Graceland, a Georgian colonial style mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, was originally owned by H.E. Toof and named after his daughter. The Graceland mansion was built in 1937 by Ruth and Dr. Thomas Moore. Elvis Presley purchased the property in 1957 and made it his primary residence until his death in 1977. Graceland opened to the public in 1982 and is now a museum displaying Presley’s personal effects and music awards. The second floor remains off-limits to the public, leading to conspiracy theories surrounding Presley’s death.
One of the most visited homes in America is a Georgian colonial style mansion located in Memphis, Tennessee. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world come to pay their respects to the mansion’s latest occupant, a singer and actor from nearby Tupelo, Mississippi named Elvis Aaron Presley. Presley’s home and approximately 13 acres of land surrounding it make up the tourist attraction known as Graceland. For many Presley fans, a trip to Graceland has become more of a religious pilgrimage than a casual visit.
The editor of a Civil War-era Memphis newspaper, a man named H. E. Toof, originally owned a 500-acre farm named Graceland in honor of his daughter, Grace Toof. Grace eventually inherited the property, but did not order construction of the elaborate mansion associated with Graceland today. Some of the original property was eventually sold to developers, but Grace’s niece Ruth and her physician husband Dr Thomas Moore inherited some of the farmland. It was the Moores who ordered the construction of the Graceland mansion in 1937.
Twenty years later, a young entertainer looking for a more secluded location than his current East Memphis home purchased the Graceland property for approximately $100,000 (USD). Over time, Elvis Presley would move many of his family members into the mansion and add a significant amount of living space to the original building. A custom wrought iron gate emblazoned with two musical notes became the famous entrance to the Memphis estate still known as Graceland.
As Presley’s fame and fortune grew, Graceland became more of a private retreat from the pressures of stardom. Although fans often camped at the gates to get a glimpse of their idol, Graceland provided a sense of security for Elvis and his growing entourage of musicians, assistants, family members and a close-knit group of friends known informally as the ” Memphis Mafia.” Elvis often threw parties for cast members of his largely forgettable films, and eventually commissioned a recording studio for his basement.
Although Elvis Presley owned several other houses and apartments, Graceland remained his primary residence until his death in August 1977. Several members of the Presley family continued to live in Graceland after his death, but ultimately his ex-wife Priscilla and their only daughter Lisa Marie gained control of the Graceland estate and it opened to the public in 1982. Elvis fans could finally visit areas of the mansion such as the Jungle Room, complete with an indoor waterfall and tropical décor. Another room housed three televisions, while others reflected the tastes of Linda Thompson, one of Elvis Presley’s last girlfriends.
Today, visitors to Graceland can tour a museum that displays many of Elvis Presley’s costumes, personal effects, and music awards. The second floor of the Graceland building, however, still remains strictly off-limits to the public and even most staff. Visitors who are in the first floor foyer may not even realize that they are directly below the bathroom where Elvis Presley died. The secrecy surrounding Graceland’s second floor has spurred more than a few conspiracy theories surrounding Elvis’ death, but there are plenty of other artifacts to explore on the Graceland grounds, including the memorial garden that contains the final burials of Elvis Presley and his parents. .
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