Memphis 06/2023

2023 was the year we decide to go to Memphis three times, I guess! The first time, we did it to break up our trip to New Orleans. The second time, we made it a destination, as Steffanie wanted to see Graceland and bring the kids and her Mom. And the third time, just the two of us came back to see Graceland all decorated for Christmas.
National Civil Rights Museum
We visited the National Civil Rights Museum on our first day. This is attached to the Lorraine Motel; the location where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. What an eye-opening tribute to the Civil Rights movement. It doesn't just address the movement, it steps you through the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, working conditions, cultural influence (music, dance, cuisine), and religion.
Because photography is not allowed inside of the museum, there isn't much to share here. It's definitely worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. The end of the tour leads you to the hotel rooms and the second floor balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King was fatally shot, with a single bullet, by James Earl Ray.
Bass Pro Shops
When you first come in to Memphis, there's no way you're going to miss this gigantic shining pyramid! This amazing place is the Bass Pro Shops and Ducks Unlimited outlet. You can take an elevator to the observation deck, and step onto a balcony at the tippy-top of the pyramid.
There's a lodge attached to this place, as well as restaurants, tons of shopping for apparel, camping, fishing, hunting equipment, even boats and ATVs! There are also several ponds with freshwater fish - this was my favorite part. There was even an exhibit with alligators.
The kids enjoyed the old-fashioned shooting range - Colin was quite the marksman. And I think he may have bought a Bass Pro Shops ballcap as a souvenir - nice!
Graceland
We visited Graceland on Sunday, the day we were heading home. Liam ate some bad food, possibly undercooked chicken, the night before, and wasn't feeling well. So we had to split up the group. Luckily he was feeling well enough later, so he and I did the Graceland tour after the others got back.

So why was it called Graceland? The land that Graceland was built on was owned for generations by the Toof family. In 1939, Toof descendants Ruth and Thomas Moore built their 10,000+ square foot home, and named it after Ruth's aunt, Grace Toof Ward.
When you first enter Graceland, there is a huge staircase that leads up to the bedrooms. This section is private and off limits, as it's still used by family.

Our tour guide mentioned that Lisa Marie always remembered the sounds of jingling jewelry every time Elvis descended the steps. He loved to adorn himself in chains, bracelets and rings. And often gave his jewelry to friends as gifts, right off of his wrists and fingers.
Elvis loved peacocks - and you can see them as decorations throughout the house. The couch on the right side of this living room was custom made and is 15' long. Beyond the living room is a piano room where Elvis would entertain family and friends, and have sing-a-longs.
To the left of the fireplace is a portrait of Elvis, and a picture of his parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley.
Much of the decorating in the house was done by Elvis; everything from upholstery, to drapes and carpets. He liked to keep up with the changing styles of the times, and was always trying new colors and themes.
Elvis loved televisions, and you can see many of them throughout the house. In the dining room, he had one positioned so that he could watch it while eating. And it wasn't uncommon for him to shoot out a TV with his pistol. One time he was watching a performance by Robert Goulet on his RCA, and shot the screen out. He would ask his father to go out and buy another TV.
This addition to the original house is called the Jungle Room. The 70's style decor in this room was inspired by his time in Hawaii. He had green shag carpet on both the floor and the ceiling, and loved the acoustics. Elvis had his final two recording sessions in this room, and the album was aptly named, "The Jungle Room Sessions."
Off of the Jungle Room is a staircase to the basement. The ceiling leading down is completely covered in mirrors. This area is where Elvis liked to hang out, listen to albums and watch one of his three TVs.

He would keep the kitchenette stocked with movie candy and popcorn, as he and family would watch movies from the pull-down projection screen.
Past the kitchenette is his poolroom, where he would play pool with his friends. This is another interestingly decorated space, as the ceiling is covered with 400 yards of fabric!
After exiting the basement, the tour took us out to the backyard where the original swingset still exists. From here, you can see the back of the Jungle Room, and notice how this add-on was just that one room with no second floor.
Graceland covers a pretty large piece of land, and Elvis owned many horses that roamed this pasture. He and family enjoyed horseback riding, as well as riding the many golf carts they also had on the property.
There are many buildings behind the Graceland home; used for work, worship, and entertainment. This building was the office of Vernon Presley. Elvis did his 1960 press conference in this office, after he completed his time in the Army. The far left corner has the original chair he sat in for the interview. You can also see the original file cabinets behind the chair.
Next to Vernon's office was the firing range. This was nothing more than a small brick shed with a grouping of thick poles banded together, covered by a target. Elvis and his buddies would stand in the back yard and fire away at the target, sometimes missing.

Many of the misses were covered with paint, as they hit other parts of the property. One of which was Lisa Marie's playset slide.
Elvis even had a raquetball court! This was more of his fitness center, as he had exercise equipment in this building as well. Down by the court are many leather lounge chairs and a piano, just in case, right?
And no mansion is complete without the kidney bean pool. Elvis had this pool installed in the summer of 1965. It has been said that in addition to the obvious use of the pool, it was also emptied and used by his donkey, to keep it from wandering from the property. What an ass.
As the tour ends, you are guided over to the Meditation Garden. Elvis had many interests outside of music, such as Karate, following a spiritual journey, and meditation. He added the Meditation Garden in the mid-60's as a place for him to find solace.
On the grounds of the Meditation Garden lie the burial sites of Elvis, his parents Gladys and Vernon, grandmother Minnie Mae, grandson Benjamin, and daughter Lisa Marie. There is also a memorial for his twin brother Jesse, who died at birth.

The Meditation Garden was never intended to be a gravesite for the Presley family. Elvis was originally buried next to his mother at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. A failed attempt to steal his 900 lb. copper plated coffin and hold his body for ransom made the family change their plans. And so, it was decided to relocate Elvis and his mother to the secure propeties of Graceland in the Meditation Garden.
Lisa Marie was always unsettled with the fact that the family graveyard was on the grounds where she lived. She wrote a song titled "Lights Out," which expressed her sentiments of growing up in Graceland:
“Someone turned the lights out there in Memphis. That’s where my family’s buried and gone.

The last time I was there, I noticed a space left. Next to them, there in Memphis, In the damn back lawn.”
We did a little bit of touring around the car/vehicle museum. Elvis had an impressive collection of toys. This was his 1955 Pink Cadillac Fleetwood.
This was his VW Dune Buggy he bought in 1970. He put over $400 in damage to it in the first few days!
This was by far my favorite vehicle -- what a boat, what a beast! I'll bet this thing was a beautiful ride. Elvis' 1975 Lincoln Mark IV. As usual, he had it personalized with his TCB emblem embroidered into the seats.