It took us five days in Tupelo before we found time to visit the Elvis complex. Located here is the house he was born in, the church he attended where he heard black spirituals that influenced his singing style and a new modern building housing a museum, event center and chapel.
Things were very sparse for the Presley family. The house was built with a $180 loan for lumber. His father Vernon later on altered a $4 check into $40 and ended up in prison. Gladys lost the house in his absence. Elvis’s first guitar was a $7.50 guitar bought as a birthday gift at Tupelo Hardware, a store still in business in Tupelo. The rest is history.
This is the front room of the two room house and the room where Elvis was born. His twin brother was stillborn at 4 am and Elvis was born alive at 4:25 am. The wall paper in both rooms is original, or so they tell me.
The kitchen is a real throwback. The icebox, stove and wall paper are original. Notice the white high chair and pie safe. I am old enough to remember both.
Outside there is a fountain, a statue and the entire house circled with markers for each year of his life.
It was interesting but we knew a lot about the King of Rock and Roll. It saddens me that his career was cut so short by self destruction. I am sure there were many songs left unsung in his heart.
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