The 13.8 acre estate and large white-columned mansion that was once the home to Elvis Presley is located at 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.  The official name for this mansion is "Graceland."  Graceland became an historical landmark on March 27, 2006.  The home's location is south of Downtown Memphis and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border.  Currently, the Graceland Mansion serves as a museum.

Elvis Presley died at Graceland Mansion on August 16, 1977.  His parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, and his grandmother are all buried there in what is called the "Meditation Gardens."

Elvis died in his bathroom at Graceland allegedly of a heart attack as according to one medical examiner report at the time.  However, there are many conflicting reports as to the cause of his death.   Elvis was so loved that many people today still believe it is possible he is alive "somewhere."  One report was that he had thrown up after being stricken while seated on the toilet.  It looked as if he stumbled or crawled several feet before he died and that drug use was heavily implicated in the unanticipated death of a middle-aged man with no known history of heart disease.  It was never ruled out the possibility of anaphylactic shock brought on by the codeine pills he had gotten from his dentist either. 

Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley was visiting Graceland the day he died.  She was nine years old at the time.  After the death of Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley served as executor of his estate.  The upkeep on Graceland cost $500,000 per year.  The expenses dwindled Elvis's and Priscilla's daughter, Lisa Marie's inheritance to $5 million.  After examining other famous house/museums, Priscilla hired a CEO to turn Graceland into a moneymaker.  She was the chairwoman and president of Elvis Presley Enterprises.  Quickly after Graceland opened to the public in 1982, the enterprise's fortune soared and eventually the trust grew to be worth over $100 million.  Graceland is now the second most visited private residence in the United States.  The White House is the first.

History of Graceland

Graceland grounds was originally owned by S.E. Toof, publisher of the Memphis newspaper, "The Memphis Daily Appeal."  The portion of land designated as Graceland today was given to Ruth Moore who had the present American "colonial" style mansion built.  Elvis Presley purchased the Graceland Mansion in early 1957 for approximately $150,000 after leaving an East Memphis house located at 1034 Audubon Drive.  Vernon and Gladys Presley, Elvis's parents, moved with him into Graceland.  After his mother died in 1958, his father married Dee Stanley in 1960.  The couple lived in Graceland for a time.  Priscilla Beaulieu, wife-to-be for Elvis, also lived at Graceland for five years before she married Elvis.  After their marriage in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967, Priscilla lived in Graceland five more years until she separated from Elvis in late 1972.

Tourist Destination of Today

An annual procession through the estate and past Elvis's grave is held on the anniversary of his death in all kinds of weather.  The Graceland grounds include a museum containing many Elvis artifacts such as famous Vegas jumpsuits, awards, gold records, the Lisa Marie jetliner and Elvis's extensive auto collection.  New attractions include Elvis Presley After Dark and Elvis 56 that can be found on the plaza.

Tours of the museum at Graceland are available.  The upper floor is not open to visitors, partially to avoid any improper focus on the bathroom which was the site of his death.  The upper floor also contains Elvis's bedroom that has been untouched since the day Elvis died.

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Important Disclaimer:  This web site is not associated with the National Historic Landmark of Graceland Mansion or any of Graceland Mansion's employees.