"All Shook Up" in Memphis!

Our next destination was Memphis, TN.  We had a pretty tight schedule since we were only passing through for one day.  

Our first stop was the King's mansion - Graceland.  Although a bit pricey (for our budget, at least), we're glad we stopped!

At age 22, Elvis purchased Graceland for just over $100,000.  He personally over-saw the renovation of this mansion which was built in 1939.  In respect to the King, the upstairs is off-limits to visitors.  The whole upstairs is Elvis' master bedroom, bathroom, and changing room, as well as Lisa Marie's bedroom.  When visitors would arrive, he would first greet them in this living room.  Elvis was very obsessed with his image; he never went downstairs without being dressed in his best.   

Lisa Marie remembers non-stop activity in the kitchen - day and night.  Elvis loved southern food, and always had a list of food and dishes he wanted available 24-7.

Decor famous in the 70s.  Check out the shag green carpet!  It can be found absolutely everywhere in the house...on the floors, ceilings and even walls!

Elvis' media room - complete with three TV's that he liked to watch at once.
 

The billiards room.  The fabric on the walls and couch are a bit too much, in my opinion.

Some of his famous costumes which he wore during his "comeback years."

Elvis died in 1977 in his upstairs bathroom at Graceland; he was 42 years old.  Elvis is interred in Graceland's Meditation Garden, along with his parents, grandmother, and twin brother who died at birth.

Along with the mansion, you can also tour most of the outbuildings at Graceland, including Elvis' office, racquetball/exercise building, car port, and two planes he owned.  Elvis loved horses, and purchased one for Priscilla, Lisa Marie, and other close family members and friends; they were kept in the stables located behind the house.  There are still horses at Graceland today.


After our tour of Graceland, we were on to our next stop in Memphis -
 the National Civil Rights Museum.