MEMPHIS, Tenn. — We toured the Graceland Mansion and exhibits today, learning more about the life and pulsating talent of Elvis Presley. The mansion sits on 13 acres about 10 miles south of downtown Memphis (right across the road from our RV park). The rooms in the house appear just as they were when Presley died in 1977 with his original furniture. The exhibits show his life, his career, and cultural influence.
Among the things I learned is that Presley was a twin. His brother Jessie was stillborn, and while his parents were grieving out came little Elvis 35 minutes later on Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Miss. The mansion is named after a relative of a previous owner. Presley served honorably in the US Army for two years, reaching the rank of sergeant (E5) before his discharge in March 1960. When stationed in Germany, he was allowed to live off base with family members but he worked late every Friday, staying to clean the barracks and latrines for Saturday inspections. He was an avid reader who would take a trunk-load of books with him on the road, preferring books on religious themes.
Graceland itself was full of colorful furniture and extravagance. It had 14 TVs, shag carpet, and specially designed furniture. The Jungle Room reflected his love for Hawaii. Like at the Biltmore Estate, I was jealous of the pool-table room. (See photos nearby.) Elvis would ride horses around the estate. Family films showed him looking like a very confident horseman.
As for his music, you can watch a lot of footage of Elvis performing on TV and on the stage in Las Vegas. He performed more than 1,100 times in 130 cities from 1969 to his death in 1977. I was too young to appreciate what a phenomenon Elvis was, but the archival footage showcases his awesome voice and energetic performances. Elizabeth and I found ourselves gyrating in our aging Baby Boomer way as we watched his performances.
We all have our favorite Elvis songs. One of mine is “Kentucky Rain.” The opening chords set the tone of longing and loss. These lines are especially rich:
Finally got a ride with a preacher man who asked
“Where you bound on such a cold, dark afternoon?”
As we drove on through the rain, as he listened, I explained
And he left me with a prayer that I’d find you.
In our modern culture, ministers of the faith are almost never portrayed positively. But I love how the “preacher man” asks such a sensitive question of this sojourner. And then he listens and sends him on his way with a prayer that he would find his lost love. That’s a good model of Christian ministry for our neighbor.
We ended our time at Graceland with a lunch of pulled pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes and cornbread at Vernon’s Smokehouse, the only eating place open at the complex. It was wonderful, upholding the reputation of Memphis as one of the great venues for BBQ.
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After arriving at our RV park last night, we drove out to the beautiful home of our dear friends Cal and Debby Beisner to enjoy good food and encouraging conversation. While in the Nashville area earlier this week, we spent precious time with our daughter Emily and her family. For the second time on this trip, we could play the parents from the trailer park who’ve come to their kids’ house to do our laundry!
Dashboard: Days on the road: 18; Miles towing the RV: 1,278; RV parks stayed at: 7; National parks visited: 1
The road ahead (Lord willing): Hot Springs N.P., Ark.
Daniel Griswold's Blog 
Blessings to you, Dan and Elizabeth! Love the pictures and your sharing your thoughts with us. I was particularly intrigued by the inside of Elvis’s home, and I, too, love ‘Kentucky Rain’. Thanks for sharing with us all.