Elvis Presley is one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th century, with many referring to him as the “King of Rock and Roll”. This fact helped turn him into a cultural icon and a symbol of Memphis, where his music career began and where he died in 1977 at his Graceland residence. It also allowed Graceland to become a tourist destination that draws over 650,000 visitors a year.
This transition was enabled by the iconic nature of Elvis, but Graceland highlights what it can mean to turn a space into a monument, no matter the details. Doing so at Graceland changed a private residence into a public attraction, spurring countless economic opportunities that have influenced the culture of Memphis and the entire United States.
An Elvis Theme Park
On land that was named after the original owner’s daughter, Grace, a Colonial Revival-style mansion was built in 1939. The house and property resided many miles outside of urban Memphis, which made it exactly what Elvis was looking to purchase when his fame took off in 1957.
Over the years Elvis customized the residence to suit his needs, which included the modification of various rooms, a wrought-iron front gate and the installation of a fieldstone wall surrounding the grounds. When he traveled his hotel rooms were adjusted to make him feel as if he were at home in Graceland.
Elvis died at age 42 at Graceland in 1977. The expenses of keeping the Graceland Estate functional were exorbitant, which compelled an endeavor to turn Graceland into a moneymaker. The Graceland mansion was opened to the public in 1982 but over the years the land and businesses that surrounded the mansion were purchased to form Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex, which has been described as an Elvis theme park.
The Graceland site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and was also declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. These developments are the result of numerous experiences that have been enabled across the entire complex.
Experiencing Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex
While the Graceland Mansion is the central focus of a visit, countless other experiences have been enabled for visitors across Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex. The tour of Graceland Mansion includes the living room, his parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, the Jungle Room, his father’s office, the Trophy Building, the Racquetball Building and Meditation Garden.
The Meditation Garden was built by Elvis as a place to relax and reflect, but it is also where he, his parents, and grandmother are buried. The fieldstone wall surrounding the grounds has been covered in graffiti and signatures over the years, becoming somewhat of a rite of passage for visitors.
Elvis’ customized airplanes are on display to show how he traveled from one location to another. The Lisa Marie includes a living room, conference room, private bedroom and features gold-plated seatbelts, leather-covered tables, and 24-karat gold-flecked sinks. Elvis’ smaller Lockheed Jetstar, the Hound Dog II, is also on display.
“Elvis Presley’s Memphis” and “Elvis: The Entertainer” are two of the exhibits more notable exhibits at Graceland. Elvis Presley’s Memphis enables visitors to truly see and live in the world of Elvis with displays of clothing, guitars and cars that he owned and used. The complex also features a soundstage, a theater, two restaurants and multiple retail stores, highlighting the incredible economic impact that Graceland has cultivated.
Purchasing Tickets, Buying Souvenirs and More
Numerous ticket options provide visitors with access to Graceland in various ways and numerous levels. This Elvis Experience Tour, Elvis Presley’s Memphis + Planes, Elvis Entourage VIP and the Ultimate VIP Tour are just a few of the tour options available to visitors.
Graceland contains the largest collection of Elvis merchandise in the world which includes everything from collectibles to apparel, accessories, jewelry, music, guitars, jumpsuits and more. Shops are located throughout the complex, with each store featuring its own unique merchandise. Many of these items display an image of Elvis in one way or another, but Elvis’ 1970s logo of a lightning bolt and cloud with the initials TCB, for ‘taking care of business in a flash’ is also part of countless items for sale.
The Guest House at Graceland is located just a few steps from the gates of Graceland Mansion. Every aspect of the hotel reflects Elvis’ personal style and the unique character of Graceland. Vernon’s Smokehouse and Glady’s Diner are just two of the restaurants where visitors can eat and relax on the complex.
These options have created revenue in countless ways across Graceland but surrounding businesses have also been able to benefit from the popularity that the site has enabled. Much of that is a result of the number of people that come to visit Graceland or take part in special events, all of which contribute to the positive impact that Graceland has had on Memphis as a whole.
Events, Community, Celebrations and More
A calendar of events highlights the many different kinds of performances and events that take place at Graceland on a regular basis. These events provide an influx of visitors for the entire city. They range from one-off comedy shows to annual events like Graceland’s annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Elvis Week, which is held every year in August and features a variety of activities that celebrate the life and legacy of Elvis.
The Graceland Insiders program is an Elvis community where people can connect with one another. Members can also enjoy exclusive “Insiders” view into Elvis and Graceland with members-only livecams, exclusive members-only discounts on tours and merchandise along with numerous other benefits. The Founders program offers even more exclusive benefits.
The site also has space available to rent and utilize for special occasions. The Chapel in the Woods makes for an especially unique wedding destination. Additionally, the Graceland Exhibition Center features bays that can transform into a venue for parties, exhibitions, conferences and more.
The city of Memphis has been able to cultivate the popularity that Graceland has brought to the entire region. Every year thousands of people visit Memphis, while Graceland received its 20 millionth visitor in 2016. Graceland is featured in numerous guides and tours of the city, while the popularity of the site has enabled numerous businesses to thrive.
The impact that Elvis has had on the culture of Memphis and all of America is evident. It’s something that has been cultivated in a profound way at Graceland to create a legacy that is about much more than a single person.
Cultivating a Legacy
Opening up the Graceland Mansion to the pubic turned what has been a private residence that was costing money into a public revenue-generator for stakeholders, while Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex replaced the aging buildings that used to reside across the street from the Graceland Mansion. The popularity of Elvis has helped to drive such changes, but doing so wasn’t dependent on the fame of single person or a specific audience. Rather, the success of Graceland stems from the active effort to cultivate a legacy that people from across the world can enjoy.
Few people are popular enough to merit the creation of a theme park around their likeness, but Graceland showcases the possibilities that exist for anyone interested in cultivating a legacy, regardless of where or how that begins. The thoughtful approach to creating various experiences while also allowing audiences to define and remember their visits showcases what it can mean to establish a monument that evolves and expands in equally powerful ways.
