People Know About Graceland; What About Elvis’ House in Tupelo, MS?

Elvis Presley is one of the most iconic figures in history. Decades after his passing in 1977, he still has a following base that spans multiple generations. His name has been everywhere, for both positive and negative reasons. This year, Baz Luhrmann’s movie is up for eight Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture. The film has refocused attention on the King.

In contrast, since the sad passing of his sole child, Lisa Marie Presley earlier this year, there has been a cloud over his legacy and the ownership of his estate. If you are an Elvis fan, you may have made a trip to Graceland. It’s the mansion he purchased in Memphis in 1957 at the age of 22 and where he resided until his passing in 1977. Before this, though, he resided in a much smaller home that is a southern landmark and a must-see for his fans.

The House

Elvis was born in 1935 in a two-room house in what was then considered the “roughest town in north Mississipi.” Vernon, Elvis’ father, had taken out a $180 loan to build the home himself. However, it was repossessed only three years after the birth of Elvis because Vernon was unable to repay the debt. Elvis and his family would reside in numerous different Tupelo homes over the next decade. At the age of 13, Evlis’ family relocated to Memphis. Even though he only lived there for a short time, it remains the site most closely identified with The King.

For Elvis, Tupelo was always the place he called home. In 1957, he performed there and donated the earnings to a nearby park’s building. In the same year, Tupelo purchased the house that Vernon had constructed. 14 years later, the Est Heights Garden Club, a group of volunteers dedicated to maintaining and cleaning Tupelo’s historic sites, restored and decorated the house with period furnishings donated by residents to maintain its authenticity. Since they opened the home to the public, it has remained a popular tourist location.

Elvis Left a Huge Legacy

Elvis may have only been there for a few years, but the house’s influence on culture as a whole cannot be overstated. Elvis’ background was one of rural poverty, and he rose to fame due to his unique talent and magnetism, not because of his connections. In Tupelo, his mother purchased him his first guitar when he was 11 years old and introduced him to gospel and blues music. Long after he became famous, Tupelo remained significant to him, and despite achieving heights of success and wealth that his family never imagined, he remained true to his southern roots.

The modesty of Elvis Presley’s birthplace contrasts with the extravagance of Graceland, and it is just that contrast that makes a visit to the Tupelo home so fascinating. Many fans have gained a greater knowledge of The King of Rock and Roll after visiting his humble two-room house.