Graceland: A Living Memorial to Elvis Presley

What could ever cause  a country house on a 20 acre plot would grow to be regarded “as familiar to America as Tara, Scarlett O’Hara’s home in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ or a property rivaling “Monticello, Mount Vernon, and other once-private homes among the biggest tourist attractions in the country?” (Lollar.) Two words for you: Elvis Presley.

                Most of us know Elvis by his long-lived hits, his title as the “King of Rock,” or possibly even the leather jump-suited impersonators we encounter in places like Branson and Las Vegas. However, some of the most valuable insights into the personal life of this legend are found inside Elvis’ own property Graceland, which stands today in Memphis, Tennessee.  For starters, Elvis and his wife decided on the place as a major investment, after discovering that the house they had lived in for a year prior to purchasing Graceland did not allow for the privacy they needed after being in the spotlight so often, giving light to the fact that Elvis had an introverted side that needed to get away completely in times of rest. Also, in the house, lived the “king” himself, Elvis’ parents, his grandmother, wife, and at a point later on his daughter Lisa Marie. The significance of this is that as a child, Elvis always told his parents that if he grew up to become famous, he would buy a house for his parents, and provide for them, which is just what he was able to do, an act that showed how much he valued his family.

                As far as the rooms inside the house, each one had its own dramatic theme to say the least. Elvis was a fan of Rich, Dark colors, and used them sparingly in the house, even to the point where his mother stepped in and vetoed some of the ideas that came about such as purple walls with white corduroy   drapes. However, do not let this deceive you, for the rooms still had “minds of their own,” and exhibited different aspects of Elvis’ personality. Elvis’ room was all a dark blue, with a few pops of white, a mirror covering one of the walls, and stars painted on part of the ceiling, an atmosphere that paired well with his common habit to stay up in his room during the times he was at home, and the introspective side to him, a side that wanted to escape the outside pressures of his career and focus resting. At the other end of the spectrum, there were, (and still are today,) other rooms such as the jungle room, with a rambunctious, self-explanatory theme that Elvis used to record some of his tunes, and his music room, which held a piano that had a color scheme of yellow and white, complete with two stained glass windows with peacocks at the entrance. All in all, although the tone changes from room to room throughout the house, one thing the remains consistent is the fact that each room was individually created with a specific purpose, which reveals that Elvis was a man with many sides, and aspects to him.

                Although the rooms have been kept in pristine condition since Elvis’ death in 1977, some of Elvis’ personal belongings were put on display to give the visitors at Graceland a better scope into the life of Elvis Presley.  One display that I read about in particular that caught my eye was the exhibit that shows the more philanthropic side to Elvis. There is a wall in which all the different letters and checks made out to charities from Elvis are posted, which shows that Elvis cared for others, and did strive to make a difference, an asset to his character usually overshadowed by his music career, and scandals. Whether a die-hard fan, or just someone passing through, Graceland is a place that people should at one point take time to go see. It is not just an attraction as many people see it, but as journalist Larry Olmsted so accurately states, it is “a seminal part of American culture and speaks volumes to music, celebrity, and yes, history. But admittedly, most of all to Elvis.”

Oprah special with tour given Elvis' own daughter Lisa Marie Presley

Graceland by Paul Simon: A song that was inspired by the sound of music recorded there, as well as the journey to see it.

Interview with Elvis at Graceland 1960

Olmsted, L. (2012, September 14). Graceland at 30 - Better Than Ever - Forbes. Information for the World's Business Leaders - Forbes.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/09/14/graceland-at-30-better-than-ever/

Lollar, M. (2009, January 8). All About Graceland. The Elvis Information Network home to the best news, reviews, interviews, Elvis photos&in-depth articles about the King of Rock&Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley.... Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://www.elvisinfonet.com/graceland.htm

Lisa Marie Presley on Oprah (2006,Graceland tour) - YouTube. (n.d.).YouTube. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgbOjhacqQw

Hermenet, M. (n.d.). Elvis Presley's Graceland : 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Elvis Presley's Graceland : 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://graceland.elvis.com.au/

Hanson, A. (n.d.). Elvis Presley's Graceland … What It Was Like in 1957.Elvis Presley History Blog, Profiling the King of Rock and Roll. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/graceland.html

Graceland Paul Simon. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved November 19, 2012, fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT7Og2LBbE

Elvis Presley Interview Memphis,Graceland 1960 - YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1w2PkA0ua8