by Chris Pepple
Safe spaces allow us to let our guard down and relax. We can take our kids to a playground and only worry about how we will get the dirt out of their clothes after they discover how to explore a natural play space. We can sit by the lake with friends or hike hand in hand with the person we love, enjoying the moment while discovering native wildflowers or spotting nesting birds. When a safe space is filled with natural beauty, a Discovery Forest playground, and a wildlife center, that is a bonus.
Tucked behind the trees near the busy intersection of Quince and Ridgeway, Lichterman Nature Center surprises visitors with quiet places to reconnect with nature, get steps in for the day, or relax with friends and family in the wildlife center, around the lake, or in the amphitheater. Visitors of all ages enjoy spotting sunning turtles, meeting wildlife during presentations, or practicing birdwatching skills with binoculars provided on site. The center is managed by Memphis Museums of Science and History and serves as a certified arboretum, with more than seventy species of native trees shading the hiking trails and circling the lake. Staff and volunteers work to ensure that all people have access to the Nature Center.
Though Lichterman Nature Center officially opened in 1983 as part of the Memphis museum system, its history reflects a past that is often overlooked. The land traces back to the Chickasaw Nation before becoming a working plantation in the 1800s. In 1928, Clarence Saunders purchased the property as a country estate designed for swimming, golf, and fishing. Bill Terry, former manager of the New York Giants, bought the estate in 1938, then sold it to brothers-in-law Ira Lichterman and William Loewenberg in 1944. In 1963, Ira Lichterman donated 12 acres and the log house to the city. Over time, the Lichterman and Loewenberg families made additional philanthropic gifts, helping create a 65-acre space where the community can pause, explore, and reconnect.
Today, the center is a place for all West Tennesseans and visitors to learn, explore, or simply relax. MoSH staff and volunteers continue to ensure that opportunities at the Nature Center are accessible and safe for all members of the community. Children can feel safe at spring and summer camps, with access to educational tools that encourage curiosity and discovery. Friends and families can hike or unwind across the grounds. Picnics offer simple moments of connection, though the geese may try to join in. Graduation parties, weddings, and birthday celebrations can all take place on site, with rental spaces open to the community. Pride shirts are welcome. Rainbow cakes are celebrated. Inclusion and respect are part of present-day programming. Come as a visitor. Sign up as a volunteer. Everyone is part of the beauty of this Memphis treasure.
