MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Pink Palace Museum was evacuated Wenesday when a fire ignited during renovations of the planetarium.
Contractors were welding the HVAC system when the wall insulation and combustible materials caught fire, which quickly spread through the room.
The flames were bought until control within about 20 minutes of firefighters’ arrival.
Approximately 50 employees and between 300 and 400 visitors were safely evacuated.
The planetarium is currently under a multi-million dollar renovation.
It is not know when then museum will reopen.
The Pink Palace is a science and historical museum. The ‘mansion’ part of the museum was built in 1923 by Clarence Saunders who founded the Piggly Wiggly chain, though he never lived in the house.
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