In March of 2006, Elvis Presley's Graceland estate grew up to the level of Washington's Mount Vernon and Jefferson's Monticello. It officially was a National Historic Monument.
Of course, long before the Secretary of the Interior made this public announcement, Presley fans worldwide had made his home a popular tourist destination; Graceland already attracted more than 600,000 people yearly. The designation of his home as a national landmark celebrates his widely-known contributions to American culture and music history.
Elvis Presley is among the most influential figures in 20th century music and pop culture. He was most popular as a musician and was indicted into three halls of fame: the Stone Hall of Fame, the continent Music Hall of Fame, as well as the GMA Gospel Hall of Fame. Few other artist has been honored by the 3 establishments. Presley also triumphed on television and starred in 33 movies.
Shortly after his rise to stardom, Elvis felt any excuses for privacy. In 1957 he moved out of working-class East Memphis and purchased the 14-acre Graceland estate. The price tag: $103,000 - easily purchased with arises from his first hit record, "Heartbreak Hotel". Graceland could be Elvis's primary residence for the next 20 years. His parents lived there too, as did his wife-to-be Priscilla Beaulieu and eventually their daughter, Lisa Marie. Elvis Presley died in an upstairs Graceland bathroom in 1977.
The Graceland estate can be found south of downtown Memphis and is just a few miles north with the Mississippi border. The grounds were named after Grace Toot, the daughter with the home's original owner. Grace inherited the house while it was still farmland. She gifted the land to a niece, Ruth Moore, who had the mansion built.
The colonial-style mansion is made from tan limestone with white columns. Two stone lions apparently guard the front entrance. Elvis expanded the living space from about 10,000 feet square to 17,000 feet square. He is known for his extravagance along with a unique sense of design; some refer to it kitschy. The home reflected Elvis well; he became so comfortable there any time he traveled, his resort rooms were pre-decorated with furniture sent
Of course, long before the Secretary of the Interior made this public announcement, Presley fans worldwide had made his home a popular tourist destination; Graceland already attracted more than 600,000 people yearly. The designation of his home as a national landmark celebrates his widely-known contributions to American culture and music history.
Elvis Presley is among the most influential figures in 20th century music and pop culture. He was most popular as a musician and was indicted into three halls of fame: the Stone Hall of Fame, the continent Music Hall of Fame, as well as the GMA Gospel Hall of Fame. Few other artist has been honored by the 3 establishments. Presley also triumphed on television and starred in 33 movies.
Shortly after his rise to stardom, Elvis felt any excuses for privacy. In 1957 he moved out of working-class East Memphis and purchased the 14-acre Graceland estate. The price tag: $103,000 - easily purchased with arises from his first hit record, "Heartbreak Hotel". Graceland could be Elvis's primary residence for the next 20 years. His parents lived there too, as did his wife-to-be Priscilla Beaulieu and eventually their daughter, Lisa Marie. Elvis Presley died in an upstairs Graceland bathroom in 1977.
The Graceland estate can be found south of downtown Memphis and is just a few miles north with the Mississippi border. The grounds were named after Grace Toot, the daughter with the home's original owner. Grace inherited the house while it was still farmland. She gifted the land to a niece, Ruth Moore, who had the mansion built.
The colonial-style mansion is made from tan limestone with white columns. Two stone lions apparently guard the front entrance. Elvis expanded the living space from about 10,000 feet square to 17,000 feet square. He is known for his extravagance along with a unique sense of design; some refer to it kitschy. The home reflected Elvis well; he became so comfortable there any time he traveled, his resort rooms were pre-decorated with furniture sent
from Graceland.
Elvis's outdoor and indoor estate expansions were considerable. For privacy, he constructed a fieldstone wall across the grounds. (Today it is filled with visitors' graffiti.) He added a wrought-iron privacy gate out drive; it's decorated with iron musical notes. He installed a swimming pool with adjacent jukebox in his parents' bedroom, as well as the famous Jungle Room carries a waterfall. Elvis also kept several televisions in the basement and was recognized to watch three simultaneously.
Today, audio tours begin at the lion-flanked portico. Visitors then see Elvis's living room and the adjacent music room. The tour moves on the kitchen and dining room, after which downstairs to the basement to see side-by-side TVs, a bar, along with a billiards table. The tour continues upstairs in the Jungle Room. Elvis memorabilia are displayed throughout, together with his sequined jumpsuits being especially prominent. Outdoors, people can easily see his trophy collection, horse stables, and a shooting range. A separate building displays his car collection and two small airplanes. Public tours show much of the mansion but prevent the top floor where Elvis passed away.
Elvis died at Graceland in 1977. Medical reports vary; he apparently stood a drug-induced heart attack. He was buried in a public cemetery but people experimented with rob his grave. Presley's remains were transferred to his mansion's Meditation Gardens, in which the performer joined his deceased parents and grandmother. The August 16th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death is a particularly popular time for Graceland visits. Despite a downpour of rain through Memphis, the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death drew a procession of 40,000 people.
After Elvis's death, Priscilla Presley managed the house and greatly increased its value by promoting tourism. Graceland opened to the public in 1982. The Presleys' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited the estate when she turned 30 years old. She kept the mansion but sold 85% from the grounds to a private management company in 2005. The newest owner, CKX, Inc., plans to make Graceland a childrens playground on par with Disneyland.
Elvis's outdoor and indoor estate expansions were considerable. For privacy, he constructed a fieldstone wall across the grounds. (Today it is filled with visitors' graffiti.) He added a wrought-iron privacy gate out drive; it's decorated with iron musical notes. He installed a swimming pool with adjacent jukebox in his parents' bedroom, as well as the famous Jungle Room carries a waterfall. Elvis also kept several televisions in the basement and was recognized to watch three simultaneously.
Today, audio tours begin at the lion-flanked portico. Visitors then see Elvis's living room and the adjacent music room. The tour moves on the kitchen and dining room, after which downstairs to the basement to see side-by-side TVs, a bar, along with a billiards table. The tour continues upstairs in the Jungle Room. Elvis memorabilia are displayed throughout, together with his sequined jumpsuits being especially prominent. Outdoors, people can easily see his trophy collection, horse stables, and a shooting range. A separate building displays his car collection and two small airplanes. Public tours show much of the mansion but prevent the top floor where Elvis passed away.
Elvis died at Graceland in 1977. Medical reports vary; he apparently stood a drug-induced heart attack. He was buried in a public cemetery but people experimented with rob his grave. Presley's remains were transferred to his mansion's Meditation Gardens, in which the performer joined his deceased parents and grandmother. The August 16th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death is a particularly popular time for Graceland visits. Despite a downpour of rain through Memphis, the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death drew a procession of 40,000 people.
After Elvis's death, Priscilla Presley managed the house and greatly increased its value by promoting tourism. Graceland opened to the public in 1982. The Presleys' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited the estate when she turned 30 years old. She kept the mansion but sold 85% from the grounds to a private management company in 2005. The newest owner, CKX, Inc., plans to make Graceland a childrens playground on par with Disneyland.