Elvis's Birthplace, Graceland and Sun Studios
Explore Elvis's Early Years in Tupelo and Graceland in Memphis
May 14, 2009
Vernon Presley barely scraped enough together to build the two-room "shotgun" house in Tupelo where Elvis was born in 1935. Although the tiny white clapboard house's furnishings are not originals, they are true to the period. When Vernon returned to the home in the 1970s, he showed how to position items exactly as they were in those early days.
Adjacent to the house, a museum pays homage to Elvis's childhood and how his Mississippi roots influenced him. A modest, peaceful meditative chapel was constructed from fans' donations. Nearby, the Walk of Life depicts each year of Elvis's life. A bronze statute "Elvis at 13" shows the future icon wearing overalls and latching onto a guitar just before his family moved to Memphis.
Elvis's First Guitar in Tupelo
An "All American City," Tupelo welcomes Elvis fans. On Main Street, pay a visit to third-generation-owned Tupelo Hardware. Saunter over to the music counter where Elvis got his first guitar. Story has it that a young Elvis wanted to buy a rifle for his birthday. His mother encouraged him to try the guitar. After strumming a few chords, Elvis grinned his consent. His mother paid $7.75 for the beginning of music history.
Elvis Records at Sun Studios
After a post-war move to Memphis, Elvis graduated from high school and worked while still singing and playing his guitar. When he was 18, he walked into Sun Studios to record a song as a birthday surprise for his mother. Eventually, Elvis's unusual voice and demeanor caught the attention of owner Sam Phillips.
Today travelers can tour Sun Studios in downtown Memphis, and see the microphone that Elvis used. Here is where he jammed with other then-unknowns like Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. There's even an "x" on the floor where Elvis stood to sing and sway. From the studios, patrons can take a free shuttle to Graceland, Elvis's home for two decades.
Elvis Lives on at Graceland
Graceland is where Elvis escaped all the hullabaloo. He decorated the 1939-era Southern mansion in his indomitable – and sometimes over-the-top – style. Since 1982, visitors have been allowed to tour the National Historic Landmark home. There are several categories of tours from which to choose, including platinum and VIP levels. Note that out of respect for the family's privacy, Graceland's upstairs is closed to the public.
In a self-guided audio tour, guests hear stories from Elvis and daughter Lisa Marie. The cushy, 15-foot white sofa and stained glass panels embedded with peacocks frame the living room. The 1970s-look "jungle room" is decorated with an avocado green shag carpet, African wood carvings and zebra upholstery.
The Trophy Building houses Elvis's gold and platinum record awards, personal mementos and flashy clothing. A walkway leads to Meditation Garden, the quiet final resting place of Elvis and other family members. A minibus takes visitors across the street to the Elvis Car Museum where his 1955 pink Cadillac and the red MG he drove in the film "Blue Hawaii" are on display.
At the Sincerely Yours museum, rotating exhibits such as "Elvis in Hollywood" showcase memorabilia, scripts, photos and costumes from his 31 films. Elvis's rags-to-riches journey from Tupelo to Memphis– plus Hollywood and Las Vegas – stands as a testament to how he became The King of Rock 'n Roll.
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