Elvis Presley’s Grave

Elvis Presley purchased Graceland in 1957, when he was only twenty-two years old. Although it became the home of one of the world’s most famous entertainers, Elvis also intended it to be a home for his parents and extended family. The Meditation Garden was created during his lifetime as a quiet place for reflection away from the demands of his career.

Elvis died at Graceland on August 16, 1977, at the age of forty-two. He was initially buried beside his mother, Gladys, at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. Because of security concerns, their remains were moved to the Meditation Garden on October 2, 1977. His father, Vernon, and grandmother Minnie Mae were later buried nearby. Elvis’s grandson Benjamin Keough and daughter Lisa Marie Presley have since joined the family at Graceland.

The inscription on Elvis’s grave was written by family friend Janelle McComb at the request of his father. Its words remember Elvis not only as an internationally celebrated performer, but also as a beloved son and father. The eternal flame and flowers left by visitors reflect the affection that has continued long after his death.

Graceland opened to the public on June 7, 1982, when more than 3,000 people toured the property on its first day. The Meditation Garden became the final stop on the tour and a place where visitors could quietly remember the man whose music had influenced generations.

Each August, fans from around the world gather at Graceland for a Candlelight Vigil marking the anniversary of Elvis’s death. Their procession to the grave demonstrates how a private garden within a family home became an international place of remembrance.