Graceland
A man’s home is his castle and this was especially true for the King of Rock and Roll and his Graceland mansion, where Elvis lived from 1957 until his death in 1977. Located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Graceland is now owned by Elvis’s daughter, Lisa Marie, and has been open to the public as a museum since 1982. Last year Graceland was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Inside the mansion, uniquely decorated in styles of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, you can visit Elvis’s famous jungle room (pictured here) and experience life as Elvis did through an audio-guided tour featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and Lisa Marie. You will relive his amazing journey to superstardom, as well as the cultural and social barriers that he experienced along the way.
Elvis’s trophy building houses his collection of gold records and awards, career mementos, costumes, jewelry, photos, and much more. Behind the house are Elvis’s racquetball building and his original business office. The Meditation Garden, located near the home, contains Elvis’s grave and those of some family members.
On the Graceland 14-acre estate guests can also visit Elvis’s Automobile Museum, a tree-lined street with more than 33 vehicles owned by Elvis, including his famous pink Cadillac, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and the red MG from Blue Hawaii, as well as some of his favorite motorized “toys.” An airport terminal at Graceland holds two custom jets, the Lisa Marie and the smaller Lockheed Jetstar Hound Dog II. There you can watch a video about Elvis’s jets and board the Lisa Marie.
If you decide to visit Graceland you will be in good company. In fact, Graceland is believed to be the second most visited private residence in the US, behind only the White House.
Celebrity visitors have included tennis legend John McEnroe, actress Megan Mullally, actor Nick Offerman, NASCAR driver Todd Bodine, country superstars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, actor Anthony Edwards, Oprah Winfrey, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, President George W. Bush, and First Lady Laura Bush, and they’ve all visited in the past year!
Special events at Graceland are held around Elvis’s birthday (January 8); the anniversary of the King’s death (August 16), designated Elvis Week; and Christmas, a holiday that Elvis celebrated and decorated for with enthusiasm.
Graceland is open daily from March to October. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In November through February the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mansion is closed on Tuesdays, December through February, as well as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and sometimes New Year’s Day. For more information about Graceland and a virtual tour visit www.elvis.com/graceland.
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