The Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum is located at 306 Elvis Presley Drive, Tupelo, Mississippi. The museum is the only place in the world where visitors are able to see and touch where Elvis began his musical journey.
Visitors to Tupelo who take part in the Early Years Driving tour are able to go into the room where he took his first breath, visit his favorite location to visit as a boy, see the church where he began singing Gospel Music, the school he attended, where his mother purchased his first guitar and Tupelo Hardware. Bronze plaques are located at each site to help tell the story of Elvis's life growing up in Tupelo. The plaques were donated by the Tupelo CVB to help complete the experience.
The house where Elvis was born was built in 1934 by his father, grandfather and Uncles, even one of the hammers that the men used to build the house is on display in the museum. When Elvis was two his parents lost the house as they were unable to continue repaying the $180 that was borrowed to build the house. The furniture in the house is not the original furniture from the house, but similar furniture from that time era is placed in the house. The structure of the house is original, the ceiling and rood have been replaced.
The Museum was opened in 1992 and contained pieces from the personal collection of Janelle McComb. The museum was renovated in 2006 to become a state of the art museum with new exhibits containing Tupelo artifacts, photomurals and audiovisual presentations about Elvis's life as a child. An exhibit named `Remembrances of Things Past' pays tribute to Janelle McComb and her friendship with Elvis.
Ever August the annual Fan Appreciation Day is held in the memorial garden which represents and integral part of Elvis's childhood. On this tour fans and visitors will see the `walk of life', which walks through the birthplace of Elvis and has 42 granite blocks that represent each year of his life. The `fountain of life' which symbolizes the significance of his time in Tupelo and a `story wall' with 11 childhood stories with narratives that are read by his boyhood friends. The 1939 green Plymouth is a duplicate of the car that his family owned when the family moved from Tupelo to Memphis.
Across from the museum is a renovated park area that has an arbor, handicapped accessible portico, bench seats, picnic area and a chapel which has become a popular place to hold wedding ceremonies and visitors use the grounds to picnic after experiencing the museum.
The ASSEMBLY OF GOD church is a newer attraction at the park and is a fully restored church that Elvis attended when he was a child. Presentations of old time worship services are shown.
After a visit to the museum visitors will have a greater understanding of the influences that helped Elvis create wonderful music.
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