GRACELAND

Took two shuttles from our Graceland hotel to the Graceland Mansion, where Elvis lived with his family.

• Here is a long video of the tour i found on You Tube, and a shorter one.
• My version will be a few spotty photos and a short video,

• 
  Here is Wikipedia's description.
• Graceland Farms was originally owned by Stephen Toof, founder of the oldest commercial printing firm in Memphis, and named the site after his daughter, Grace.
• She inherited the property from her father in 1894.
• She passed away, and niece Ruth Moore inherited the property.
• Moore built the  10,266 square foot mansion in 1939.

• 
  Elvis in 1956 purchased a Memphis $40,000 home for his family in 1956.   Here with his parents. Caught fire  in 2017.
• When his fame increased, he gave his parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley (the two restaurants at Graceland are called Vernon and Gladys), $100,000 to find a farmouse-like property with a lot of buffer space so as not to irritate his neighbors.  They paid $102,500 in 1957 for this Graceland.
• His mother passed away in 1958 at the age of 46.  His father got re-married in 1960 and they moved into Graceland.
• 
  Elvis married Priscilla Presley in 1967, and they moved into the estate.  Lisa Marie was born in 1968.
• Elvis divorced Priscilla in 1972, so Priscila and Lisa moved to California.  Lisa returned every Christmas period.

• Elvis died in 1977 at the age of 42 in his bathroom at Graceland.  Fourteen drugs were found in Elvis's system.  He is buried adjacment to the mansion, with other members of his family.
• Elvis's aunt occupied Graceland until she died in 1993, when Lisa Marie inherited the mansion and grounds at the age of 25.
• Huge legal problems followed.  
• It's amazing that all that is there at Graceland is still ongoing, in view of those problems.
• 
  The Mansion at Graceland is now 17,552 square feet with 23 rooms.
• Lisa Marie passed away in 2023 at the age of 54.
• Priscilla Presley is now 80 years old and still performs.  I know this because when we were in Las Vegas, her tour schedule had her coming to the Westgate on May 2.  According to Google AI:

Priscilla Presley continues to perform, primarily through her live, intimate "In Her Words" stage shows, where she shares personal stories about her life with Elvis Presley. She has scheduled performances in 2026, including a show at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the same venue where Elvis performed.

• Lisa Marie Presley's estate retain's 100% sole personal ownership of Graceland Mansion.

About the tour.  Took two hours.  Somewhat tedious for me.  There were lines slowing things down, and I don't like to stand around at my age.  However, worthwhile stop.

See that tree to the right.  Again below.

Graceland Mansion from front door.

Back view.

General photos of inside.

Family burial grounds.

Elvis.

There were also various museums.  This one featured 50 of his vehicles.

Went to lunch at Vernons.

Catfish and corn.

Oh, yes, an exhibition areas for Colonel Parker, who was not a colonel, was born and grew up in Belgium.  Good looking guy when younger.

One of my favorite Elvis songs is Suspicious Minds.  I will someday be courageous enough to karaoke sing it in pubic.  In the meantime, here is Donald Trump performing this on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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