Graceland in Memphis - 1982

When my sister, Betty, and I visited Memphis in 1982, we also toured Graceland. Graceland was so different back then in comparison to the way it has become today. The thing I remember most is that no one talked above a whisper in the house. The feeling was that everyone was quiet out of reverence for Elvis. He died just a few short years before, but it still seemed very recent. Also, we were there on the anniversary of his death. Graceland was opened to the public by Priscilla Presley on June 7, 1982, so Betty and I were among the first visitors touring Graceland.
This little car that Betty is pictured with was in the back yard at Graceland, along with the pink Cadillac that Elvis bought for his mother. They are now in a museum across the street from Graceland.




















These photos are of flowers that were sent to Graceland in memory of Elvis. Flowers were everywhere in Memphis and especially at Graceland around Elvis' grave site.
Because of vandalism, Elvis' grave, along with the graves of his twin brother, his mother and father, and a grandmother are located on the grounds at Graceland.




The above photo of Elvis was in my scrapbook of memorabilia and photos of our trip.









Here's a silhouette of Betty kissing Elvis!



I really loved this painting of Elvis and Priscilla. I don't remember seeing it in Graceland last week. So much has changed there in the past twenty-four years. There are museums everywhere around Graceland and many of the things we saw at Graceland in 1982 are these museums.