Icons can often become synonymous with a city, while others provide communities with powerful symbols that can be utilized for various purposes. In becoming an icon of Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley has become all of these things and more, but he’s been able to do so without being defined by any single symbol or image. That flexibility has allowed the city and community to utilize Elvis in countless ways to create innumerable benefits that can be seen across Memphis.
Graceland and Beyond
Whether it’s Elvis Presley Boulevard or the Welcome Center that literally has his name on it, it’s impossible to spend much time in Memphis without seeing the impact and influence of Elvis. The statue of Elvis in the Welcome Center was moved there from the famous Beale Street in 1994, with a new one taking its place in 1997.
While Graceland has cultivated his legacy in an active way, there are many other ways and places to see Elvis all over the city. The Beale Street Brass Notes Walk of Fame is an effort to highlight the many talented people who had put Memphis music and Beale Street on the world map. Elvis is one of the top names on the list. Additionally, maps and guides of the city feature images and icons of Elvis for a variety of purposes, whether it’s to promote a product or to advertise for a show.
Businesses all across the city use imagery associated with Elvis to enable audiences to identify with the product or service that they’re offering. This includes various memorabilia and merchandise.
The name “Elvis” is recognized across the world, but that name means something distinct all across Memphis. Elvis has become a symbol for the entire city that the community has been able to utilize in multiple ways to build on a legacy that continues to evolve and benefit the city and region.
Building on a Legacy
The fame and notoriety of Elvis, as well as his residence in Memphis, made him especially appropriate to serve as an icon of the city, which is something few other people could do and few other cities would have available to them. Nonetheless, the appearance of Elvis on everything from streets to signs to coins highlights the kind active efforts that are needed to enable this kind of development, which doesn’t need to be driven by a single statue or monument. The many ways that Memphis has done and continues to do so has positively impacted the community in ways that are set to become that much more pronounced and powerful.
