Graceland facts for kids
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Graceland
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Graceland Mansion
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| Location | 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard (Highway 51 South), Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Area | 14 acres (5.7 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Furbringer and Ehrman |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001585 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1991 |
| Designated NHL | March 27, 2006 |
Graceland is a famous mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. It sits on a large estate and was once the home of the legendary American singer Elvis Presley. Elvis, his parents Vernon and Gladys, his grandmother Minnie Mae, his grandson Benjamin, and his daughter Lisa Marie are all buried there.
Graceland is located on Elvis Presley Boulevard, about 9 miles south of central Memphis. It opened as a museum on June 7, 1982. Today, over 650,000 people visit it every year.
Graceland was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It was the first place recognized for its importance to rock music. In 2006, it became a National Historic Landmark, also a first for a rock music site.
After Elvis passed away in 1977, his father Vernon inherited Graceland. Later, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's daughter, became the owner when she turned 25. After Lisa Marie's passing in 2023, her oldest daughter, Riley Keough, became the sole owner.
Contents
The Story of Graceland
Graceland Farms was first owned by Stephen C. Toof, a printing company founder in Memphis. The land was named after his daughter, Grace. She inherited the property in 1894. Later, her niece Ruth Moore and her husband, Thomas Moore, built the mansion in 1939. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style.
After Elvis Presley became famous, he bought a house in Memphis in 1956. As his fame grew, many fans gathered outside his home. His neighbors found the constant crowds a bit much.
In 1957, Elvis asked his parents to find a "farmhouse" with plenty of space around it. Graceland was then in a quieter area, south of Memphis. Elvis bought Graceland on March 19, 1957, for $102,500.
Elvis loved Graceland. He even joked that the US government wanted Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to visit. Khrushchev would "see how in America a fellow can start out with nothing and... make good."
Elvis Presley sadly passed away at Graceland on August 16, 1977, at age 42. His funeral was held at the house. Graceland remained a family home until Elvis's aunt Delta passed away in 1993.
Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited the estate in 1993. She was 25 years old at the time.
Elvis's grave is in the Meditation Garden next to the mansion. His parents, Gladys and Vernon, his grandmother Minnie Mae, his daughter Lisa Marie, and his grandson Benjamin Keough are also buried there. A memorial stone for his twin brother, Jesse Garon, is also on the site.
In 2019, Graceland's owners considered leaving Memphis without city support. The Memphis City Council then approved a plan to help fund a $100 million expansion of Graceland.
A Legal Challenge to Ownership
In 2023, a legal claim was made that Lisa Marie Presley owed money to a company. This company tried to force a sale of Graceland. Riley Keough, the current owner, said the documents for this claim were fake. She went to court to stop the sale.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the estate, agreed with Riley. A notary public, who supposedly signed the loan papers, said she had never met Lisa Marie Presley. She also said she never notarized any document for her.
On May 22, 2024, a court in Shelby County, Tennessee, said the lender's claims were not valid. The company then dropped its plans to sell Graceland. News reports could not find any real information about the company that made the claim.
On August 16, 2024, a woman named Lisa Jeanine Findley was arrested. She was charged with identity theft and mail fraud. These charges were linked to the attempt to trick the Presley family into selling Graceland. Findley pleaded guilty to mail fraud on January 25, 2025. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 23, 2025.
According to the US Department of Justice, Findley pretended to be different people from a fake lending company. She falsely claimed Lisa Marie Presley borrowed $3.8 million. Findley also made up loan documents and forged signatures. She then filed fake papers with courts in California and Tennessee. Prosecutors believe she was not the main person behind the scam. They think the real person is an identity thief from Nigeria.
Graceland's Design
Outside the Mansion
Graceland sits on a hill, surrounded by fields and oak trees. It was designed by architects Furbringer and Erhmanis. It's a two-story house with a classic Colonial Revival style. It has a central porch with tall columns. Two one-story sections extend from the main house. One of these was originally a garage.
Four stone steps lead up to the front porch, guarded by two marble lions. The porch has four Corinthian columns. The front door has beautiful stained glass. Above the main entrance is a window with a small iron balcony.
Horse Stable
A horse stable was built on the property in 1939 by the first owners. Elvis kept many horses in this stable.
Inside the Mansion
Graceland has 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and bathrooms.
First Floor
To the right of the Entrance Hall is the Living Room. It has a long white couch and a fireplace. Photos of Elvis and his family are displayed here. Next to the Living Room is the Music Room, with colorful stained glass peacocks. It has a black piano and a 1950s TV. Elvis's parents' bedroom is also on this floor.
To the left of the Entrance Hall is the Dining Room. It features a large crystal chandelier and a marble table with six chairs. The Kitchen is connected to the Dining Room. It was used by Elvis's aunt Delta until 1993.
In the 1960s, Elvis added a den called the Jungle Room. It has an indoor waterfall and items from Hawaii. Elvis loved Hawaii after starring in the movie "Blue Hawaii". In 1976, the Jungle Room became a recording studio. Elvis recorded his last two albums there.
Elvis also added a large wing on the south side of the house. This area is now called the Trophy Building. It shows exhibits about the Presley family. You can see Priscilla's wedding dress, Elvis's wedding tuxedo, and Lisa Marie's baby clothes.
Second Floor
A white staircase in the Entrance Hall leads to the second floor. This floor is not open to visitors. This is to respect the Presley family. It also avoids focusing on the bathroom where Elvis passed away. The second floor has Elvis's bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom. Lisa Marie's bedroom and Elvis's private office are also there. This floor has been kept just as it was when Elvis passed away.
Basement
The basement has the TV room. Elvis often watched three TVs at once here. The room has a lightning bolt and cloud logo with "TCB" (Taking Care of Business). The billiard room is also in the basement. Elvis bought the pool table in 1960. The walls and ceiling are covered in pleated fabric. There's even a rip in the pool table felt from a trick shot gone wrong!
The Graceland Estate
After buying Graceland, Elvis made many changes. He added a pink stone wall around the property. Visitors often write messages on this wall. The front gate is made of wrought iron and looks like a book of sheet music. It has musical notes and silhouettes of Elvis playing guitar.
Elvis also added a kidney-shaped swimming pool. There's also a racquetball court, which looks like an old country club. It has a sitting area with a stereo system. Elvis played his last songs on the piano here. These were "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Unchained Melody".
On the morning Elvis passed away, he played racquetball with friends. Then he played a song on the piano before going into the main house. Today, the racquetball court looks just as it did when Elvis used it.
Other buildings on the estate include an office for Elvis's father, Vernon. There's also an old smokehouse that became a shooting range. A stable for horses is also on the grounds.
One of Elvis's most famous additions was the Meditation Garden. This is where his family is buried. This includes Elvis, his parents, his grandmother, his daughter Lisa Marie, and his grandson Benjamin. A small stone remembers his twin brother, Jesse Garon, who passed away at birth.
Visiting Graceland
After Elvis passed away, his father Vernon managed his estate. When Vernon passed away in 1979, Priscilla Presley became the manager for Lisa Marie. Graceland was expensive to maintain, and Lisa Marie's inheritance was shrinking. To save Graceland from being sold, Priscilla decided to open it to the public.
Graceland opened as a museum on June 7, 1982. Priscilla's idea worked! Within a month, the estate made back all the money invested. Priscilla became the head of Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE). The estate's value grew to over $100 million.
Every year, around the anniversary of Elvis's passing, a special event called Elvis Week is held. People walk through the estate and past Elvis's grave. The 25th anniversary in 2002 saw about 40,000 people attend. On the 40th anniversary in 2017, over 50,000 fans were expected.
For many visitors, coming to Graceland is a very special experience. They might plan for years to visit the home of the 'King' of rock and roll. Headphones guide visitors through the rooms, telling stories about Elvis's life. The stories highlight his kindness and generosity. At the Meditation Garden, some visitors pray or sing hymns at Elvis's grave. The wall around the mansion is covered with messages from fans.
The Graceland grounds also have a new exhibit area called Elvis Presley's Memphis. It includes a car museum, Presley Motors, which displays Elvis's Pink Cadillac. There are also other exhibits and a studio for Sirius Satellite Radio's all-Elvis channel. Visitors can also see Elvis's two private jets, Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II.
In 2005, Lisa Marie Presley sold 85% of the business side of her father's estate. She kept ownership of the Graceland property itself and most of Elvis's personal items. Today, Graceland Holdings LLC manages EPE. Lisa Marie Presley's estate still owns 15% of the company.
In 2018, Gladys Presley's headstone was put on public display in the Meditation Garden. Elvis himself designed it, with a Jewish star of David on one side and a cross on the other.
Lisa Marie Presley's estate, now held for her daughters Riley Keough and Harper and Finley Lockwood, still owns 100% of Graceland Mansion and its grounds. They also own Elvis Presley's personal items, like his costumes, awards, furniture, and cars. These items are always available for tours and for use in Graceland's operations.
Famous Visitors
Graceland has welcomed many famous people over the years. Muhammad Ali, a friend of Elvis, visited in 1978. Singer Paul Simon toured Graceland in the early 1980s. He later wrote a famous song called "Graceland," which was the title track of his Grammy-winning album.
In 1987, the band U2 visited Graceland during their Joshua Tree Tour. Footage from their visit was used in their film Rattle & Hum.
On June 30, 2006, US President George W. Bush hosted Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for a tour. This was a rare official visit by a US president and a foreign leader to a private home. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancée (now Princess Charlene) visited in 2010. Paul McCartney of The Beatles visited in 2013. Prince William and Prince Harry toured Graceland in 2014.
Other notable visitors include former US President Jimmy Carter. Also, several US governors, members of Congress, and Nobel Prize winners have visited. These include singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
In May 2016, Graceland welcomed its 20 millionth visitor, a newlywed couple.
In June 2022, actors Austin Butler and Tom Hanks visited the mansion. They were interviewed from the Jungle Room about their movie Elvis.
See also
In Spanish: Graceland para niños
