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Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, Memphis, Tennessee, photo

Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, Memphis, Tennessee, photo

Graceland, the home of Elvis Aaron Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee. After first achieving success as a singer and performer, Presley purchased as his home, Graceland, on March 19, 1957 for the sum of $102,500. He was twenty-two years old at the time. The home was originally built in 1939 in the Colonial Revival style and sits on 13.8 acres. The house consists of 23 rooms covering 17,552 square feet. At the time of the purchase, the home was in a somewhat rural setting. The area has since been surrounded with additional housing and businesses.

While Presley traveled considerably, Graceland served as home base for him during the rest of his life. It was here that Presley was living when he entered into the United States Army in March, 1958. After his marriage to Priscilla, this was their home for duration of their marriage from 1967 to 1973.

It was in this home that Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. The official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia. Investigations into his death revealed that Presley was taking heavy doses of a wide variety of legally obtained prescription medications. The over use of the medications are widely believed to have been a strong factor leading to his premature death.

Presley's funeral was held at his home, Graceland, on August 18, 1977. His body was buried next his mother in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. Due to a bizarre attempt to steal his body, Vernon Presley had the bodies of Elvis and his mother, Gladys, removed from the cemetery and reburied in a Meditation Garden next to the Graceland mansion.

In the photo above, the Meditation Garden is located behind the white wall at the far right hand of the mansion. In addition to the grave of Elvis Presley, the garden includes the graves of Minnie Mae Presley (grandmother of Elvis); Vernon Elvis Presley (father of Elvis Presley); Gladys Presley (mother of Elvis Presley). Also included is a smaller stone in memorial for Jesse Garon Presley, the stillborn twin brother of Elvis Presley.

The Graceland Mansion is open to the public for tours (fee). Early morning hours allow for free access to the Presley graves but not entry to the house. Graceland is said to be second only to the White House as the most visited home in America.

Graceland is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.

View the home in Tupelo, Mississippi where Elvis Presley was born

View the grave of Elvis Presley at Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

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