Updated May 25, 2023
About Graceland
Once the home of Elvis Presley, Graceland Mansion is now a historical building and a popular tourist attraction. It is a 5.6-hectare land-based in Memphis, Tennessee, and describes true luxury through architecture. Graceland is located in Whitehaven, Elvis Presley Boulevard neighborhood, nine miles south of Central Memphis.
Now people from around the world visit this old mansion and take the complete experience of it.
History
The mansion was first owned by S.C. Toof & Co.’s founder Stephen C. Toof. When the iconic rockstar began his music journey, he bought a home worth $40,000 in Memphis. But as his career skyrocketed, he asked his parents to find a home that had a farmhouse-like feeling. That’s when Graceland was identified, and the sale was made in 1957. Elvis paid $102,500 for the property at that time. The mansion was designed beautifully and according to the taste of Elvis Presley and his parents. His father had a swimming pool in the bedroom and a jukebox where his favorite records of the rock and roll artist played.
Elvis always took advantage of every chance to spend time in Graceland. He stayed there with his wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, for 5 years before the duo married in Nedava, Las Vegas. The couple’s daughter (Lisa Presley) spent her initial years in the Graceland mansion, and when the duo got divorced, the daughter and mother went to California. But every year during Christmas, Lisa Presley spent her time in Graceland.
Although Elvis had several homes, Graceland Mansion remained the most famous. It was his home, and she passed it on to her daughter in 1977 after the rockstar’s demise.
The Experience of Graceland Mansion
John Stamos took it upon himself to feature stories and commentaries of Elvis Presley and his daughter for the tourists. When you begin the tour of Graceland, you will visit the classic parents’ bedroom, living room, pool room, kitchen, TV room, jungle room, father’s office, meditation garden, and newly-restored racquetball building and trophy building.
1. Mansion Entrance
When you enter Graceland, your initial stop would be the foyer. Here you can view the stairways, dining room, living room, and mom’s bedroom. The foyer was the place that welcomed special guests and then moved to the living room. This space is engulfed with the Elvis era, i.e., the late 60s and early 70s. From here, you would move onto the kitchen area and then downstairs towards the pool and TV room.
2. Graceland Jungle Room
When you go back upstairs, you can enter the Jungle Room, which has shagged carpets with exotic wood flooring and Polynesian décor. Initially, Jungle Room gave access to the basement. It was a family favorite, and Elvis especially adored the room because it gave him a feeling of living in Hawaii.
3. Vernon’s Office
Another beautiful part of Graceland is Vernon’s office. That is the business space where Elvis’ dad – Vernon Presley, managed his personal affairs. He checked all the personal finances of Elvis Presley, along with staff management. If you see outside, the rockstar purchased a swing set for his ex-wife in the 1970s.
4. Trophy Building
As the name suggests, this place tells the success story of the singer. But the place needs a trophy collection. It is where you would find the police badge collection, childhood mementos and toys of Lisa, and the wedding attire of Elvis and Priscilla.
5. Racquetball Building
You’d see some modern architecture as you step inside the racquetball building. That’s because the place was re-established in 1977. A lobby area has a piano, a pinball machine, and a racquetball court.
6. Meditation Garden
The Graceland Mansion is the final destination and one of the most relaxing places where all the family members are laid to rest. People worldwide come and pay respect to the iconic singer who was a humanitarian and the king of rock and roll music.
Tour
If you want to take a tour of the Graceland Mansion, it is advised that you book a ticket in advance so that everything runs smoothly.
