British Expatriate Network

Mon Mar 27, 445 PM ET yahoo

MEMPHIS, United States (AFP) -





Graceland designated national landmark


Elvis Presley's home in Memphis is the most visited private residence in the world. And as of Monday, it's also a National Historic Landmark.


"American culture and music changed irreversibly because of Elvis," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton. "It would be difficult to tell the story of the 20th century without discussing the many contributions made by this legendary, iconic artist."

The designation puts the Tennessee mansion on the same list as other notable US landmarks like the Alamo, the White House and Mount Rushmore. Fewer than 2,500 historic places have been awarded the designation.

Elvis bought the sprawling property for 103,000 dollars in 1957 with earnings from his first hit record, "Heartbreak Hotel."

His ex-wife
Priscilla Presley first opened Graceland's doors to visitors in 1980. It now draws nearly 700,000 visitors a year.

"Graceland is my childhood home and it holds so many great memories of the time I shared there with my father, our family and our friends," said
Lisa Marie Presley, who is the sole owner of Graceland Mansion.

"It is my honor to have shared it with my father's adoring public all these years and I am committed to ensuring that it will be preserved forever for all future generations of fans and of my family to enjoy."

Presley died August 16, 1977. His popularity continues to surge, annually placing the rock and roll icon atop Forbes' list of top dead celebrity earners. It is estimated that he has sold more than one billion records worldwide.


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Visited graceland ( could,nt get in ) in sep 77 just after his death one of the first things i did when i arrived here .

revisited june 1981

Went there a few years ago. It was interesting. My sister's coming over in October and combining a visit to us with a visit there.

Saw it on the news last night and they described the "sprawling estate". Never been there and maybe the camera angle wasn't very good but the house (mansion???) looked kind of small.

Yup, that's one of the intersting things, these days it would only count as a large house. Not sure on the acreage, 20-30, hardly sprawling, surrounded on all sides by ordinary nieghbourhood now too.

In those days and in that area it was considered a MANSION when he purchased it .

What did they call plantation houses then? Castles?

I was there about 12 months ago. The "mansion" is indeed a 4-bedroomed "house" by today's standards, but back in 19-whatever it was, it was probably quite large. IMHO the King had appalling taste. But then again, he was a singer, not an interior designer.

I've been a fan of Elvis's for as long as I can remember (and that's a long time!), but somehow Graceland conjured up memories of his final years, when he himself was bloated and drugged-up, rather than of his heyday.

Still, it IS Graceland, the King lived and died there - or maybe he just left the building.... wink