Rock 'n' Roll history
Take A Look Inside Graceland, The Memphis Mansion That Elvis Presley Called Home
It's been 47 years since Elvis Presley died, but legions of fans still flock to Memphis, Tennessee, to see the sprawling Graceland estate the star once called home.
[Rock 'n' roll singer Elvis Presley stands in front of his Graceland estate. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images]
Since 1982, Graceland has operated as a museum dedicated to the star. Ticket packages offer access to the mansion, with prices for adults starting at $82. According to the website, it has hosted over 20 million visitors from across the globe.
On May 19, 2024, a public notice announced the foreclosure sale of the property, claiming that Promenade Trust — which operates Graceland — owes Naussany Investments and Private Lending $3.8 million to repay a loan that Presley's late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, took out in May 2018.
However, Lisa Marie's daughter, the actor Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit to prevent the auction of the estate, alleging that the signatures on the loan documents were forged.
[Exterior view of Elvis Presley's house, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee. GAB Archive/Redferns]
The Colonial Revival-style mansion, which was built in 1939, has eight bedrooms and four bathrooms, The Guardian reported after a tour of the house. About half of the 23 rooms in the house are off-limits to visitors, including the entire second floor — where the star's master suite is located.
According to the Graceland website, visitors are only allowed access to common spaces, including the living room, the kitchen, and the TV room. Spanning 17,552 square feet, the sprawling residence has five sets of staircases, three fireplaces, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool.
[Entrance gates to Graceland. Mike Blake/Reuters]
One of the most iconic features of Graceland is the entrance gate. Designed to resemble a musical score, there are figures on the gate depicting the star with his guitar.
According to the museum's website, Presley had the gate — which cost $1,339 — installed shortly after he purchased the residence. Throngs of fans would wait by the gate in hopes of catching a glimpse of their idol. Occasionally, he would also sign autographs for them through the gate.
[Elvis' living room in Graceland, with a custom-made 15-foot sofa and coffee table. Jon Hicks/Getty Images]
The sofa was originally a metallic blue, but Presley later had it reupholstered in white — which is what it still looks like today, per the Graceland website. He added the stained-glass windows in 1974 and chose to use a peacock design, which symbolizes eternal life and resurrection in ancient Christianity.
[An armchair in the corner of the Jungle Room in Graceland. Paul Natkin/Getty Images]
One of the most famous rooms in Graceland is the Jungle Room. The room's name only came about after the mansion opened to the public.
Presley personally picked out the Polynesian-inspired furniture because it reminded him of Hawaii, which was his favorite holiday spot, per the museum's website. He installed a waterfall and covered the room with plants to complete the look.
[A fan takes a photo of the pool room. Jon Hicks/Getty Images]
The Graceland website states that Presley worked with a designer, Bill Eubanks, to develop the room's concept.
A crew of three was needed to cut and attach 350 to 400 yards of cotton fabric strips to the walls and ceiling.
To see more photos of Graceland, head to Business Insider.
