Graceland

This past week Graceland celebrated the 50th anniversary of Elvis's purchase of his beloved home so I thought a little Graceland history would be appropriate.

The Graceland acreage was once part of a 500 - acre farm called Graceland that had been in the S.E .Toof family for generations and was named after one of the female relatives...Grace.In 1939 ,Grace's niece,Ruth Brown Moore and her husband Dr.Thomas Moore,built the mansion,which became well known in the Memphis area.The Moore's daughter,Ruth Marie,was musically accomplished and became a harpist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.Classical recitals in the front formal rooms were common just as Rock&Roll,R&B, and Gospel jam sessions would be when the new owner moved in.

At the age of 22,Elvis purchased the home and grounds for just over $100,000 in the spring of 1957.The year before had been lifechanging,the first year of Elvis' superstardom-historic TV appearences,record breaking live performances,gold record after gold record,and the beginning of a film career.At the time he bought Graceland ,Elvis was working on his 2nd motion picture"Loving You".

Through the years,Elvis owned or leased one home or another in the Los Angeles area,which was beneficial to him while making movies in Hollywood.He also maintained a home in Palm Springs for awhile,as well as a ranch in Mississippi,a good amount of time in the later years was spent on the road touring the country,but Graceland was always home,a constant in his life.It was the place he spent the last 20 years of his life and the place that he died.He always welcomed his fans there,meeting with them at the gates and at times even letting them up to the house.He would often be seen riding his favorite horse,"Rising Sun" around the grounds or racing around in Golf carts or other off road vehicles.It was his home and he adored it

Today Graceland is Elvis' final resting place,he lies in the meditation gardens along with his mom,dad,and grandmother,there is a plaque in memory of his stillborn twin brother Jesse Garon who is buried in Mississippi in an unmarked grave.It is a place where all of us fans go to pay tribute and honor our hero and a place where we meet each year and rekindle friendships that were formed right there at those gates,if you have not been there,go,it is a wonderful tour,if you are not an Elvis fan,you will be when you leave,it is an amazing place where a legend spent the best years of his life.Besides the White House,it is the 2nd most visited home in the world,when you drive through the gates,in earphones you hear Elvis sing.....Welcome to my World,won't you come on in...."Take his invitation,stay awhile and immerse yourself in the life of the Greatest entertainer the world has ever known or will ever know..you will never forget it....