3764 Elvis Presley Blvd. It’s an address most Elvis fans know by heart because that’s where you’ll find Graceland. Graceland is THE place every Elvis must visit at least once in their lifetime. Not only was it Elvis’ home for 20 years, it has more artifacts and memories of his life and career than any other place on the planet. It’s important to Memphis’ economy as Graceland is the second most visited home in the United States, second only to the White House. With the constant flow of Elvis fans, there’s a lot of tourist dollars coming to this fairly poor region (estimated around $150,000,000/yr)….and always having been very loyal to and supportive of Memphis, Elvis would have liked that!
Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 when he was only 22 years old, for the then princely sum of $100,000. He wanted a retreat where he could relax with his parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley, away from his throngs of adoring fans. Graceland was almost 20 years old when he bought it and was named for the aunt of the original owners (Grace). The home is a nice (but certainly not extravagant) colonial style mansion that sits on an impressive 13 acre property. When Elvis bought the home, it was in a rural environment but in the past 50 years the sprawl of Memphis has engulfed it. Still, it’s a lovely setting and I know Elvis would be glad that it’s a place fans migrate to as they did when he was alive (they would congregate around the famous gates of the estate, waiting to see Elvis as he drove in and out of Graceland. Elvis almost ALWAYS stopped and said “hi” and signed autographs). Elvis enjoyed his home and never had any intention of leaving it or Memphis, which speaks highly of his love of the place because he could have lived anywhere in the world. But he wanted to be at Graceland and in Memphis because he felt comfortable, safe and grounded here.
When Elvis died so unexpectedly in 1977 the fate of Graceland was uncertain. While Elvis was a cash generating machine, he spent most of what he earned (on himself, gifts and the many charities he supported)(remember also that his manager, Colonel Parker, took 50%). Some thought the estate might need to sell Elvis’ home but fortunately Priscilla had the right idea. She knew that Elvis would want his fans to visit and enjoy his home so in 1982 she opened the home for public tours, These tours have been popular and financially very successful and even 35 years after Elvis’death, visits to Graceland are setting records. By some estimates, 750,000 will visit this year, a remarkable number and a testimony to Elvis’ enduring popularity and to the fondness and affection his fans have for him. It astounds me that many of the people who now are drawn to Graceland were not even born when Elvis was alive.
I’d first visited Graceland in 1989, just a few year after public tours began. In the intervening years, the Estate has greatly improved the exhibits and visitors’ experience. There’s a shopping mall across the street from which you buy your tours, have a variety of restaurants and gift shops to choose from, and special exhibits like Elvis’ Car collection and his privately owned planes. I was traveling with my baby brother (Ottoman) and this was his first visit to Memphis, so it was very great fun being able to share this visit to Graceland with him.
But enough background. If you’re an Elvis fan, you already knew most of this and you’re wanting the details. If you aren’t, then perhaps this is the place you finish reading and sample a few of the iconic photos of Graceland I’ve included before moving on to another blog post on TravelGumbo…
Touring Graceland:
This is what you’ll see and the order in which you ‘ll see it when you do the tour of Graceland (see also the accompanying photos arranged in the same order):
1) A van will shuttle you from the ticket office across the street to the front doors of Graceland. Here you enter a que and walk between the famous paired lions through the front doors. Inside the home you’ll see:
2) Living room, featuring Elvis’ custom-made massively-long sofa and coffee table. In the room behind this you’ll see his piano which Priscilla had crusted in gold for him. The piano room is framed by twin stained glass peacocks. There are many small personal items in the room, like this photo of Elvis’ parents and a portrait of a young Elvis.
3) Gladys and Vernon’s bedroom (Elvis’ bedroom and office were upstairs and have always been closed to the public and kept private).
(Staircase to upstairs, including this early portrait of Elvis. The upstairs is kept private for the family. No tours or tourists allowed on the second floor)
4) Dining room (Elvis was a night-owl and rarely ate dinner before 10 p.m)(in fact, he rarely saw the sun!)
5) Kitchen, the heart of the home. Cooks were available for Elvis and his entourage 24 hours a day. Elvis and his friends tended to congregate here a good portion of the time.
6) You walk downstairs to the Television room, famous for having 3 television sets side-by-side (Elvis was inspired to do this because President LBJ had a similar setup, so he could watch 3 newscasts simultaneously). There’s also a part of his record collection in the room.
7) Pool (billiard) room
8) Head back up the stairs to the “Jungle Room”, a gaudy room covered and lined by green shag carpet, with exotic tropical furniture and figurines. The room was designed to remind Elvis of his beloved Hawaii. It was in this room that Elvis recorded his final two albums, ‘Moody Blue” and “From Elvis Presley Blvd”.
9) You leave the home and walk past the Carport area to an…
10) Outside office (Vernon’s office)
11) You walk back outside to Elvis ‘Trophy Room”. To me the Trophy Room was the highlight of the tour and the room Elvis really would have wanted his fans to see. It was in this room that Elvis kept those honors presented to him and it has been modified during the years to include a historic account of his career highlights. The exhibits start with the Sun records years (including originals of all 5 records he released on this label), early career memorabilia, guitars, and features of his movie career (such as scripts, lobby cards and clothes) and stage performance. Most special to me was the “Hall of Gold” a long hall covered ceiling to floor by Elvis’ many gold and platinum records and the three Grammies he won (all for gospel records). The displays also include his wedding tuxedo, Priscilla’s wedding gown, the famous ’68 Comeback leather suit, and several of his early 1970s stage jumpsuits. Many of these items are illustrated at the bottom of this post.
12) You leave the trophy room and walk outside to the Racquetball court. When I first visited Graceland in the late 1980s this was not open to the public. Now you walk into a small gym area with a sitting lounge containing a piano (on which Elvis sat and played several songs during his last day on earth). Then you walk into the racquetball court itself which features hundreds of new gold and platinum records that have been awarded to Elvis since he died. These line all walls of the court and are a truly impressive sight. There are also several 1970s concert jumpsuits displayed here including the well known “Aloha from Hawaii” and “Aztec Sundial” suits. Again, photos of these are at the bottom of this blog.
13) As you walk out of the Racquetball court you pass the guitar-shaped pool and enter
14) The Meditation Garden. Created by Elvis as a small quiet place to relax and meditate. It is in this garden that Elvis, his parents, Gladys and Vernon, and his paternal grandmother are buried and the eternal flame burns. A somber, quiet respectful place. There are usually many flower displays and gifts from the fans. It is common to see tears as people pass Elvis’ grave.
15) After this you usually catch a van to return to the ticket office. We had “VIP tickets’ which included a special exhibit situated in the garage which was really fantastic! This included a new 10 minute video by Lisa Marie, Elvis daughter, talking about memories of her father (very positive and pleasant) and featuring select items from Elvis’ personal effects that she wanted to share with his fans. These include things like his personal clothes and jewelery, his desk, a sampling of his books (he was a voracious reader) and a sample of the way he liked to mark-up-their margins with his thoughts and comments. There are tons of photos of Lisa and her children, as well as things like her crib and baby clothes. It was well worth seeing and an interesting and unique glimpse in to Elvis’ personal life.
16) Be sure to stop at the famous Guitarman Graceland Gates, and look at some of the graffiti written on the wall. It is interesting and many of the phrases are quite moving.
We spent the entire day at Graceland and the shops and exhibits across the street, and by the end of the day we were tired but exhilarated! What a charismatic performer!! What a talent!!! What a legacy!!!!! What a great visit we’d had. So very special to have shared this day with my brother, who loves Elvis as much as I do.
I think everyone would find a visit to Graceland interesting. But for Elvis fans, it’s a MUST. Stay at the nearby Heartbreak Hotel, also owned by the estate, where your Elvis experience begins as you meet fans from around the world!
Some photos of some of the Elvis memorabilia from the Trophy Room and racquetball court:
Next Elvis post: A look at Elvis’ cars
You’ve put together an interesting tour DrF.
I never knew you got that up close and personal on a tour .
You mentioned the 2nd floor.
Do the family still live there ?
I’m surprised to see there’s no mention of his manager.
50% – wow – that’s some fee. Heard stories but never knew that was the figure.
There have been other cases of artists – of that time – being mis-used too.
Hi Garry. Yes, the tour really gets you into the private corners of Elvis’ life, with the exception of the second floor which has always been closed to the general public. In the early years that Graceland was open, Elvis’ grandmother lived there but she’s passed on some time ago. I believe that Priscilla (Elvis’ ex) and Lisa Marie stay there from time to time – mostly because they have fond memories of life with Elvis here.
The Colonel took 50% and Elvis never complained about it. He was a nobody when the Colonel signed him and became fabulously wealthy and successful. Guess he figured the Colonel knew what he was doing, so he just let him keep doing it. There was more than enough for him to enjoy.
Thank you DrFumblefinger for an excellent blog with photos to match. Reading this article and seeing these pictures makes me want to go back to Graceland for another visit. Again, thank you for such a wonderful job.
What a wonderful write-up of one of my favorite performers ever! I grew up listening to Elvis and this article took me right back to those days! Fantastic photography too!
Thanks for the grand tour, Dr F. One place I remember very well. Must return one day…Graceland, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, I’m going to Graceland,…..