}
a{
color: #ffffff;
font-family: arial;
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: bold;
text-decoration: none;
}
.
In March of 1957, Elvis purchased the mansion estate "Graceland" located in Memphis, Tennessee. Before Elvis purchased the mansion, it was a former
church converted to a 23 room estate. Graceland was built in 1939 by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Moore, on a hilly and heavily wooded 13 1/4 acre site which back
then was way out in the country on a 2 lane highway 51, which connected Memphis and Jackson, Mississippi. Although the name "Graceland" eventually came to
refer specifically to the home, originally it applied to the entire 500-acre spread, which was established as a Hereford cattle farm in 1861 by S.E. Toof.
It was named "Graceland" after his daughter, Grace Toof. Ruth Moore, who eventually built Graceland the house, was Grace's niece. Over the years, various
pieces of the farm were developed into a Graceland subdivision and the Whitehaven Plaza Shopping Center. That's just a little "brief" history of how Graceland
came about.
When Elvis purchased the mansion, he had every room designed differently. In the living room is a coffee table with a glass sculpture on it of the initials
"E.P". A portrait of Elvis lines the stairs, but you can't go upstairs; that part of Graceland is forever closed to the public. Not even the tour guides have
been there. Elvis built a special house just for his gold records and other trophies. Tour guides explain the significance of every portrait and relic. They
also explain why Elvis took to wearing jumpsuits rather late in his career. Back across the road, a special museum houses Elvis' car collection, including a
Ferrari. There is also a comprehensive giftshop located there as well.