New Exhibits at Graceland

Studio10 got the inside scoop on three new Elvis exhibits this year at Graceland.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of many Elvis firsts, including his first RCA single and national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," his first movie, "Love Me Tender," and his first television appearances.

In March, the Elvis! His Groundbreaking, Hip-Shaking, Newsmaking Story will open. This exhibit was created by the Newseum, the interactive museum of news in Washington, D.C., in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. The original exhibit debuted at the Newseum on March 19, 2010, and was seen by more than 700,000 visitors during its 11-month run. “The Elvis exhibit was very popular at the Newseum with strong appeal across generations,” said Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of the Newseum. “It’s clear that the story of Elvis, as well as his music, continues to fascinate people from around the world.”

Dozens of additional artifacts have been added. Audiences can experience the power of Elvis' impact on the media. This exhibit explores how Elvis' music and physicality pushed the boundaries of free expression at a time when America was experiencing deep generational shifts.

During January, to commemorate this anniversary, Graceland opened the Elvis in 1956 Interactive Timeline. Highlights from this exhibit include: Elvis’ 1st gold record "Heartbreak Hotel," his 1st Gold album "Elvis Presley," the hotel bill for Elvis' 1st performances in Las Vegas, his 1956 Gibson J200 (which is the oldest guitar in the Graceland collection) and rarely seen photos and video footage capturing the year that skyrocketed Elvis to stardom. This exhibit is featured in the Graceland Trophy Building.

Another special exhibit just opened is The Roots of Elvis Exhibit. This journey shows the story of Elvis' early years and the influences that shaped him as a person and music legend. The exhibit includes: hymnals from Elvis' childhood church, the record player from his bedroom with a Stamps acetate on it (the same record that was on the turntable when he died) as well as many other artifacts. The exhibit looks at the early influences that shaped Elvis from his gospel to blues roots, to his need to give back and the hobbies that made him happy. From handwritten football plays to karate, this exhibit shows a deep understanding of the man who would become The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The exhibit is a part of the Graceland VIP tour.

“With over 600,000 visitors a year, Elvis Presley's Graceland continues as a Rock ‘n’ Roll pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of music fans around the world,” stated Scott Williams, Vice President of Marketing. “We are fortunate that with our extensive archive collection we are able to present new exhibits each year, keeping the Graceland experience different and exciting.”

Graceland is open for daily tours year round. During the spring and summer seasons, hours of operation are Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. There are three ticket options to tour Elvis Presley’s Graceland with the VIP Tour, the Platinum Tour or Mansion Tour.

For more information on tours, please visit:

http://www.elvis.com/graceland/