Elvis Presley‘s Graceland is one of the most famous homes in the United States, and every year, thousands of people visit the stately Southern mansion in Memphis, Tennessee to see where the King of Rock and Roll lived, and sadly also died.
If you’ve ever been on the Graceland tour, then you know that the term “mansion” isn’t exactly accurate. The home itself is large, but not overly so, although, the rooms are quite bold and opulent, showcasing Presley’s signature flair and style.
The home looks just as it did when he lived there, and visitors can see the living room with Presley’s piano, dining room, kitchen, the famous “Jungle Room,” and the basement “TV Room,” which has not one, but three TVs.
However, there’s one room that’s strictly off-limits to tourists, and that’s Presley’s upstairs bedroom.
Interestingly enough, Elvis’ daughter, the late Lisa Marie Presley, enjoyed staying at Graceland while visiting Memphis, and her children, Riley Keough and the late Benjamin Keough, used to join her. In a recent episode of The Him and Her Show podcast, Riley recalled being forced to “hide” from tourists in her grandfather’s former bedroom, which sometimes meant being “stuck” in the room all day until tours ceased.
@thehimandhershow Riley Keough on staying at her grandfather’s property during the Graceland tours 🎤 🎸 #elvispresley#graceland #elvismovie
♬ original sound – thehimandhershow – thehimandhershow
As Keough explained of staying in Elvis’ former bedroom at Graceland, “If we didn’t get out of there early enough, then we would basically be stuck there until the tours ended. So the security would bring us McDonald’s or whatever.”
When asked about whether she understood the significance of the tours taking place, Keough replied, “I never know how to answer this question because it was just something that was normal to us, but I was aware of the love and the fans and the whole thing.”
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
What Rooms Are Open on the Graceland Tour?
On the current Graceland tour, fans can expect to see the living room, dining room, kitchen, TV room, Jungle Room, Elvis’ parents’ bedroom, Elvis’ father Vernon’s office, and the pool room.
In addition to the rooms in the main house, visitors can also walk through the Trophy Building, Racquetball Building, and the Meditation Garden, where Presley is buried alongside his beloved family members.
Elvis’ airplanes and cars are also on display across the street from the main mansion.
Related: Elvis Presley’s Former Flame Shares Intimate Behind-the-Scenes Images of Graceland
When Did Elvis Presley Live at Graceland?
Presley was just 22 years old when he bought Graceland for “just over $100,000.” He purchased the home in 1957 and lived there for 20 years, until his death on August 16, 1977.
The home was his personal oasis where he loved to entertain friends and family. During a press conference in 1960 after his return from the Army, Presley was asked about whether he planned on keeping Graceland or if he thought of moving away from Memphis.
His now famous quote sums up just how much he loved and adored his beloved city and home, and it continues to live on 48 years after his death.
“No sir, I have no plans for leaving Memphis… I’m going to keep Graceland as long as I possibly can.”
Related: Elvis Presley’s Graceland: The Mystery of the Mansion’s Lions Explained
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