Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art, Memphis (must see)

The Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art is one of downtown Memphis’s more unexpected cultural stops. Established in 1998, it grew out of the private collection of Memphis entrepreneurs Jack and Marilyn Belz and has since developed into a museum devoted mainly to Asian and Judaic art. Its collection totals more than 1,000 objects, giving visitors a compact but richly detailed experience that feels like a remarkable private collection opened to the public.

The Asian collection is the museum’s best-known feature and is considered one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the southern United States. Much of it focuses on the Qing period, China’s last imperial dynasty, which ruled from 1644 to 1911. Visitors can see tapestries, furniture, carvings, jade pieces, porcelain, ivory, decorative objects. Because of its exceptional jade works, the museum is sometimes informally known as “The Jade Museum.”

The Judaic section, which is housed inside a dedicated gallery area within the main museum space, gives the venue a second distinct identity. It includes ceremonial objects, artworks, and items connected to Jewish faith, history, and culture. Among the artists represented are Ofra Friedland, Daniel Kafri, Marc Chagall, and Mané-Katz, with Daniel Kafri’s 32 bronze sculptures standing out as a particular highlight.

The Belz Museum provides a quieter counterpoint to Memphis’s music, nightlife, and riverfront attractions. Its beautiful Dynasty Room can be reserved for the museum's "Emperor's Lunch and Tour" package, which offers groups of 25 or more a guided tour paired with a catered boxed lunch and beverage. Finally, the museum shop offers cards, gifts, and accessories inspired by Asian and Judaic themes.