Few celebrity homes are as well known as Graceland, the white-columned mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, that Elvis Presley bought at the height of his early fame. More than four decades after it opened to visitors, it remains one of the most visited private homes in the United States. On Almawadahit.com we cover celebrity homes with a focus on documented facts, and Graceland is a good example of a famous house whose history is unusually well recorded by its own museum and by public heritage registers.
Key Takeaways
- Graceland was built in 1939 for Dr. Thomas Moore and Ruth Brown Moore, not for Elvis.
- Elvis bought the house in 1957 for about $102,500, according to Graceland.
- It opened to visitors on June 7, 1982, and became a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
Before Elvis: Who Built Graceland?
Graceland was not built for Elvis. According to the history published by Graceland, the house was completed in 1939 for Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife, Ruth Brown Moore. The land had belonged to Ruth’s family, and the estate took its name from her great-aunt, Grace Toof. The house was designed in the Colonial Revival style, with the columned front portico that later became one of the most photographed entrances in American popular culture.
At the time, the property sat outside the built-up part of Memphis in the Whitehaven area. The road in front of it was later renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard, which is why the address you see today is 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard.
How Elvis Bought the House
Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957, when he was 22 years old and already a national star after a run of hit records and his first film. Graceland’s official history puts the purchase price at about $102,500. He wanted a home with more privacy than the house he had been living in, where fans regularly gathered outside, and a place large enough for his parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley, to live with him.
Elvis made the house his own over the following years. Some of the best-known changes include:
- the music-themed wrought-iron front gates, added soon after the purchase;
- the TV room and pool room decorated in bold 1970s style;
- the den nicknamed the “Jungle Room”, which Elvis also used as an informal recording space in 1976;
- the racquetball building added to the grounds in the 1970s.
Graceland After 1977
Elvis died at Graceland on August 16, 1977. He is buried on the grounds in the Meditation Garden, together with his parents and his grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley. The garden is one of the most visited parts of the property, especially during the annual Elvis Week in August.
The estate passed to his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Running costs were high, and in 1982 the estate opened the mansion to the public as a museum. The tours began on June 7, 1982, a decision led by Priscilla Presley, who managed the estate for her daughter at the time. Opening the house turned it into a source of income instead of a cost, and the business around it grew from there.
Official Recognition as a Historic Site
Graceland is recognised by the US government as part of the nation’s heritage. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and in 2006 it was designated a National Historic Landmark, a status managed through the National Park Service’s National Historic Landmarks program. That recognition rests on its connection to Elvis and his influence on American music, rather than on the architecture alone.
What Visitors Can See Today
A visit to Graceland is now much more than a walk through the house. The mansion tour covers the main rooms on the ground floor, while the upstairs, where Elvis’s bedroom is, has always remained private. Across the road, the Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex houses exhibitions on his cars, costumes, records and career, and the visitor area also includes his two private jets.
If you are planning a trip, it is worth checking the official Graceland website for current tour types, opening hours and prices, because these change over time and differ between tour packages.
Why Graceland Matters to Celebrity Home History
Graceland is a useful reference point when reading about other famous homes, for three reasons:
- It is well documented. The purchase, the alterations and the later history are recorded by the estate and by heritage bodies, so you do not have to rely on rumour.
- It shows how a home becomes a brand. The decision to open the house in 1982 turned a private residence into one of the best-known tourist attractions in Tennessee.
- It reflects its era. The decor is a snapshot of the 1960s and 1970s, which is part of why fans and design historians still study it.
Most celebrity homes are far less transparent. Purchases are often made through trusts or companies, and prices are reported second-hand. Our guide on how celebrity home sales are reported explains how to read those stories and which records you can check yourself.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
| Location | 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee. |
| Built | 1939, for Dr. Thomas Moore and Ruth Brown Moore. |
| Bought by Elvis | 1957, for about $102,500 according to Graceland. |
| Opened to the public | June 7, 1982. |
| National Historic Landmark | designated in 2006. |
Graceland in the Wider Elvis Story
Graceland is only one stop on the map of Elvis Presley’s life. He was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, where his small birthplace home is also preserved and open to visitors. His family moved to Memphis when he was a teenager, and in 1954 he made his first commercial recordings at Sun Studio for Sam Phillips’ Sun Records, a few miles from where Graceland stands. Many fans combine the three places in one trip, because together they trace his path from a two-room house to one of the most famous homes in the country.
The house has also become a cultural reference in its own right. Paul Simon named his 1986 album Graceland after the mansion, and the name is now widely recognised even by people who have never visited Memphis.
Elvis Week
Each August, around the anniversary of his death, Graceland hosts Elvis Week, a series of concerts, talks and fan events. Its best-known tradition is the candlelight vigil, when fans walk up the driveway to the Meditation Garden through the night. If you prefer a quieter visit, it is worth avoiding that week and the days around Elvis’s birthday in January, when the property is at its busiest.
Tips for Reading About Graceland
Because Graceland is so famous, it attracts a lot of myths. When you read claims about secret rooms, hidden treasures or unusual sale offers, check whether they come from the estate, from Graceland’s official channels or from established news organisations. The official site and heritage registers remain the most reliable sources for its history.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Did Elvis Presley Buy Graceland?
Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957, when he was 22 years old and already a national star. Graceland’s official history puts the purchase price at about $102,500. He wanted more privacy than his previous home offered and room for his parents to live with him.
Can You Go Inside Graceland Today?
Yes. The mansion has been open to the public since June 7, 1982. Tours cover the main rooms on the ground floor, while the upstairs, including Elvis’s bedroom, stays private. Check the official Graceland website for current tour options, opening hours and prices before you visit.
Where Is Elvis Presley Buried?
Elvis Presley is buried in the Meditation Garden on the Graceland grounds in Memphis, together with his parents, Vernon and Gladys, and his grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley. The garden is one of the most visited parts of the property, especially during Elvis Week each August.
Keep Exploring
Graceland also connects to other parts of celebrity culture. Elvis’s cars are displayed across the road from the mansion, which makes a good bridge to our celebrity cars stories such as the story of the Bullitt Mustang. For more homes, lifestyle and car stories, return to the Almawadahit.com homepage and pick a category from the menu.
Keep reading: see more stories in Celebrity Homes or browse Celebrity Cars. Related: How Celebrity Home Sales Are Reported and How Stars Are Chosen for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
