Graceland

The first time we came through Memphis several years ago our son Jeff was with us. We went to Beale Street for dinner and visited the National Metal Museum, but avoided the most obvious attraction, Graceland. We also stayed in a weird campground where Anna Lee was glad to have two big men with her.

Since then we have heard several times that Graceland is worth visiting so we decided to see it for ourselves. We are even staying at the Graceland Campground right across from Elvis’ home.

The rumors are right; the home is definitely worth a tour. A mansion when constructed in the 1930s and big when he bought it in 1957, it is a nice two story home by today’s standard.

What catches the eye is the decor, green shag carpet, wild animal upholstery, Asian pottery, and South Pacific wood carvings. Here is his living room:

Elvis' TV Room

Elvis' Pool Room

What tickled us were the Franciscan Apple pattern dishes, just like Jerry’s mother’s.

The pool, billiard room, and stable were rare back then but less so today.

The cemetery plot with Elvis, his parents and grandmother is a fitting tribute to such an icon.

Thanks to the audio tour, we left the mansion with an appreciation for both the person he was off stage as well as the phenomenon he was on stage.

The tour includes several other venues. His auto collection and two planes were interesting for the flash and wealth they represented.

Elvis motto appears on the tail of his plane. TCB meant "Taking Care of Business". The Section on Elvis as a newsmaker was quite good, especially for those of us old enough to remember how he shocked adults with his gyrations.

The other displays were of less interest to us. One thing to note, all exhibits lead to shops.

In keeping with the kitsch of the day, we rode in a pink Cadillac limo to Marlow’s, a bbq restaurant recommended by Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.

The chicken and beef were really good and the mud cake good enough to lick the plate.