Why Elvis Presley’s Graceland Estate Considered a Culturally Significant Monument Of The ‘50s

Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, is the second most visited property in the United States and comes just after the White House, making it a significant part of recent American History. The 14-acre estate was built in the late 1930s and caught Elvis’ eye in 1956, after which he bought it for over $100,000.

The home has been a place of interest to the Rock ‘n’ Roll king’s fans, who flock there all year round since it was made publicly available by Priscilla Presley in June 1982. The music legend is buried on the property alongside his mother Gladys and father Vernon, and his ex-wife Priscilla seeks to be as well after her death.

Graceland holds a lot of history about Elvis’ personal life as a singer, a lover, and a father. He famously recorded music in the “Jungle Room,” which doubled as the studio where up to 16 tracks off his last two albums were made. He also had a mini zoo containing peacocks, a chimpanzee, a monkey, some wallabies, and a few other animals— some gifts from fans. Graceland was indeed a sight in its prime, attracting more than half a million visitors every year.

Following the death of Elvis, his family remained in the estate, although Elvis’ room was kept out of bounds to outsiders and dwellers alike, meaning it has been left unchanged since he was found unconscious there in 1977. Graceland was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006, with the U.S. Interior department acknowledging “the many contributions made by this legendary, iconic artist.”

Graceland’s fate in recent times

Graceland was under the management of Priscilla after Elvis died. Their late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited the property at 25 while her mother remained a sole trustee. After Lisa Marie’s unexpected death last year, a legal battle ensued between Priscilla and her granddaughter Riley Keough over the ownership of the property, with Priscilla questioning the authenticity of court documents naming Riley as sole trustee and owner.

Alongside the back-and-forth between Priscilla and Riley over the estate, a certain private investment company announced the foreclosure of the property, stating it was used as collateral for an unpaid $3.8 million loan issued to Lisa Marie. While Riley and her grandmother came together to fight against the allegedly fraudulent lending company, the fate of Graceland came into question for not just the family but also Elvis’ enduring fanbase.