Graceland
3764 Elvis Presley Blvd, Whitehaven
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
35.0477° N · -90.0286° W
Get DirectionsWhat happened here?
Graceland is the second most-visited private home in America, after the White House. Elvis Presley bought the 13.8-acre property in 1957 for $102,500, when he was just 22 years old and already the biggest name in music. He lived here until his death on August 16, 1977, and is buried in the Meditation Garden alongside his parents, grandmother, and grandson.
The mansion itself is surprisingly modest by modern celebrity standards — a Colonial Revival house built in 1939, with rooms that feel more like a well-off family home than a rock star's palace. That's part of its charm. The Jungle Room, with its green shag carpet and waterfall feature, is exactly the kind of thing a young man from Tupelo with more money than he'd ever imagined would put together. Elvis recorded parts of his final albums here, turning the Jungle Room into an improvised studio.
The house opened to the public in 1982, five years after Elvis's death. Priscilla Presley oversaw the restoration and the decision to open it as a museum, a move that saved the estate from financial ruin — the upkeep on the property was costing around $500,000 a year. The gamble paid off. Over 600,000 people visit annually.
The tour takes you through the living room, music room, TV room (with three screens built into the wall — Elvis liked to watch multiple channels at once, inspired by Lyndon Johnson), the pool room, the Jungle Room, and down to the basement racquetball court. Upstairs is off-limits — Elvis's bedroom and private quarters have never been opened to the public, a boundary Priscilla insisted on.
Across the street, the entertainment complex houses Elvis's car collection, his private jets (the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II), gold records, jumpsuits, and a timeline of his career from Sun Studio to Las Vegas. The collection of memorabilia is staggering — every stage of his life documented in costumes, contracts, and personal effects.
The Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried, is the emotional centre of any visit. Fans leave flowers, letters, and tributes year-round. During Elvis Week in August, thousands gather for the candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death — a procession past the grave that can take hours as each person pauses to pay their respects. Graceland is not just a museum. It's a pilgrimage.
Graceland is the second most-visited private home in America, after the White House. Elvis Presley bought the 13.8-acre property in 1957 for $102,500, when he was just 22 years old and already the biggest name in music. He lived here until his death on August 16, 1977, and is buried in the Meditation Garden alongside his parents, grandmother, and grandson.
The mansion itself is surprisingly modest by modern celebrity standards — a Colonial Revival house built in 1939, with rooms that feel more like a well-off family home than a rock star's palace. That's part of its charm. The Jungle Room, with its green shag carpet and waterfall feature, is exactly the kind of thing a young man from Tupelo with more money than he'd ever imagined would put together. Elvis recorded parts of his final albums here, turning the Jungle Room into an improvised studio.
The house opened to the public in 1982, five years after Elvis's death. Priscilla Presley oversaw the restoration and the decision to open it as a museum, a move that saved the estate from financial ruin — the upkeep on the property was costing around $500,000 a year. The gamble paid off. Over 600,000 people visit annually.
The tour takes you through the living room, music room, TV room (with three screens built into the wall — Elvis liked to watch multiple channels at once, inspired by Lyndon Johnson), the pool room, the Jungle Room, and down to the basement racquetball court. Upstairs is off-limits — Elvis's bedroom and private quarters have never been opened to the public, a boundary Priscilla insisted on.
Across the street, the entertainment complex houses Elvis's car collection, his private jets (the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II), gold records, jumpsuits, and a timeline of his career from Sun Studio to Las Vegas. The collection of memorabilia is staggering — every stage of his life documented in costumes, contracts, and personal effects.
The Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried, is the emotional centre of any visit. Fans leave flowers, letters, and tributes year-round. During Elvis Week in August, thousands gather for the candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death — a procession past the grave that can take hours as each person pauses to pay their respects. Graceland is not just a museum. It's a pilgrimage.
Plan your visit
Museum
Artist lived here
Fan pilgrimage site
Ticket required
Other landmarks nearby
Reviews
You've already reviewed this landmark.