Memphis, TN

I’m going to Graceland

Graceland, Memphis Tennessee – Paul Simon

I can’t believe we are at the home of the King – Elvis Presley. We bought the complete package to tour the facility, starting inside Graceland (the home) itself. We were given an audio tour through the building – from the basement TV room to the shag carpet room (floor to ceiling shag pile carpet), to the office where he gave his press conference after returning from the Army, to the squash court in the 8 acres of land. In the house was a room and hallway known as the Hall of Fame. This area holds literally thousands of gold and platinum albums accumulated from all over the world. Last of all was his grave (beside his mother, father and grandmother). These are covered in flowers as tomorrow is the 23rd anniversary of his untimely death. Across the road from the house are the museums. The car museum contained the famous Pink Cadillac and where we saw a film about his career. Also parked in the area was the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog, Elvis’ personal airplanes with his signature TCB insignia on the tails.

Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

Elvis’ Grave, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

We ended up in a little café, Elliot’s, downtown for a belated lunch. After which we drove over to the Smithsonian Rock n’ Soul Museum, which traced the history of rock n’ roll. From its roots in New Orleans to the scene in the early 1950’s in Memphis (i.e,. BB King, Elvis, Chuck Berry etc). 

We went back to the hotel for a swim before a great trip to KFC for dinner. I went solo and had to get past Graceland to get to the restaurant. Unfortunately there was a road closure because of the evening’s candlelight vigil for Elvis. I spoke to a police office, and really threw on the accent, and after a couple minutes chat, he waved me through (while no one was watching). I thanked him and told him it what Elvis would’ve wanted. 

It had been a long day and Amy and I decided not to go to the vigil as we have another big day ahead of us. In hindsight, this is a decision that I regret as I will probably never have a chance to do something like that again.