Elvis Week 2017: Memphis Sites That Honor ‘The King’

Elvis Week, 2017, begins in Memphis, TN on Friday, August 11 and runs through the 19th. If you’re in or near Memphis there are a number of sites you’ll want to visit in order to learn more about the King of Rock-n-Roll.

Fans of “The King” have no shortage of places they can visit to learn more about him and to honor his legacy, including where he spent his down time and where he performed some of his most notable shows. There are also a number of fan-created museums that border on kitschy but are fun for the die-hard enthusiasts.

Elvis Presley Birth Home, Tupelo, Mississippi

Start your Elvis journey where it all began at the Elvis Presley Birthplace. Visit the small town to see the two-room house where he spent his early years before the family moved to Memphis. You’ll see the inside decorated in much of the same way it was back then, thanks in part to father Vernon’s restoration efforts. Also onsite is a museum and a humble church that once sat a few blocks away when the family lived here. Visiting during Tupelo Elvis Festival is a unique experience, as you’ll see tribute artists perform here.

For more Elvis landmarks in Tupelo, see this listing of attractions in Tupelo. You can also visit the King’s booth at Johnnie’s Drive-In and see where he bought his first guitar at Tupelo Hardware. 

Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

Perhaps the most well-known place associated with Elvis, his home, which he called Graceland, has the most memorabilia and information on the late singer. The complex contains multiple buildings, each focusing on a different aspect of his life. Inside the home, you’ll see the unique decorations he was known for, especially in the appropriately named “Jungle Room.” The garage features recording information and outer buildings showcase his famous cars and airplanes. For an even bigger fan experience, visit during Elvis Week and come by for the Candlelight Vigil, where you can pay your respects.

For more on Elvis-related landmarks around Memphis, see this story on The Guardian, including Sun Studio, Lauderdale Courts, and the Peabody Hotel.

Circle G Ranch, Horn Lake, Mississippi

While not quite an attraction like the previously listed landmarks, this Memphis-area property was where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their three-week honeymoon after getting married in 1967 in Las Vegas. Circle G Ranch, in suburban Horn Lake, boasts over 200 acres of property. Here, Elvis had the honeymoon cottage, pictured, along with stables and a lake and spent time with his closest family and friends. It’s currently under development to become a mixed-use facility for events but has not announced an opening date.

Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee

Other Notable Elvis Landmarks

• Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum– This fan-driven museum in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee has honored the memory of Presley for over 30 years. The museum features pieces from the musician’s collection like his cars, movie props, and personal items donated by his friends.
• Graceland Too– While no longer open because of the death of the owner, fans should at least research the offbeat Elvis museum ran by a mega fan who covered his home from top to bottom in memorabilia. All of the items have since been sold to a collector. Read this stranger-than-fiction account on Buzzfeed.
• Mini Graceland– Built by a man in Roanoke, Virginia, this scale model of Elvis’ home and birthplace has been a beloved roadside attraction since the 1980s. He has since passed away, but his family continues to restore the miniatures and perform upkeep.