Take A Rare Look Inside The First Home Elvis Presley Ever Bought

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Nestled in a quiet Memphis neighborhood sits the first home that Elvis Presley ever purchased

Elvis Presley is arguably one of the most iconic musicians in history. During his career, he won three Grammy Awards, earned the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and is now a member of multiple music halls of fame. Elvis’s versatility as an artist led him to success in many genres, including rock, pop, country, blues, and gospel.

Like anyone, Elvis desired a safe place to live and care for his loved ones. After his first taste of success in the mid-1950s, the trendsetting musician purchased a humble home for himself and his parents.

The residence is located at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis, Tennessee. The four-bedroom ranch-style house sits in an upscale suburban neighborhood east of downtown Memphis. The king of rock ‘n roll reportedly purchased the property for $29,500 in early 1956 using the royalties he earned from his song “Heartbreak Hotel.”

He resided there with his parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley, for most of 1956. However, the home soon proved not to give the family enough privacy, and crazed fans would often disturb the Presleys by tapping on the windows of the house or camping on the front lawn.

Image via Reddit

According to Zillow , the home last sold in 2006 for $1,000,000

Elvis’ first house was added to the National Register of Historic Places shortly before its most recent sale in 2006. The current owner is believed to be record executive Mike Curb. While he does not reside there, he entrusted the property to Mike Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes College in Memphis.

The home is not open to the public and has only occasionally been used for small recitals and recording sessions. Digital creator, “Gates of Graceland,” had the rare opportunity to visit the residence in September 2024.

Elvis previously added a swimming pool, which has since been filled in, but many of the mid-century details and decor of the home remain intact. See a video walkthrough here ! 

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Elvis Presley purchased his famous Graceland home one year later

As Elvis rocketed into stardom, both his need for a larger, more private home and his ability to purchase one increased. After only one year of owning the house on Audubon Drive, the 22-year-old purchased the well-known Graceland estate .

The mansion, which boasted over 10,000 sq. ft. on just under 14 acres, was a massive upgrade from the first house. Elvis purchased the property for roughly $100,000 in 1957.

Following his untimely death in 1977, Graceland was turned into a museum, which draws an estimated 650,000 visitors annually. Additionally, the estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark.

“Step inside” Graceland in the video below!