Graceland Memphis, Tennessee

Text courtesy of the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Parks Service. Minor transcription errors or changes in formatting may have occurred; please see the Nomination Form PDF for official text. Some information may have become outdated since the property was nominated for the Register.

Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, is located on a 13.8 acre lot in the city of Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. When Graceland was built on this property in 1939, the area was predominantly rural. Today the property is located in what is known as the Whitehaven community. This part of the county was annexed by Memphis in 1969. The neighborhood is commercial along Elvis Presley Boulevard with suburban houses on the smaller side streets. Graceland is an expansive property with mature tree growth in the middle of this neighborhood.

The physical description of Graceland involves three periods of ownership; the Moore Family, Elvis Presley, and the Elvis Presley Estate. The first owners of Graceland were the Moore family who built it in 1939. Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957 and lived there until his death in 1977. Today Graceland is operated as a house museum. Presley made alterations and additions to the original house during his occupancy and slight alterations have occurred to the buildings and site under the estate's management.

The name Graceland predates the purchase of the property by Elvis Presley. The first Graceland was the name of a five hundred acre farm owned by the Toof family located on the site during the nineteenth century. A descendant of the Toof family, Mrs. Thomas Moore and her husband built the present house in 1939. The architects were a prominent Memphis firm, Furbringer and Ehrman. Max Furbringer and Merrill Ehrman were responsible for such structures as the Raoul Wellenberg Memorial Shell (Overton Park Shell), the Memphis Humane Shelter, the West Tennessee Tuberculosis Hospital, the Temple Israel (now the Baptist Theological Seminary), and the Mid-South Coliseum. One of the few domestic buildings designed by the firm, Graceland was lived in by the Moores and their daughter Ruth Marie Moore. Music has always been a theme at Graceland since Ruth Marie Moore played harp and piano in the three large rooms that stretch across the front of the house.

The main structure is a five bay, two-story Neoclassical Revival structure with two single story wings. The roof is a side gable covered in asphalt shingles and there are two chimneys encased in stone. One chimney is located on the exterior wall of the north gable end and the other is located on the central ridge in the southern half of the roof. The west (main) facade is veneered in Mississippi fieldstone. The visual focus of the main facade is a two-story projecting portico.

This portico is composed of two pairs of smooth Doric columns with acanthus leaf capitals supporting an entablature complete with fascia, a smooth frieze and dentils, topped by a pediment with a small leaded oval window. Against the facade, the portico is flanked by two-story pilasters that match the columns. Underneath the portico is a Neoclassical Revival doorway. Stained glass sidelights and a transom window (made by Laukhuff Stained Glass of Memphis for Presley in 1974) surround the doorway. The entrance is flanked by engaged Doric columns on either side of the sidelights and pilasters to the outside. Spanning the doorway is a broken arched pediment with an entablature, complete with triglyphs and metopes across the door itself. On the second level, above the entry, there is a window with a small iron balcony. Keeping with the Neoclassical Revival style, this whole portico is painted white.

On the flat facade of the house, the first floor windows are double-hung with twelve over twelve panes. Above each first floor window is an arched half-circle white panel accented by a stone surround. The second story windows are double-hung with six over six panes. All of the windows have dark green shutters and are covered by a diamond-shaped metal grid. These grids were added by Presley in the late 1960s for security.

To the north and south of the center portion of the main facade are two single story wings with side gable roofs that are original to the house, except for the addition of the trophy room on the south end. The north wing is of frame construction and veneer with two six over six windows with green shutters in the section which is a part of the original floor plan of the house. The northern-most portion of this wing was the original four car garage and is now a part of the interior living space of the house. This portion of the north wing is also of frame construction and painted white. There is a small central pediment framing a six over six window with green shutters. Lattices are attached to the building on either side. The north facade of this (north) wing has a six over six window with no shutters. This wall is largely devoted to the electrical and mechanical systems of the house with electrical wires and air conditioning systems located here. The north wing houses a bathroom, bedroom, sitting room and offices.

The south wing, like the north, is frame construction and painted white. The west facade of the south wing has a large four-part window centered at the music room. The southern-most part of the south wing is the addition made by Presley which opens onto the 1957 pool and patio on the south facade. This facade has large doors (not currently used) to the west covered by bars, a group of five one over one windows covered by bars, and the current doorway used by the visitors to exit the trophy room on the east side. Brick steps lead down to the pool patio, now enclosed by an iron fence for safety. The trophy room is the only addition to the house that is visible from the main (west) facade. It is an extension off the music room built in the mid 1960s for use as an electric slot car track and later as the trophy room and for storage. The south wing consists of the music room which extends off the living room and an addition made by Presley in the mid 1960s.

The east (rear) elevation of the house is white frame with three additions visible (trophy room, den, and apartment) and irregular fenestration. Starting on the north end of the facade is the one-story addition to the garage made in 1978 by Vernon Presley, which is now used as office space. Under the low gable roof is a central doorway and a large off-center picture window on the south side of the door. To the south, is the back door connected to the back hallway which is currently the door used by visitors on the tour path. Extending from the flat elevation is the onestory den addition made by Presley during the mid to late 1960s. There are three groups of regularly spaced modern windows, all covered by metal grids. The roof of this addition serves as a sundeck accessed by a stairway from the den and also by a doorway on the second floor, directly above the den. South of the den is a projecting pedimented bay which is original to the house. The first floor of this bay has a rear doorway and the second floor has two narrow bathroom windows covered by metal security grids. The last bay of the original house consists of centered six over six windows both on the first and second floors. The single story music room bay consists of two French doors. The trophy room addition is painted white like the rest of the rear facade and extends from the flat elevation in a single story gable where a new entrance is located. This entrance vestibule consists of a pair of plate glass doors used by visitors on the tour path to enter the trophy room. The second story roof of the rear facade is asphalt shingle had has two attic dormer windows and two chimneys, one on the northern gable end and one located on the ridge in the southern half of the main house.

The floor plan and original decorative details of the main house are Neoclassical Revival in keeping with the exterior. In addition, Presley remodeled portions of the house to suit his own style. A foyer is located off the main entrance of the house. This hallway opens up with arches to either side into a dining room to the north and the living room to the south. Opposite the entrance is the main staircase to the second floor and a hallway extending to the rear of the house leading to a first floor bedroom, the kitchen, and the staircase to the basement. The color theme of this portion of the first floor is gold, white, and royal blue. At the time of Presley's death, the decor was red velour with Louis XV styled furniture. The estate chose to interpret the decor to the earlier period when Priscilla Presley lived here. The red decor and stained glass was done in 1974.

The foyer (Room 102) includes two Neoclassical Revival white and gold elliptical archway openings to either side. These identical archways are flanked by fluted pilasters, have keystone ornaments, and a radiating shell pattern in the architrave. Around the foyer is Neoclassical molding complete with a dentil coursework at the ceiling level. Mirrors were custom made and cut for Presley in 1974. They act as wall panels and as wainscoting up the main staircase giving the space a lighter and more spacious feeling. Presley had stained glass designed in 1974 by Laukhuff Stained Glass of Memphis in a rose pattern. The chandelier was bought by Presley in 1974 from Belvedere Lighting in Memphis and is Italian cut glass.

To the north of the hallway is the dining room (Room 101) measuring seventeen by twenty-four feet. The molding along the floor and ceiling are the same as in the living room. In the north corners are built-in rounded curio cabinets. At the floor level are two cabinet doors, then four shelves, and topped by a concave shell motif with a keystone at the top of the arch. The floor is carpeted around the full perimeter of the room and has black marble in the center where the table is located.

To the south hallway is the living room (Room 103) which also measures seventeen by twenty-four feet. The floor and ceiling molding matches that of the rest of the downstairs. The fireplace sections as well as most wall surfaces were paneled in custom cut mirrors in 1974 for Presley. Combined with the whiteness of the room, they give a feeling of spaciousness. The fireplace surround is relatively simple with wood and flat slabs of marble almost flush with the mirrored wall.

Off the living room, is the music room (Room 104) which measures fourteen by seventeen feet. Leading into this room are a transom and two large panels of stained glass. They were designed in 1974 by Laukhuff Stained Glass of Memphis and have peacocks as a motif.

Behind the music room through a set of doors now covered by curtains is the trophy room (H on Site Plan). This room is a part of the main house but this entrance is not used currently. When Presley bought Graceland, this space was the patio. During the 1960s he enclosed the space and made this addition to house a slot car track and later to display his awards and many gold and platinum records. The museum uses this space for the same purpose but the current entrance is from the exterior in the east wall through a doorway built for better public access. This entrance vestibule was added with glass doors as a public entrance. Inside on the south wall is a display for the 1953-1958 era of Presley's life. Opposite is an inset display case that houses momentos from the years 1958 until 1960. The next room is the Hall of Gold where Presley's two hundred gold and platinum records are displayed along both walls. At the south end of this room there is another display area. The west wall contains keys to cities and foreign fan plaques and momentos sent by fans. The east wall has exhibits from the 1960-1969 movie era of his career, wedding attire from 1967-8, the 1968 Comeback television special, and clothes from 1969 and 1970. On the north wall are various portraits made of Presley throughout his life. A second hall also contains display cases. On the east side are civic and humanitarian awards, Presley's gun collection, and badges given to Presley by law enforcement officials. Along the west wall are stagewear from 1971- 1972, 1973-1974, and 1975-1977. An exit door is located in the south wall of the trophy room.

At the rear of the central hallway is a door which leads to a bedroom and private bath (Rooms 111 and 115). These are the private rooms of Presley's aunt, Delta Biggs who resides at Graceland as she has since 1967. These rooms are not open to the public.

The kitchen of Graceland (Room 110) is entered through the dining room or the rear of the hall. This is also private living quarters for Delta Biggs. The kitchen was remodeled in the mid 1970s and contains built-in cabinets and an eating peninsula. There is also a private sitting room off the kitchen as well as closets and a second (guest) bedroom and bath (Rooms 108 and 109). A back staircase leads up from the kitchen to the landing of the main staircase.

Behind the kitchen (to the east) is a long narrow hallway. To the south is a staircase to the basement and to the north it leads into the former garage which was converted into an apartment by Presley and is now used as offices. Directly opposite the kitchen is the den (Room 114) or "Jungle Room". This room is part of the tour path and entrance is from the basement staircase. The den measures fourteen by forty feet and was an addition to the house in the mid 1960s. In the northern wall is a built-in waterfall of cut fieldstone which was constructed in the mid 1960s by Bernard Grenadier. On the south wall of the room, there is a staircase leading to the roof which was used as a sundeck. In 1982 an opening was cut in the wall in the hallway so visitors could view the room without entering it.

The northern end of the hallway leads into a remodeled apartment which is used as private offices (Rooms 105, 106, 107, 112, and 113) by Graceland. The original space that was used by the Moore family as a four car garage with a rear entrance. In the mid 1960s Presley converted this area into an apartment. In 1978, Presley *s father, Vernon Presley, remodeled this apartment and made a small addition to the rear. This part of the house has a living area, full kitchen, three bedrooms, and several bathrooms. There are exposed ceiling beams as well as natural wood wainscoting.

The basement is accessed by two staircases. One (which is paneled in mirrors) is located under the main staircase. The other is located at the rear. Directly below the living room on the southwest corner of the house is the T.V. room (Room 002), measuring seventeen by twenty-eight feet. When the Moore family lived here this room was not furnished and was used casually as a library with a piano. In 1974, Presley had this room finished and remodeled with the help of Bill Eubanks, who then worked with Ingels? Interiors of Memphis. To the right is a built-in yellow vinyl padded wet bar. There are shelves along the walls of this corner nook and stationary stools are in front of the bar. The fireplace surround, upper walls, and ceilings of this room are mirrors. The west wall of the T.V. room is decorated with a lightning bolt and cloud motif which was a symbol in Presley's life for T.C.B. or "taking care of business in the flash". The south wall of the room has three built-in television sets, a stereo, and cabinets for Presley 's record collection.

To the east of the T.V. room is an extra bedroom with a closet and bathroom. These rooms (004 and 005) are used for storage.

On the west wall house between the T.V. room and the pool room is a small closet which Presley used to store a film projector. The pool room (Room 001) is seventeen by twenty-four feet and is in the northwest corner of the house. Again, this room was unfinished when Presley moved to Graceland in 1957. The Moore family used the space for ping-pong and darts. Presley remodeled and finished this space in 1974 with the help of Bill Eubanks.

The walls and ceiling are covered with three hundred fifty yards of printed cotton fabric. There is a gas fireplace of rough ashlar in the northeast corner of the room.

The last room in the basement is the laundry room (003) in the northeast corner of the house. Today, this room contains a washer and dryer and is used for storage.

The second floor at Graceland is not open to the public. The original floor plan included four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Presley made a few minor alterations including adding a wall and door in the upstairs hallway and converting one bedroom into his dressing room. All of the carpets, decorations, and furnishings are as Presley left them. There were no changes for the public, since the upstairs is always to be off-limits to visitors.

The hallway (Room 204) is separated from the public portion of the house by a door three steps up from the landing. This was added by Presley as was a curved wall, with a mirror glass panel, which originally overlooked the downstairs hallway. All the moldings in the hallway are in the Neoclassical Revival style and appear to be original. The upstairs rooms all radiate off this hallway. The doors are white and have black vinyl padding added to the three panel partitions of the door, probably for better sound proofing.

In the southeast corner is Presley's private office (Room 206), originally used as a bedroom. The walls are covered in button tufted gold padding and around the perimeter of the ceiling is a trough for indirect lighting and red neon.

In the northeast corner of the office is the bathroom (Room 208) used by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (Presley's wife until 1973). The bathroom is carpeted and has a pink glass shower and toilet in the northern end, a counter in the southern end, and a large closet opposite the sink in the center.

Entered from the office, padded doorways mark the entry to Presley's bedroom (Room 202). A linen closet is in the southeast corner of the room. The doorway into Presley's bath and dressing room are in the north wall. The south and west wall are monochrome black paper with strips of imitation velvet. The other two walls as well as the ceiling are padded in gold glitter button tufted vinyl. In the center of the room is the nine by nine, double king size bed. Directly above it are two television sets recessed in the ceiling.

The master bathroom (Room 201) is also decorated in a black and red motif. The walls are mirrored. On the east wall is a long bathroom counter with a sink and an open tiled shower in an oval shape. The master bath opens directly into Presley's dressing area located in the northeast corner. The space has clothing racks and built-in shelves for shoes and storage.

Across the hallway in the northwest corner of the second floor is the nursery of Lisa Marie Presley (Room 205). In the eastern wall is a door to the sundeck (roof of the den) and a canopy which extended over her baby bed. The northern wall contains built-in shelves and cabinets for storage. A bathroom (Room 203) with sink, bathtub, toilet, and small cabinet is accessed on the west wall of the nursery. There is also a mini kitchen in the west wall.

There is a full attic which is unfinished. There are two cedar closets and the space is used for storage.

On the 13.8 acre grounds are a number of outbuildings and landscape features both original and added by Presley. As a result of the operation of a museum several changes were made to the grounds.

Starting at the front (west side) of the property, is a wall made of pink Alabama fieldstone. This was built in 1957 to lend more privacy and security to the estate. The entrance gates were also built in 1957 also by the Tennessee Fabricating Company. The gate is a pair of iron doors that when closed, represent an open book of music. Musical notes and a figure playing a guitar adorn each half of the gate. (C)

Inside the entrance, to the right, is a guard shack (Building A on Site Plan) built of stone in 1971, replacing a previous wooden one on the site. Approaching the house the paved driveway leads up a slight incline in the southerly direction and ends at a circular drive at the entrance to the house. (C)

To the south of the house stands a detached building (I on Site Plan) which was built in 1983 as a shuttle bus stop. This covered area consists of four vernacular columns supporting a low gabled roof resembling a pediment. The construction materials are the usual modern materials of wood, metal and plaster. Underneath is a trash can and a few stone benches for the visitors to wait. This was built by the estate. (NC)

Behind the bus stop structure is a small building with two similar columns and a hipped roof used for Graceiand employees. Built circa 1983 it is covered in siding and has a modern door and several metal framed modern windows. Both structures are small and painted white to integrate with the house itself. (NC)

On the south side of the trophy room is a kidney shaped pool (J on Site Plan) installed in 1957. Cut stone makes up the patio around the pool. In the 1980s, the estate added an iron fence around the pool for safety. The bath house (attached to the trophy room) were altered to accommodate public restrooms with handicap access. (C)

Extending off the pool area, to the south, is the Meditation Garden. This area (K on Site Plan) was landscaped from the fall of 1964 through the summer of 1965 for Presley to use as a private place for contemplation and meditation. The center of the garden has a circular fountain and a semicircular arcade with Ionic columns with a pergola on top for vines. Behind this is a stone wall with four stained glass arched panels. This area was never intended to be used as a cemetery, but after Presley*s death he was moved here on August 29, 1977 as a result of security concerns at a local Memphis cemetery (Forrest Hills). The garden is now a family cemetery for Presley and his father Vernon Presley, his mother Gladys Presley, and his paternal grandmother Minnie Mae Presley. An eternal flame is encased at the head of Presley's tomb and funeral wreaths continually sent by devoted fans adorn the gravesite. The cast iron fence around the graves was added by the estate. (C)

Connected by a sidewalk and located behind the trophy room is the racquetball building (M on Site Plan) which Presley built in 1975. It is a rectangular two-story modern structure with irregular fenestration. The facades are *Dryvet with natural wood across the cornice level. The entrance is in the west wall and leads onto the landing. Down a few steps is lounge area with a glass wall looking onto the racquetball court. Upstairs are two dressings rooms with baths, a hall that overlooks the court, and a staircase to the roof. The first floor of this building is open to tourists and the upstairs, previously used as a lounge for the tour guides, is used for storage. (C)

North from the racquetball building, a sidewalk leads to a covered carport directly behind the converted apartment area of the house. This covered carport (F on Site Plan) was added by Presley in the early 1960s as a place to store his many cars. Now his cars are on display across the street (since 1989) in the automobile museum. There is a fence under the carport which runs from the house to the office and smokehouse which closes in the backyard. Outside this fence are a few spaces for employees to park. (C)

Under this carport, a stone walkway leads to the former business office (O on Site Plan) of the Graceland estate. This frame structure, built circa 1939, is original to the property and probably served as servants' quarters for the Moore family. This was used by Presley's father Vernon as a business office. Since this space is a part of the tourist path, a low wall was installed for viewing into the office. (C)

Connected to the office is a two-room smokehouse (N on Site Plan) built in 1939, which is also original to the property. This building is constructed of brick and has heavy wood doors. Presley used this as a firing range and for storage. For the tour, the estate has cut two doors, one between the lobby of the office and the first smokehouse room and another between the two smokehouse rooms. (C)

All across the rear of the property are white wooden fences built to contain the horses owned by Presley. The horses were housed in a barn (R on Site Plan) located in the southeast corner of the property. The barn, circa 1939, is a gambrel roof wooden structure which is original to the property. The barn is still used for a stable. (C)

Opposite the barn in the northeast corner of the property are three trailers (two double-wide and one regular size) placed there by Presley in the late 1960s and 1974. these were used as residences by friends and employees of Presley. Currently Graceland uses one as an office, one as a tour guide break room, and one is lived in by the head maintenance employee and his wife. The only alterations to these has been normal painting, maintenance, and redecorating. (C)

Graceland now hosts between five and six hundred thousand visitors each year. It has been open for tour since 1982. There is a very strict policies that no commercial activity can take place on the grounds of the estate. The gift shops and even soda machines are located across the street where visitors purchase tickets. A small "picture taking" sidewalk was added directly opposite the house so that visitors could take snapshots of the mansion and would not ruin the lawn.