Tupelo, MS

While in Red Bay, AL, we went to Tupelo, MS, which was about 45 miles from Red Bay -- the Birthplace of Elvis. This is the actual home that his father, grandfather and uncle built, which is located on the actual plot of land. His dad borrowed about $300 to build the home, but due to hard times, lost the home to foreclosure and the Presley's lived in Tupelo for 13 years before moving to Memphis. In the pictures we saw, there was a row of these houses.

House consisted of only two rooms. This is a re-creation of what the home might have looked like when Elvis lived there. I was struck at how poor the family was. There was a story that Elvis wore bib overalls everday to school with a shirt. His shirts were in poor condition. A classmate's dad owned a factory that made shirts and offered to give some to Elvis. Elvis was very proud and it is said he had it out with the classmate. Elvis wanted a rifle for his 13th birthday, but his mother convinced him that a guitar would be better. His pastor taught him a few chords and the rest, as they say, his history.

Attending church was a big part of Elvis' life. This is the actual church that he attended and he also performed solos. Over time the church was converted to a 4 bedroom house but eventually the historical society was able to purchase the building and transport it to the grounds near Elvis' birthplace.