In honor of Elvis' birthday this month I think it's time for a stroll on over to Elvis Presley Boulevard. This is one place that’s on my bucket list!
GRACELAND
Did you all know that Graceland is a National historic landmark?
Graceland was built in 1939 by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Moore, on a hilly and heavily wooded 13 1/4 acre site, which back then was way out in the country on a 2 lane highway 51, which connected Memphis and Jackson, MS. The land is actually closer to Mississippi than downtown Memphis. Although the name "Graceland" eventually came to refer specifically to the home, originally it applied to the entire 500-acre spread, which was established as a Hereford cattle farm in 1861, by S.E. Toof, the publisher of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. It was named "Graceland" after his daughter, Grace Toof. Ruth Moore, who eventually built Graceland, the house, was Grace's niece. Over the years, various pieces of the farm were developed into a Graceland subdivision and the Whitehaven Plaza Shopping Center.
It was Elvis' home for 20 years and it was his "security blanket" where he could go to get away from all the pressures of his fame. Purchased in 1957 for somewhere around $100,000, Elvis enjoyed the privacy of his beloved home. He lived there, played there and died there.
In the first year after Elvis purchased Graceland he spent upwards of half a million dollars, inside and outside. The wall that surrounds the property is made of Alabama fieldstone, and cost him $65, 000. The iron music gates, designed for Elvis by Abe Saucer and custom-built by Doors Inc. of Memphis, were $2,400. He also had the pool put in and enlarged the patio considerably. Graceland's white carpeting, white 15 ft. sofa (made in 1957) and blue drapes, in other words, the blue, white and gold color scheme were in place at Graceland until 1974 when Elvis allowed his then girlfriend, Linda Thompson to re-decorate Graceland. Linda had the rooms done in blood red carpeting, red Louis furniture and white shag rugs.
(Side note here: Linda Thompson pops up on occasion on various reality shows, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and a few others, she’s the ex wife of Bruce Jenner )
Graceland today is the most visited home in the United States, second only to the White House. 600,000 + visitors a year go thru Graceland, more during special occasions like the anniversaries of Elvis death, his birthday and Christmas.
I wonder if Elvis thought that all these people would one day visit his home. I think he did; It’s a gift he left for us.
Until we meet again........... Keep a song in your heart!!
My Compliments To Candy on Graceland
SDML with Candy - Main Page