Look Inside Elvis’ Iconic Graceland

Trista - August 9, 2019

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Many artists have made their impact on the world, but few have become a significant cultural icon like Elvis Presley. Known as the King of Rock and Roll, or simply the King, Elvis Presley was the pioneer of the rockabilly genre of music. Rockabilly was a fusion of upbeat country music and rhythm and blues. Elvis’ music and acting career skyrocketed right at the time rock music was becoming popular, making him essential the leading figure of rock and roll.

Elvis Presley found success in many different genres of music, including blues, pop country, and gospel. He’s been inducted into various music halls of fame including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gospel Hall of Fame, Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Country Hall of Fame. With over 600 million album sales, Elvis Presley ranks as the best selling music artist around the world.

In 1957, Elvis wanted to purchase a farmhouse-like property in order to have some privacy. His parents found Graceland, a 13.5-acre estate located in Memphis, Tennessee several miles from the city’s main urban area. Elvis purchased Graceland for $102,500. Elvis Presley lived in Graceland until his death in 1977. In 1982, Graceland was opened as a museum to the public. The property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Since it first opened in 1982, over 15 million people have visited historic Graceland. Keep reading for a look inside Elvis Presley’s Graceland.

1. Tourist Attraction

Did you know that Graceland is the second most visited home in America? Second only to the White House, Graceland receives more than 700,000 visitors a year. When Elvis died in 1977, he laid in state in a copper-lined casket inside the foyer of Graceland. More than 3,500 fans traveled from around the world to pay their respects. A more private funeral service was held in front of the stained glass doorway of Elvis’ music room. Members of Elvis’ family lived in the mansion until 1993.

In 1982, Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ ex-wife and executor of his estate on behalf of their daughter Lisa Marie, decided to open Graceland to the public. Since it cost over $500,000 a year in upkeep, Graceland had dwindled Elvis’ estate, and significant taxes were due on the property. Within a year of opening Graceland as a museum, the estate made all of its investment money back and then some.

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2. Gates

One of the most iconic features of Elvis’ Graceland is the gates. The instantly recognizable gates are a one-of-a-kind design that fans line up to take pictures with regularly. The steel gates feature music notes and artsy depictions of the King himself. When closed, the gates resemble an open music book. The gates were installed about a month after Elvis purchased Graceland and cost $1,339.

When Elvis lived at Graceland, fans would gather outside the gate in hopes of spotting their idol. They would also leave him notes and gifts and sometimes be lucky enough to get an autograph. Fans have reported seeing Elvis Presley and his family horseback riding on the Graceland property.

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3. Exterior

Before entering the gates of Graceland, fans can see a historic marker with a short biography of Elvis Presley. The sign sits in front of a brick wall protecting the property. The brick has been decorated with thousands of messages from Elvis Presley fans who have come from all around the world to visit Graceland. After entering the gates, guests can see the sprawling mansion. Graceland is a beautiful two-story home.

Originally Graceland was 10,266 square feet, but renovations made over the years have increased it to 17,552 square feet. The mansion was built on the top of a hill with rolling pastures in front and behind it. Graceland looks west towards the Mississippi River. There’s a curved driveway that loops in front of the home. The building is protected by a wall constructed with pink Alabama fieldstone. The residence is in the Classical Revival style and has a side-facing gabled roof made with asphalt shingles. On the north exterior side wall is a chimney; another one is on the south side of the house. Facades on the front and sides of the home are veneered with Mississippi Tishomingo limestone.

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4. First Floor

In the massive Graceland mansion, there are 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and bathrooms. To the right of the foyer is the living room, which has an adjoining Music Room, marked with its beautiful stained glass doors. Next to the living room lies Elvis’ parents’ bedroom, decorated in bright white and purple. This room has a full en-suite bathroom decorated in light pink.

The dining room sits to the left of the entrance hall and is connected to the kitchen. Initially, the home has a one-story wing on the north end that included a bedroom, bathroom, and mechanical room. In the mid-1960s, Elvis expanded the home to include a den, known as the Jungle Room. He also added a sidewalk on the south side of the main house that connected the Music Room with the swimming pool area.

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5. Foyer

When tourists visit Graceland, the first place they see is the grand foyer inside the mansion. The interior of the home is stark white with blue accents. From the entrance, you can see Elvis’ living room, stairways, dining room, and his mother Gladys’ bedroom. In the foyer, special guests were typically welcomed and showed to the living room, where they were to wait for Elvis to greet them.

Design elements of the foyer are strictly from the 1960s and 1970s. There is a lot of white and blue as well as many mirrors lining the walls. Gold decorative pieces and white furniture are standard throughout the house. On the tour of Graceland, guests travel from the foyer through Elvis’ kitchen on the way to his downstairs play area.

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6. Living Room

Graceland’s living room sits on the right side of the house, oriented toward the south. The decor of the living room was originally more formal than it is today. Elvis was inspired by Baroque style and had the room decorated with Louis XIV furniture. He envisioned his home to look like the Palace of Versailles of Memphis, Tennessee.

Today, the living room holds a 15-foot white couch, white marble fireplace, and many mirrors. The mirrors were installed to make the room seem much larger than it really is. Additionally, gold accent paint and decors are seen throughout Graceland’s cozy living room. When sitting in the living room, guests can see directly into Elvis’ beloved Music Room.

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7. Music Room

The first thing you see when approaching Elvis Presley’s Music Room is the gorgeous stained glass. The doorway of the room is framed by two large stained glass portraits of peacocks. Inside, the walls are draped with yellow gold curtains. A yellow leather couch and old-fashioned TV sit on the left side of the room.

Aside from the stained glass peacocks, the star of the Music Room is Elvis Presley’s beloved ebony Story & Clark piano. Over the years, three pianos lived in the Music Room: the Story & Clark, a white Baby Grand, and a gold-leafed Baby Grand. Elvis was known to spend many late nights jamming in the Music Room with his friends. The Music Room has a unique mirror on its wall that came from Elvis’ residence before he lived at Graceland.

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8. Dining Room

Elvis’ dining room is probably one of the most frequented places in Graceland. This room has black marble flooring in its center, flanked by plush white carpeting. Both corners of the room have curio cabinets full of collectibles. Above the large dining room table sits an ornate Italian glass chandelier.

Typically, Elvis sat at the head of the table when dining with family and friends. It was common to have extensive dinners with more than 10 or 12 guests. Elvis would have his entourage, known as the Memphis Mafia, over for late night dinners around 10 PM where his cooks would make large dinners of delicious southern cooking, Elvis’ favorite. He also liked staging poker games at his large dining room table.

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9. Kitchen

Graceland’s kitchen still has the same design it had since the final renovations in the mid-1970s. It has a warm, homey feel with dark wood cabinets and red and gold carpet. The home was not open to the public until the last resident, Elvis’ aunt Delta, passed away. For security purposes, Elvis’ kitchen has video monitors and a private phone line for communicating with Graceland security staff.

Elvis took pride in stocking his kitchen with the latest gadgets. He was one of the first in the area to have a microwave, which he paid $1,000 for. The kitchen has a 4-burner stove with a secret drawer that revealed an additional four burners. A top-quality 70s style oven made by The Tappan Company sits adjacent to the stove. Graceland’s kitchen was equipped with a trash compactor, avocado green dishwasher, and sunny yellow refrigerator. The cast-iron skillet used by cooks to make the King’s favorite bacon still sits on the stovetop at Graceland.

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10. Jungle Room

One of the most infamous rooms in Graceland is the Jungle Room. Originally a screened in back patio located behind the kitchen, Elvis made this room a part of the main house in the 1960s. The Jungle Room is notable for the massive working waterfall on its far wall. Elvis loved the idea of a waterfall, but it became a nuisance because it regularly flooded and leaked.

Exotic plants, floor-to-ceiling green shag carpet, and animal prints comprised the Jungle Room’s decor. Elvis’ father Vernon hated the animal print furniture, which Elvis purchased on a whim to rile him up. One of the first ever portable telephones was installed in this room. It resembled a suitcase more than a phone, but the King was just proud to have something no one else had. The Jungle Room was converted into a recording studio in 1976. Elvis recorded most of his final two albums, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, and Moody Blue, in this studio. These recordings are the final Elvis Presley recordings in a studio setting.

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11. Pool Room

Elvis was a big fan of playing pool and was quite competitive. He had his own billiards room constructed in 1973. The whole place was covered in identical fabric. The ceiling, walls, and couches are all treated in the same bright, colorful abstract fabric. It took three workers ten days to cover the room in the paisley pleated fabric. More than 400 yards of it covers the pool room.

The pool table in the middle of the room is large, with grey felt. There’s still a small tear in the felt where one of Elvis’ friends tried a trick shot. Above the pool table hangs a custom made stained glass lamp. Continuing Elvis’ French style from the living room, three Louis XV chairs occupy once corner. There’s an iconic Toulouse-Lautrec can-can girl poster on the wall, and several Indian accent pillows adorn the couches.

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12. TV Room

Also known as the basement living room, the TV room had three mounted televisions on one wall. Elvis was inspired by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had three TVs so he could watch the three major network newscasts at the same time. The King was a huge football fan, so he would tune in to the NFL games every Sunday.

The TV room also had a pull-down screen to watch movies, a jukebox and Elvis’ personal record collection. On the wall behind the couch, there was a huge lightning bolt painted on the wall along with the letters TCB. TCB and the lightning bold stood for Elvis’ motto “Taking Care of Business in a Flash.” Elvis also had custom made bracelets and medallions with the logo for himself and the members of the Memphis Mafia.

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13. Second Floor

The second floor of Graceland was certainly Elvis Presley’s domain. During his years at the mansion, only a select number of people were permitted to go upstairs. Even now, the top floor is cordoned off, and no tour groups may venture upstairs. Since Elvis died, the upstairs floor has remained untouched.

Graceland’s second floor houses Elvis’ bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom at the southwest corner. In the northeast corner is his daughter Lisa Marie’s room and a bedroom located in the southeast corner was designated as Elvis’ private personal office. The second floor of Graceland will forever remain closed off to visitors out of respect for the Presley family and to avoid any unwanted attention to the bathroom where Elvis Presley died.

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14. Backyard

Graceland’s backyard is a lovely place to visit. The first thing you see when you walk outside is the vast green lawn. It stretched far into the property and was the site of many activities. Elvis and his friends played raucous games of touch football, had go-cart and golf cart races as well as firework battles on the lawn. He had a snowmobile modified to drive on grass, surely making his landscapers’ jobs difficult.

In the backyard sits the Presley Family Memorial and meditation garden, which is a favorite of visitors to Graceland. As you travel through the lawn of the mansion, you can see Elvis’ pasture and horse stables and his carport which held many of his prized automobiles and motorcycles.

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15. Presley Family Memorial and Meditation Garden

Housed in the backyard of Graceland is the Presley Family Memorial. Elvis was very close to his family, and they lived with him all of his life. His parents and grandmother made a significant impact on his life, and tributes to them can be seen all around Graceland. The most notable tribute to his family is in the meditation garden.

Elvis built the meditation garden as a place for him to relax and reflect on any issues going on in his life. A fountain sits in the center of the garden, and Elvis’ gravesite surrounds it. His mother Gladys, father Vernon and paternal grandmother Minnie Mae all rest there. Elvis’ twin brother Jesse, who was stillborn, also has a memorial. Elvis and his mother were originally buried at another cemetery, but they were moved to Graceland after grave robbers tried to steal their remains. Guests of Graceland can get access to the meditation garden for free every day from 7:30 to 8:30 AM.

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16. Swimming Pool

The first renovation Elvis made to Graceland when he bought it was to add a patio and swimming pool. While most of the estate is busy and full of decorations, the pool area is understated. One of the most common rumors about Graceland is that the swimming pool is shaped like a guitar, but it’s actually kidney bean shaped. It’s about 18 by 36 feet.

Like the rest of Graceland, the swimming pool hasn’t changed much over the past few decades. Aside from a modern automatic pool cleaner, the pool looks exactly as it did when it was installed in 1957. Since before Elvis died in 1977, the same pool company, Memphis Pool, has been caring for the Graceland swimming pool.

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17. Barn

When it was built in 1939, Graceland was initially used as a cattle farm, and the property sported a large barn behind the mansion from the start. The barn was the first area of the property to have air conditioning in order to keep a prize bull cool. Elvis Presley was a big fan of horses and an avid rider. He held a variety of horses and other animals in his barn. The walls of the barn are covered in Elvis’ handwriting where he labeled the equipment for each horse.

Elvis Presley had a few animals when he moved in, but in 1966, he became serious about owning horses. He purchased a horse named Domino for his soon-to-be wife Priscilla for Christmas that year. Elvis also bought a horse named Sheba so Priscilla and her friend Sandy could ride horses together. He eventually bought himself a Palomino horse named Rising Sun who ended up being his favorite. In honor of Rising Sun, a golden Palomino horse is always present in the Graceland barn. The current palomino is named Tucker or Tuscan Sun.

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18. Vernon’s Office

On the grounds of Graceland, there is a small, wood-framed building that was constructed in 1939. This one-story building was initially designed to house servants. Elvis’ father Vernon Presley used this small building as his office.

Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley’s career, but his father Vernon managed his personal business. He oversaw not only all the details of Elvis’ finances but the staffing and management of the Graceland grounds as well. As visitors approach Vernon’s office, they can spot a swing set Elvis purchased for his daughter Lisa Marie and her friends in the 1970s.

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19. Trophy Building

Elvis Presley decided in the 1960s to have a large wing on the south side of the main house constructed. Also, a small breezeway was installed in order to connect the new wing to the main house. Initially, the new wing contained a slot car track, but it was eventually remodeled to display Elvis’ trophies, awards, memorabilia and more.

It was given the name Trophy Building, and later on, plate-glass double doors were installed to offer visitors better access. The most striking part of the Trophy Building is the Hall of Gold. This 80-foot-long room displays all of Elvis Presley’s first gold and platinum albums and singles. There are also several display cases that house other awards like his three Grammy Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy for the Recording Arts and Sciences. Currently, the Trophy Building holds an exhibit about the Presley Family where guests can see Elvis’ wedding tuxedo, Priscilla’s wedding dress, and Lisa Marie’s childhood belongings.

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20. Racquetball Building

In 1975, Elvis became interested in the sport of racquetball, so he had a building constructed to accommodate his new hobby. This building is approximately 2,200 square feet and two stories high. The first floor housed the racquetball court and a lounge area. Upstairs, visitors would find guest facilities, Jacuzzi spa, and Elvis’ private dressing room.

The racquetball building at Graceland has been remodeled several times, but it still has Elvis’ signature over-the-top style. Elvis’ personal shower area has five gold-plated shower heads! In the lounge area, Elvis sat a piano and played two songs for friends the night before he died. He played Willie Nelson’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.”

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21. Smokehouse

One of Elvis’ favorite pastimes was shooting guns. He was known to use them for his amusement too. Elvis was a notorious night owl and would often stay up late watching TV. He wasn’t a fan of actor Robert Goulet and would get upset when he appeared on TV. One night he saw Goulet on screen and shot at his 25-inch RCA TV with his firearm.

Behind the Graceland mansion, there’s a small brick building known as the smokehouse. Elvis and his friends, the Memphis Mafia, would spend much time hanging out and shooting guns in his personal shooting gallery. Recently, a paper target loaded with bullet holes from Elvis’ gun fetched over $27,000 at an auction!

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22. Elvis’ Pets

Elvis was known for his love of animals, and during his time at Graceland, he had many furry friends! Nearly 14 acres of land provided a lot of space for animals. His mother Gladys raised chickens, and Elvis had a pet turkey named Bowtie. Elvis’ father Vernon raised hogs and used the smokehouse to cure pork before it was turned into a shooting range. He had donkeys for a while, and before the fence around Graceland was complete, they lived in the new, empty swimming pool.

He had a few exotic animals too, but they didn’t last long at Graceland. Fans from Australia sent him a wallaby twice. They got donated to the Memphis Zoo, along with several peacocks who lived in the property. The peacocks scratched at their reflections in the paint on Elvis’ cars, so they were better off at the zoo. Elvis had a chimpanzee named Scatter who lived at Graceland for a while until he became too unruly to manage. The Presley’s also had many dogs including a Basset Hound, Great Danes, a Chow Chow, and a Pomeranian.

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23. Elvis’ Style

Not only is Elvis Presley known for his music, but he is also considered a fashion icon. While most people remember him for his sparkly jumpsuits and mutton chop sideburns, Elvis’ style journey began in the 1950s when he entered the entertainment business. He felt most comfortable in simple, conservative clothes; Cuban collar shirts, blousons, and wide-legged trousers. Clothing that Elvis wore at the start of his career is currently on trend. He indeed was ahead of his time.

Elvis starred in several beach-themed movies and subsequently became the pioneer of the Hawaiian shirt. Even his prison-themed outfit for his role in the Jailhouse Rock music video oozes style and sophistication. In the 1960s, Elvis style became a bit more colorful. He wasn’t afraid to wear a mismatched suit or pair contrasting colors like navy and beige. 1970s Elvis style was all about huge sunglasses, jumpsuits and plenty of bling!

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24. Elvis Presley’s Memphis

In 2017, a 200,000 square foot entertainment complex was built on the grounds at Graceland. Elvis Presley’s Memphis takes visitors on a tour that follows the life of Elvis Presley, surrounding them with things he loved and the sights and sounds of his beloved Memphis. For Elvis fans, this attraction is a must-see!

Filled with artifacts from the Graceland archives, Elvis Presley’s Memphis houses many of Elvis’ gold and platinum records, memorabilia and even some of his trademark jumpsuits. There’s an exhibit dedicated to the life of Lisa Marie Presley, tracing from her childhood at Graceland all the way through her career and how she’s carrying on her father’s legacy. Also in the museum is an area covering 25 artists greatly inspired by the King. Fans can get an up-close look at Elvis’ Army fatigues, footlocker, dress uniforms and other artifacts from his time in the military in a special section of Elvis Presley’s Memphis.

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25. Presley Motors

Elvis was known for his love of cars and had an extensive auto collection. A part of Elvis Presley’s Memphis, Presley Motors Automobile Museum houses many of the King’s most prized vehicles. The room is set up like a park, so you feel like you’re strolling outside at a car show. This self-guided tour gives fans insight into the cars and how Elvis came to own them.

Among the vehicles on display are Elvis’ 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1956 Cadillac Eldorado, 1973 Stutz Blackhawk, and 1975 Ferrari Dino. The iconic pink Jeep from Blue Hawaii is also in the building! For car lovers and Elvis fans, this is a great place to learn more about Elvis Presley’s beautiful cars. There’s also the area of Presley Cycles which displays Elvis’ motorized toys. Here you’ll find motorcycles, a John Deere tractor and ski boats.

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26. Dining at Graceland

When visiting Graceland, there are several options for dining, just like the King! If you’re looking for classic southern food, stop in at Vernon’s Smokehouse. It’s the best place to get authentic Memphis barbecue seasoned with their signature Vernon’s Smokehouse BBQ sauce. The menu features several of Elvis’s favorite dishes, including BBQ spaghetti, catfish, and meatloaf.

For those who love a good old-fashioned diner, stop by Gladys’ Diner! There you’ll find hot dogs, burgers, pizza, and other tasty sandwiches. Elvis’ favorite sandwich, peanut butter, and banana, is also on the menu. For those staying at The Guest House at Graceland, the late night Peanut Butter and Jelly Station is a must-try. This spot is where guests can create the ultimate PB&J and truly eat like the King.

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27. Notable Visitors

Over the years, Graceland has been visited by millions of people. Because Elvis Presley has inspired so many musicians and artists, many celebrities have visited the famed mansion. Before he was famous, Bruce Springsteen tried to enter Graceland by climbing over the walls. He was stopped by security and disappointingly told that Elvis wasn’t home.

Paul Simon visited the grounds in the early 1980s, and his experience led him to write the title track for his album Graceland, which became a hit. President George W. Bush took then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a tour of the mansion in 2006. Koizumi is a serious Elvis Presley fan and even shares Elvis’ January 8 birthday. Other famous faces seen at Graceland include Ann-Margret, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison, and Don Rickles.

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28. Graceland in Pop Culture

As mentioned above, Paul Simon’s hit song Graceland was inspired by Elvis’ mansion. Simon’s lyrics portray Graceland as a holy place. In 1987, Graceland won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Marc Cohn’s famous song Walking in Memphis references Graceland and the iconic Jungle Room. Several movies refer to Graceland including 3000 Miles to Graceland and Finding Graceland.

Two of Elvis’ albums released before his death make a nod to his beloved home. Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis, published in 1974, features a picture of Graceland on its cover. His 1976 album titled From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee gets its name from the street where Graceland is located. The name references the fact that Elvis recorded the album in his studio at Graceland.

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29. Graceland Too

For many years, there was a large Elvis shrine known as Graceland Too located in Holly Springs, Mississippi. This two-story house was loaded with Elvis memorabilia and artifacts. In fact, it was so crowded with paraphernalia that the home became a fire hazard. The eccentric owner of the house kept the site open twenty-four hours a day, every day, all year round.

Originally, the house was painted pink; then it was changed to white. Eventually, Graceland Too was painted Mediterranean blue and decorated with American flags. Graceland Too was closed in 2015 when the owner unexpectedly passed away. The contents of the home were sold at auction to buyers from around the world.

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30. Elvis’ Legacy

Since he broke onto the music scene in the 1950s, Elvis Presley has influenced people around the world. From music to acting, his work has inspired countless artists. Bob Dylan, Mick Fleetwood, Roger Daltry, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, and numerous other musicians count Elvis as the reason why they began playing music. Those close to him knew him as a good, humble man who cared deeply for his family and his craft.

Elvis’ music helped to elevate the rock and roll genre. As his popularity rose, so did rock and roll. He was instrumental in fusing rock, blues, country, and gospel into one incredible sound. Even today, more than 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley continues in numerous ways. Whether it’s through his music, family, or iconic Graceland home, Elvis Presley’s legacy will forever be eternal.

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