Explore Elvis Presley’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming the King of Rock and Roll, and discover the magic of his iconic home, Graceland. Regarded as a backcountry territory during the time of the 13 original British colonies, the region was claimed at different times by France, Spain, and England before being usurped by the British colony of North Carolina. In 1790, it became annexed as United States territory south of the Ohio River, and in 1796, Tennessee became the nation’s 16th state.
The name Tennessee is derived from the Cherokee name “Tanasi”, for the long, dissecting river that runs through the middle of the state. Memphis is the state’s largest city, whose growth was fueled by the area’s prodigious slave driven cotton plantations, and the crossroads for riverboats and railroads. The city’s wealthy cotton brokers, bankers, and other tycoons built their grand mansions in the Victorian Village Historic District, now one of the largest tourist attractions in Memphis.
From abject poverty to superstardom, Elvis Aaron Presley lived the proverbial American Dream. Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, the youthful Elvis was exposed to many musical styles that later became the crux of his creative force. His musical aspirations crossed the spectrum from blues, country, gospel, to the emerging sounds of rock and roll. When the teenager Elvis walked into the Memphis Recording Service, part of the now legendary Sun Studio, in July 1954, he was employed as a truck driver for an electric company.
After his first recording session produced the songs “I Love You Because,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and “That’s All Right,” little did he know that he was only days away from becoming famous. His early contributions to rock music earned him the title “The King of Rock and Roll.” Within a decade, “Elvis the Pelvis” became America’s most beloved homegrown musician, and after his death, the nation’s greatest tourist celebrity.
His fame has only increased since his untimely death at the age of 42 on August 16th, 1977, inside the mansion he named Graceland. From the first day in 1957 when he moved into the residence with his parents, Graceland became Elvis Presley’s oasis away from mega-stardom. Elvis spent much of his adult life in the friendly confines of Graceland, a refuge from the outside world of adoring fans. Although he loved his home, Elvis was not confined to Graceland.
He toured in concert, made movies, recorded new material, and traveled around Memphis for entertainment quite often. The “prisoner at Graceland” perception is a myth. Some of the rooms at Graceland testify to the brilliance and quirkiness of Elvis Presley, featuring his taste for crystal chandeliers, shag carpets, gilt mirrors, and stained-glass windows.
The basement TV room is where he often watched three televisions at once, and was within close reach of a wet bar. The Jungle Room was designed by Elvis himself and features lampshades that look like leopard skins, zebra-striped sofas, and green shag carpeting on the ceiling. It was in the Jungle Room where Elvis recorded his final two albums. His living room at Graceland was decorated completely in white. The dining room features his gold-leaf piano.
There is a shooting room where Elvis practiced his marksmanship, an auto museum containing 22 cars, including his famous 1955 Pink Cadillac. His former racquetball court displays an array of lifetime awards, gold albums, and favorite performance suits. Perhaps the most telling aspect of Elvis’ private life is his personal jet collection at Graceland.
A recreated 1970s-style airport terminal contains two planes, the Hound Dog II and the Lisa Marie jet, named after his daughter. He referred to the Lisa Marie as his “Flying Graceland.” After Elvis died, the swimming pool area became the Meditation Garden, a solemn location where Elvis is laid to rest alongside his mother, father, and grandmother.
Elvis Presley was undoubtedly one of the 20th century’s most musically influential figures. His recording career became legendary and sparked the admiration of post-World War II America. His spirit is everywhere at Graceland, an estate that has remained frozen in time since he died in 1977, and is now moving beyond his suburban neighborhood into downtown Memphis and even out of state.
A certain cult of personality has developed around Elvis since his death. His love for karate earned his pants the centerpiece honor at the Elvis Presley Museum in Kissimmee, Florida. As the sign says, “He achieved 9th degree black belt, making him the highest ranked entertainer.” The immediate neighborhood around Graceland has become an institution of its own, fully devoted to all things Elvis.
There is the “Heartbreak Hotel” directly across the street, adjacent to the Graceland Plaza memorabilia center. Here, the visitor can enjoy Elvis-inspired restaurants, gift shops, additional Graceland museums, and a post office where visitors can have their mail stamped with an official Graceland postmark. All this makes Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion the most visited home in America. Graceland is located approximately 10 miles, 16 km due south of downtown Memphis.
Driving from 155, take Exit 5 B onto Elvis Presley Boulevard, then travel south about 1 mile 1.6 km to Graceland. Parking is located across the street from the mansion, at 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Elvis tribute gift stores, museums, and restaurants line the street across from the mansion.
In downtown Memphis, be sure to visit the Sun Records Studio at 706 Union Avenue, where the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B. B. King, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison were launched. “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” is a restaurant and nightclub district on Beale Street, where neon-lit clubs stay hopping until the wee hours.
There are two major annual events in Memphis to honor The King: the Elvis Presley Birthday Celebration in January and Elvis “Tribute” Week in August. Also in downtown Memphis is the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, 450 Mulberry Street, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in April 1968.
