Woodruff-Fontaine House
Woodruff-Fontaine House
4.5
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
An elegant, 16-room mansion built in 1870 and featuring period furnishings and mannequins displaying the fashions of the era.
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Neighbourhood: Victorian Village
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4.5
173 reviews
Excellent
109
Very good
45
Average
13
Poor
2
Terrible
4
Kathy Kat
6 contributions
Feb 2020
I have been visiting the Woodruff-Fontaine house for several years now, and each time I visit I discover something new. The staff is always changing up their exhibits, and they have different kinds of events going on all the time. I have literally been to visit during every kind of weather from bright & sunny to dark & dreary. It is extremely enjoyable no matter the weather! This is a great place for all those who love history, fashion, and unique experiences. I highly recommend.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula K
Iowa106 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We really enjoyed this tour! The home is spectacular and the antiques, even though most aren’t original, are wonderful. There is a Wooten desk and an English pub polyphon music box that worked. It played metal disks. The chandeliers are incredibly beautiful. The size and scope of the place is spectacular.You are allowed access to almost the entire mansion. We climbed the stairs from the 3 rd floor into the tower that gives you wonderful views of the area. Super cool!! We highly recommend this tour.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bookwormwendy
Denver, CO184 contributions
Sept 2013 • Family
Our family loves old homes, not just the architecture, the antiques, and the fascinating glimpse into another time and way of life but the stories of the people and of the cities. We have been in everything from log cabins and colonials to Victorians and antebellum homes and never tire of a good tour and this one was.
We were fortunate enough to come on a slow day and got our own personal tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and friendly and more than willing to answer our questions and talk with us. I enjoyed hearing more about the Woodruff and Fontaine families, of the yellow fever epidemic that was such a problem for the city, and of the mourning rituals of the day. I thought I knew most all of them and still learned something new today. They also have an impressive collection of textiles and antique clothing, something of interest to my daughter and myself. They have done a wonderful job preserving this place and its many stories.
Anyone who believes a home tour is only about looking at the house itself does not have their ears open as they follow their guide. There is so much more to a home tour than gawking at architecture and antiques, though I admit I enjoy doing so, there are things to be learned about how people have changed and how they haven't. How their stories have shaped our stories and led us to where we are today.
We were fortunate enough to come on a slow day and got our own personal tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and friendly and more than willing to answer our questions and talk with us. I enjoyed hearing more about the Woodruff and Fontaine families, of the yellow fever epidemic that was such a problem for the city, and of the mourning rituals of the day. I thought I knew most all of them and still learned something new today. They also have an impressive collection of textiles and antique clothing, something of interest to my daughter and myself. They have done a wonderful job preserving this place and its many stories.
Anyone who believes a home tour is only about looking at the house itself does not have their ears open as they follow their guide. There is so much more to a home tour than gawking at architecture and antiques, though I admit I enjoy doing so, there are things to be learned about how people have changed and how they haven't. How their stories have shaped our stories and led us to where we are today.
Written 22 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeepBlueDives
Denton, TX427 contributions
Apr 2013 • Couples
We visited this Historic House while killing some time on a rainy Memphis Day. We were very pleased with the visit, and it will open me to checking out more of these older houses here the next time we visit.
We got lucky with a tour by the Curator, right upon their opening. There are many neat artifacts from the period and a few originals from the houses older days.
I won't spoil the tour, but my little lady felt like she was being touched up on the 2nd floor, and accused me of touching and messing with her!
Another must do while in town!!!!
We got lucky with a tour by the Curator, right upon their opening. There are many neat artifacts from the period and a few originals from the houses older days.
I won't spoil the tour, but my little lady felt like she was being touched up on the 2nd floor, and accused me of touching and messing with her!
Another must do while in town!!!!
Written 7 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Melbourne, Australia2,017 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Whilst 2 of the other historic houses in Memphis, Magevney & Mallory-Neely are presently closed because of budget cuts, this is probably the best of the 3.
Entry is from the rear where the kitchen has been turned into a small administration area. After being shown features of the kitchen, unusually attached for a Victorian house our guide took us on a detailed tour of every room in the house.
This is a surprisingly large house even by today's standards; in the 19th century it must have been a mansion.
Unfortunately our guide was distracted by a small child who was part of our group and kept wandering off from his parents.
I noted one previous review that it was under-staffed, but certainly not on the day we went. Tours are every half hour and there were 2 running when we arrived and ours started right on time.
Entry is from the rear where the kitchen has been turned into a small administration area. After being shown features of the kitchen, unusually attached for a Victorian house our guide took us on a detailed tour of every room in the house.
This is a surprisingly large house even by today's standards; in the 19th century it must have been a mansion.
Unfortunately our guide was distracted by a small child who was part of our group and kept wandering off from his parents.
I noted one previous review that it was under-staffed, but certainly not on the day we went. Tours are every half hour and there were 2 running when we arrived and ours started right on time.
Written 18 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mstrydiner
Memphis, TN327 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
If you love architecture and history you would definitely be in the right place to visit a great example of the life for the more affluent Memphis family during the turn of the century. Been there many times and especially love the Christmas displays.
Written 30 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spr0ckets
Memphis, TN49 contributions
I LOVE this place. I've gone 5+ times and take visiting realtives and friends to check it out. From the legends of the hauntings of Molly Fontaine to the beautiful architecture it's one of few Victorian relics this city has. (Check out Molly Fontaine's Lounge bar across the street!!)
Written 15 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SGCAVER12
Dallas, TX275 contributions
My husband and I recently moved to Memphis and noticed that the city has a Victorian Village section. This is where the Woodruff-Fontaine House is located. You will need a car to get to the house as it's not on the trolley line or right downtown. There were 2 little old ladies there giving tours of the house. We were the only ones on the tour on this Saturday afternoon so we could take as long as we liked. I loved hearing the stories about the house and the neighborhood. It took about an hour or so and there is a victorian doll house out back as well. If you have an Entertainment book you can use the 2 for 1 ticket- otherwise it was $10 per person. Well worth it to know you are helping to support the restoration efforts.
Written 28 September 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
heidifrench
Cheadle, UK26 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
I absolutely loved this place, the atmosphere is electric, the house has been beautifully restored, all credit to the staff who work there, their knowledge is mind blowing, however they do not leave you alone to enjoy the place they do go on a bit too much!
Written 10 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff W
Marathon, FL48 contributions
June 2014 • Solo
Great museum tour. The house is absolutely stunning and you really get a feel for what it was like back in its day. Very informative and knowledgeable staff. Awsome piece of history! Dont miss this attraction!
Written 12 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I just visited the house on January 15th and they mentioned your story!
Written 28 January 2015
I loved the vist to this mansion. We had visited the Slave/Haven home just prior - which was only a mile or two from here - so it was interested to go from there to here and the what a difference. Both were of course a complete opposite. The home has been restored the best I have seen and the history is amazing. I will have to read more on the history of this home. Took many many pictures and didn't catch any orb's - but I have read many have been spotted and felt there. This mansion would be great for a wedding. Would recommend this place to visit to anyone.
Written 29 January 2015
On their website their hours are closed Monday and Tuesday and open Tuesday - Sunday from Noon - 4 PM. The admission was $10 for adults. We called first to make sure since it was during the holiday season. There was no answer at first - but the lady was kind and did call us back. You can visit their website directly from Trip Advisor. Has alot of information
Written 29 January 2015
It's $10 per person and the hours are noon to 4:00 Wednesday through Sunday. Most Entertainment Books have a buy one get free coupon on them.
Written 17 January 2015
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