Elvis's Grave., Memphis

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The house is not ostentatious from the outside, especially by today's standards but the interior is pretty wild though definitely a period piece. Yes, this guy was on some serious drugs. Aside from the typical rooms of residence, there were some that were reserved just the King and his court, as well as the obligatory swimming pool. The grounds are quite pastoral with stables for horses and its own cemetery where Elvis and his parents are buried.

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The Graceland wall surrounds the front of the mansion and is a beautiful testament to all who have visited and left their mark. This can be viewed for free without the tour. There is plenty to do, eat and buy while waiting for the tour to start (I waited about 30 min.). Take a picture with the virtual Elvis, check out his classic whip (car), robin's egg blue! Its outside the car museum. Tour worth small fee just to see the JUngle Room and his stage costumes!

Graceland opened in 1982, and will remain open for generations to come. The nearly 14 acre estate was home to Elvis for 20 years. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and is the most famous visited house, other than the White House. It is estimated that over 600,000 fans visit Graceland each year. The tour does not include the upstairs, mainly because of privacy issues, but also because they would have to alter the upstairs to accomodate the tremendous crowds, including another stairway exit. Priscilla and Lisa Marie decided that Elvis Presley's private area upstairs would remain just that, private.

Every day, during early morning hours, (7:00- 8:30am) visitors are allowed to walk up to the outside of the mansion and visit the Meditation Gardens to pay their respects to Elvis and his family for FREE. The hours differ slightly depending on the season of the year. Check with the website for further details. For a true Elvis fan, a complete tour would be a must see, but for the average tourist, or Memphian, even, the cost may be a little much to bear. I definitely recommend visiting once during the free time Graceland allows each morning, though. It is a peaceful resting place that somehow seems to connect you with a bit of Memphis history. It was 50 years ago this year (2004) that Elvis recorded his first hit "That's Alright" at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis.

Please see my Local Customs tips to see rare live photographs of Elvis in Concert, Graceland, including the Christmas life size Nativity Scene, Meditation Gardens, and more!

PLATINUM TOUR PACKAGE
$27.00 - Adults
$24.30 - Seniors 62+ & Students
$13.00 - Ages 7-12
FREE - 6 & Under

This package includes the mansion tour, the 2 custom airplanes, automobile museum, and the "Sincerely Elvis" memorabilia museum and lasts 2- 1/2 to 3 hrs.

Mansion only tours are:
$18.00 - Adults
$16.20 - Seniors & Students
$7.00 - Ages 7-12
FREE - 6 & Under

ELVIS AARON PRESLEY
JANUARY 8, 1935 - AUGUST 16,1977
SON OF VERNON ELVIS PRESLEY
AND GLADYS LOVE PRESLEY
FATHER OF LISA MARIE PRESLEY

He was a precious gift from God
We cherished and loved dearly.
He had a God-given talent that he shared
with the world, and without a doubt,
he became most widely acclaimed:
capturing the hearts of young and old alike.
He was admired not only as an entertainer,
but as the great humanitarian that he was:
For his generosity, and his kind feelings
for his fellow man.
He revolutionized the field of music and
received its highest awards.
He became a living legend in his own time,
earning the respect and love of millions.
God saw that he needed some rest and
called him home to be with Him.
We miss you son and Daddy. I thank God
that He gave us you as a son.

Underneath the eternal flame:

TO ELVIS IN MEMORIAM
YOU GAVE YOURSELF TO EACH OF US IN
SOME MANNER. YOU WERE WRAPPED IN
THOUGHTFULNESS AND TIED WITH LOVE.
MAY THIS FLAME REFLECT OUR NEVER
ENDING RESPECT AND LOVE FOR YOU.
MAY IT SERVE AS A CONSTANT REMINDER
TO EACH OF US AS YOUR ETERNAL
PRESENCE.

I never appreciated Elvis' singing and life until I went to Memphis. Graceland is a much more modest house than I imagined - not at all a mansion. And the "Jungle Room" is just the den in back; thought it would be in the basement. The limited-size tours do not take you upstairs, where the King died.
Elvis' grave on-site is also the resting place of his parents.