Walking in Elvis’ footsteps was haunting and humbling. The King came from hardscrabble beginnings to become music’s biggest influence and a world-wide star in the short span of 42 years. His work and his fame are immortal.
The Presley twins were born in a two-bedroom shotgun house in Tupelo, Mississippi. Jessie Garon was stillborn. His twin, Elvis Aaron followed alive and healthy.
Elvis was Vernon and Gladys Presley’s only child. He grew up surrounded by a close-knit, extended family and was deeply influenced by the Assembly of God Church, black blues singers living in the neighborhood and country music on the radio.
The Graceland experience begins in a maze of connected attractions and exhibitions across Elvis Presley Boulevard from the Graceland Mansion. We wandered around for hours in the museum-like buildings heralding Elvis’ style, life, contributions and possessions.
The Presley Motors Automobile Museum housed classic luxury and sporting vehicles Elvis amassed over the years. Elvis’ quote, “Life is too short to drive boring cars.” was prophetic.
Elvis bought this 1946 Solar Midget race car and promptly ran into a tree at Graceland. After several accidents in the racer his father got rid of the thing, “Before he kills himself in it.”
Elvis’ boat “Gladys” was one of two modest runabouts he owned that certainly weren’t yachts fit for a KIng, but gave him great pleasure, while charging across McKellar Lake in them.
Elvis’ Convair 880 Jet Airplane the “Lisa Marie” could seat a maximum entourage of 29 people. There was one tiny bedroom in the tail section. The “TCB” logo with lightning bolt on the tail stood for “Taking Care of Business” in a hurry. The Elvis design also showed up in his jewelry and clothing.
Elvis was 22 when he bought Graceland, on just short of 14 acres, for $102,500 in 1957 as a present for his parents. Gladys said, “When he was hardly four, he’d tell me, ‘When I’m grown up I’ll buy you a big house and two cars. One for you and Daddy and one for me.’ I believed him.”
Just inside the front door to the left, is the dining room with a TV in one corner. Elvis sat where he could always see the TV. There was a television in every room of the house. The table could seat twelve.
The kitchen was functional and always in use, due to the varied schedules of the many people that lived with and visited Elvis at Graceland.
Elvis decorated every room in the house. It took 300 yards of pleated fabric to upholster the walls and ceilings of the Billiard Room in 1974.
Graceland was small by today’s “Mansion Standards.” The house was 10,000 square feet when Elvis purchased it and grew to 17,500 square feet before he was done adding on.
Elvis played racquetball in the court he built behind his house the day he died. After the game, his friends asked him to play a song on the small upright piano in the gym. He played and sang “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” before going into the house to sleep. Elvis and his family are interred in the Meditation Garden at Graceland. “There are no goodbyes. Wherever you’ll be, you’ll be in my heart.” — Gandhi