8 Memphis Landmarks to Visit If You’re Obsessed With Elvis
Memphis, Tennessee, is where Elvis Presley became the King of Rock and Roll. From his humble beginnings to his legendary rise to fame, the city is filled with places that tell his incredible story.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering his music, these landmarks offer a chance to walk in the footsteps of one of music’s greatest icons.
1. Graceland Mansion
Walking through the front gates of Graceland feels like stepping into Elvis’s world. His famous mansion sits on 13 acres and showcases the life he built after becoming a superstar. You’ll see his living room, music room, and even the Jungle Room with its wild green shag carpet on the ceiling.
The mansion tour takes you upstairs to his private quarters, where personal belongings and gold records line the walls. Outside, you can visit the Meditation Garden where Elvis and his family are laid to rest.
Graceland remains one of the most visited private homes in America, drawing fans from every corner of the globe who want to experience the King’s legacy firsthand.
2. Sun Studio
This tiny recording studio is where everything started for Elvis back in 1953. Sam Phillips owned Sun Studio and recognized something special in the young truck driver who walked through his doors. Elvis recorded “That’s All Right” here, launching both his career and rock and roll as we know it today.
The original equipment still fills the small recording space, and you can stand in the exact spot where Elvis sang into the microphone. Tours run daily and guides share fascinating stories about the recording sessions that changed music history.
Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins also recorded here, making Sun Studio the birthplace of rock and roll itself.
3. Beale Street + Elvis statue
Beale Street pulses with the blues music that inspired Elvis as a teenager. He would sneak down to this famous street to hear B.B. King and other blues legends perform in the clubs. The neon lights and live music pouring from every doorway create an atmosphere that hasn’t changed much since Elvis’s time.
A bronze statue of young Elvis stands near the corner, guitar in hand, honoring his connection to this historic street. Street performers and musicians keep the tradition alive, playing everything from blues to rock and roll.
Grab some barbecue, listen to live music, and feel the energy that shaped Elvis’s unique sound and style back in the early 1950s.
4. Overton Park Shell
Picture a nervous 19-year-old Elvis stepping onto this outdoor stage in 1954, about to change his life forever. Overton Park Shell hosted concerts where Elvis opened for bigger acts, and his hip-shaking performances caused quite a stir among the audience.
The amphitheater still hosts concerts today, keeping the tradition of live music alive in Memphis. You can sit in the same space where fans first witnessed Elvis’s electrifying stage presence. The natural setting surrounded by trees makes it easy to imagine those summer nights when rock and roll was brand new and Elvis was just beginning to find his groove.
5. Lauderdale Courts
The Presley family moved into apartment 328 at Lauderdale Courts when Elvis was a teenager. This public housing complex provided affordable living for working-class families struggling to make ends meet. Elvis practiced his guitar on the front steps and in the courtyard, entertaining neighbors who had no idea they were witnessing a future legend.
Today, the building has been renovated and turned into apartments, with unit 328 preserved as a museum space. Visitors can tour the small two-bedroom apartment where Elvis lived with his parents, seeing the cramped quarters that motivated him to dream bigger.
6. The Peabody Hotel
Elvis loved the elegance and glamour of the Peabody Hotel, Memphis’s most prestigious address since 1869. He would meet friends in the stunning lobby and enjoy meals in the fancy restaurants when he wanted to celebrate success. The hotel’s famous ducks still march through the lobby twice daily, just as they did when Elvis watched them.
After concerts, Elvis sometimes booked rooms here for friends and family who came to see him perform. The hotel represents the sophisticated side of Memphis that fascinated young Elvis as he rose from poverty to stardom.
7. The Arcade Restaurant
Memphis’s oldest cafe has been serving breakfast since 1919, and Elvis was a regular customer. He loved their sweet potato pancakes and would stop by after late-night recording sessions or before heading to the movies. The restaurant looks almost exactly as it did in the 1950s, with the same vintage booths and black-and-white checkered floor.
Servers still prepare Elvis’s favorite orders, and his usual booth has become a pilgrimage spot for fans. The casual, down-home atmosphere shows that Elvis never forgot his roots, even after becoming famous.
Grab a plate of those famous pancakes and sit where the King once sat, enjoying the same simple pleasures that kept him grounded throughout his incredible career.
8. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
Memphis celebrates its rich musical heritage at this downtown museum, and Elvis naturally holds a place of honor among the inductees. Interactive exhibits trace his journey from truck driver to global superstar, highlighting how Memphis shaped his unique sound. You’ll find rare photographs, clothing, and instruments that tell the story of his revolutionary impact on popular music.
The museum also showcases other Memphis legends like B.B. King and Johnny Cash, helping you understand the musical ecosystem that influenced Elvis. Touch-screen displays let you explore his recordings and watch rare performance footage.
