Quick Facts State:  TN City:  Memphis Name:  Technical High School Nickname:  Yellowjackets Color1:  Royal Blue Color2:  Gold School District:  Memphis City School District. County:  Shelby Year Opened:  1878 Year Closed:  1987

Memphis Tech High School

Memphis Tech was one of the oldest high schools in Memphis, Tennessee. Organized in 1878 as an orphan school for boys, it went through several changes in name and location, settling into it's final location at 1266 Poplar St. in 1928 as Memphis Technical High School. The cost for the land and construction of the building was almost $600,000, a staggering amount for those times. It was supplied with the best furnishings and equipment available at the time and was considered one of the most advanced high schools in the country.

The outside of the school reflected the mansion that was razed to make way for the school. The four huge columns and portico adorning the entrance and two large urns atop the front stairway mimicked the original Van Fleet mansion, while two stone lions and a stone bench were actually salvaged from the mansion. The lions can still be seen at the entrance to the Memphis Zoo.

In the 1940's, Memphis Tech High School students and alumni showed their patriotism by sending over 2,000 young men into World War II.

Since closing Memphis Tech, Memphis City School District has used the building for Pyramid Academy and Northwest Preparatory Academy.

Memphis Tech High School, Tennessee State Championships