum became a place for artist residencies, an official museum, and a library. He retired in 2007 after completing the renovations to pursue his own work.