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 large house on a 13.8-acre estate in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It was once owned by the famous American singer Elvis Presley. Elvis is buried there, along with his parents, his grandmother, his grandson, and his daughter.
Graceland is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. It is about 9 miles south of central Memphis. The house became a museum on June 7, 1982. More than 650,000 people visit it every year.
Graceland was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1991. It was the first place recognized for its importance to rock music. It was also named a National Historic Landmark on March 27, 2006. This was another first for a rock music site.
After Elvis died on August 16, 1977, his father, Vernon, first inherited Graceland. Later, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's daughter, inherited it when she turned 25. Her mother, Priscilla Presley, was the trustee. After Lisa Marie's death on January 12, 2023, her oldest daughter, Riley Keough, became the owner.
Contents
The Story of Graceland
Graceland Farms was first owned by Stephen C. Toof. He started the oldest printing company in Memphis. The land was named after his daughter, Grace. She inherited the property in 1894. After she passed away, her niece, Ruth Moore, became the owner.
Ruth Moore and her husband, Thomas Moore, built the large house in 1939. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style. The architects were Furbringer and Ehrman.
After Elvis Presley became famous, he bought a house for his family in Memphis in 1956. But as his fame grew, many fans gathered outside his home. This caused problems for his neighbors.
In early 1957, Elvis asked his parents to find a "farmhouse" with lots of space. Graceland was then in a quiet area outside 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. He wanted him "to see how in America a fellow can start out with nothing and, you know, make good."
After Elvis's mother, Gladys, died in 1958, his father Vernon married Dee Stanley. They lived at Graceland for a while. But Elvis and his stepmother Dee had some disagreements. Dee tried to change the house too much. Elvis, who loved his mother deeply, did not like this. So, Dee and her children moved to a nearby house.
Graceland became a busy home for Elvis's family and friends. His cousin, Billy Smith, said Elvis often talked with him and his wife for hours. Sometimes, Elvis would even sleep in their bed after a bad dream.
Priscilla Presley lived at Graceland for five years before she and Elvis married in 1967. Their daughter Lisa Marie Presley was born in 1968. She lived her early years at Graceland. Even after her parents divorced in 1972, Lisa Marie often returned to Graceland for visits and to celebrate Christmas.
When Elvis toured, hotels would often remodel rooms to look like his home at Graceland. This made him feel comfortable. One famous room in Graceland is 'The Jungle Room'. It was known for its unique and wild style.
On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley died at Graceland at age 42. His official cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia. More than 3,500 fans came to pay their respects. A private funeral was held in the house. Family members continued to live at Graceland until Elvis's aunt Delta died in 1993.
Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited the estate in 1993 when she turned 25.
Elvis's grave is in the Meditation Garden next to the house. His parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, his grandmother Minnie Mae Presley, his daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and his grandson Benjamin Keough are also buried there. A memorial stone for Elvis's twin brother, Jesse Garon, is also on the site.
In 2019, Graceland's owners considered leaving Memphis. This was unless the city offered tax help. The Memphis City Council then agreed to help fund a $100 million expansion of Graceland.
Graceland's Design
Outside the Mansion
Graceland sits on top of a hill, surrounded by fields and oak trees. It was designed by Furbringer and Erhmanis. It is a two-story house with a classic Colonial Revival style. It has a central front porch with columns. There are also two one-story sections on the sides. One of these was originally a garage for four cars.
The front of the house is covered in tan limestone. The front porch has four tall columns with fancy tops. The main doorway has colorful stained glass. Above the entrance is a window with a small iron balcony.
Inside the Mansion
Graceland is a large house with 23 rooms. This includes eight bedrooms and bathrooms.
First Floor
When you enter, the Living Room is to your right. It has a long white couch and a fireplace. There are photos of Elvis and his family. Next to it is the Music Room, with beautiful stained glass peacocks. It has a black piano and a 1950s TV. Elvis's parents' bedroom is also on this floor, decorated in bright white and purple.
To the left of the entrance is the Dining Room. It has a huge crystal chandelier and a marble table with golden chairs. The Kitchen is connected to the Dining Room. It was used by Elvis's aunt Delta until 1993. It opened to the public two years later.
Elvis added a den called the Jungle Room in the mid-1960s. It has an indoor waterfall and items from Hawaii. Elvis loved Hawaii after filming "Blue Hawaii" there. In 1976, Elvis used the Jungle Room as a recording studio. He recorded most of 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 tuxedo, and Lisa Marie's baby clothes.
Second Floor
A white staircase leads to the second floor. This floor is not open to visitors. This is out of respect for the Presley family. It also helps avoid too much focus on the bathroom where Elvis died.
The second floor has Elvis's bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom. His daughter Lisa Marie's bedroom is also there. There is also a private office for Elvis. This floor has been kept just as it was when Elvis died.
Basement
In the basement, there is a TV room. Elvis often watched three TVs at once here. The TVs are built into the wall. There is also a stereo and cabinets for his records. On one wall, you can see Elvis's 1970s logo: a lightning bolt and cloud with the letters TCB. This stands for 'taking care of business in a flash'.
The other room in the basement is the billiard room. Elvis bought the pool table in 1960. The walls and ceiling are covered in pleated fabric. The pool balls are set up just as they were in Elvis's last days. There is a small rip in the pool table's green felt. One of Elvis's friends caused it trying a trick shot.
Graceland Estate Features
After buying Graceland, Elvis spent a lot of money changing it. He added a pink stone wall around the property. Visitors often write messages and signatures on this wall. The front gate is made of wrought iron. It looks like a sheet of music with musical notes and two images of Elvis playing guitar.
Elvis also added a kidney-shaped swimming pool. He built a racquetball court too. This court looks like an old country club. It has a bar and a comfortable sitting area. There is a stereo system and a dark brown piano. Elvis played his last songs on this piano. These were "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Unchained Melody".
The racquetball court has a large window. This allowed people to watch games. On the morning Elvis died, he played racquetball with his girlfriend and cousins. Then he played a song on the piano before going into the main house. Today, the court looks just as it did when Elvis used it.
Elsewhere on the estate, there is a small white building. This was Vernon Presley's office. There is also an old smokehouse that became a shooting range. Elvis also had a stable for horses.
One of Elvis's most famous additions was the Meditation Garden. He used it to think about his life. This is where his family is buried. This includes Elvis (1935–1977), his parents Gladys (1912–1958) and Vernon (1916–1979), and his grandmother Minnie Mae Hood (1890–1980). A small stone remembers his twin brother Jesse Garon, who died at birth. In 2020, Lisa Marie's son Benjamin Keough was buried there. Lisa Marie Presley died in January 2023 and is buried next to her son.
Graceland as a Tourist Spot
After Elvis Presley's death in 1977, his father Vernon managed his estate. When Vernon died in 1979, he chose Priscilla to manage the estate for Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie. Lisa Marie was only 11 years old then.
Graceland cost $500,000 a year to maintain. This expense, along with taxes, was quickly using up Lisa Marie's inheritance. Priscilla faced the possibility of having to sell Graceland. So, she studied other famous house museums. She hired Jack Soden to help turn Graceland into a successful business.
Graceland opened to the public on June 7, 1982. Priscilla's plan worked! After only one month, the estate earned back all the money invested. Priscilla Presley became the head of Elvis Presley Enterprises, or EPE. The company grew very successful.
Every year on the anniversary of Elvis's death, a special event called Elvis Week is held. People walk through the estate and past Elvis's grave. It includes many speakers and events. The 20th anniversary in 1997 brought a lot of media attention.
In 2002, about 40,000 people attended the 25th anniversary, despite heavy rain. For the 38th anniversary in 2015, about 30,000 people attended the Candlelight Vigil. For the 40th anniversary in 2017, at least 50,000 fans were expected. For the first time, visitors had to pay a small fee to help cover security costs.
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. As they tour, headphones tell stories about Elvis's life. They learn about his kindness and generosity. They hear how he was a poor boy who became a huge star. At the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried, some visitors pray or quietly sing his favorite songs. 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. This includes a car museum called Presley Motors, where you can see Elvis's Pink Cadillac. There are new exhibits and museums. There is also a studio for Sirius Satellite Radio's all-Elvis Presley channel. Fans across North America can listen to Elvis's music from Graceland all day. Nearby, you can see two of Elvis's airplanes: Lisa Marie (a large jet) and Hound Dog II (a smaller business jet). These jets are owned by Graceland and are always on display.
In 2005, Lisa Marie Presley sold 85% of the business side of her father's estate. She kept the Graceland property itself and most of the items inside. She handed over the management of Graceland to CKX, Inc..
Graceland Holdings LLC, led by Joel Weinshanker, now owns most of EPE. Lisa Marie Presley's estate still owns 15% of the company.
In August 2018, Gladys Presley's headstone was publicly displayed in the Graceland Meditation Garden. Elvis himself designed it with a Jewish Star of David and a cross.
Lisa Marie Presley's estate, held in trust for her daughters Riley Keough and Harper and Finley Lockwood, still owns 100% of Graceland Mansion and its original grounds. They also own Elvis Presley's personal items, like his costumes, awards, furniture, and cars. Before her death in 2023, Lisa Marie Presley made sure the mansion and her father's items would always be available for tours.
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. They filmed parts of their visit for their movie Rattle & Hum. During the visit, the drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., even sat on Elvis Presley's motorcycle, which was against the rules!
On June 30, 2006, then-US President George W. Bush brought Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for a tour. This was one of the few times a US president and a foreign leader officially visited a private home in the United States. On August 6, 2010, Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancée (now Princess Charlene) toured Graceland. Paul McCartney of The Beatles visited on May 26, 2013. Prince William and Prince Harry visited on May 2, 2014.
Other notable visitors include former US President Jimmy Carter. Also, several US governors, members of Congress, and two Nobel Prize winners have visited. These include singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and former President of Costa Rica, 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.
Gallery
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Graceland stairwell
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Graceland dining area
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Graceland front room
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Graceland music room
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Graceland kitchen
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Graceland yellow TV room
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Graceland back yard
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Cross
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Graceland fountain
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Elvis Presley burial site
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Presley performance outfit
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Presley's gold record for "Jailhouse Rock"
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Elvis's Pink Jeep
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Floorplan, 1st floor
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Floorplan, 2nd floor
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Floorplan, Basement
See also
In Spanish: Graceland para niños
- Graceland Too
- List of museums in Tennessee
- List of music museums
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Tennessee
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby County, Tennessee
- Tourism in Memphis, Tennessee, including a special Graceland section, focused on the touristic aspects.
