Almost 40 years after the King of rock and roll left us, his longtime home is being renovated to become a must-see destination for music fans from around the world.
Elvis Presley bought Graceland at the height of his career in 1957. He lived in the home until his death in 1977, and just a few years later his ex-wife Priscilla Presley turned the property into a museum dedicated to the singer's life and career.
Since then Graceland has become a hit with tourists. It's the second-most visited home in America, after the White House. But big changes are coming to Elvis's former home as part of a $137 million renovation.
Not much has changed since Graceland opened to the public in 1982, and that's the problem. These new renovations will make the historic home more visitor-friendly, but they involve some pretty big changes.
The nearby Heartbreak Hotel, named after one of Presley's songs, has been replaced by a 450-room hotel called the Guest House. Other Graceland fixtures like the souvenir shops and exhibits will also be demolished soon.
In their place, the park has introduced a new, $45 million expansion called Elvis Presley's Memphis that Elvis fans will be dying to see.
The new and improved building will have room for lots of antiques and keepsakes from Elvis's life that were never put on display before. There will be 1950s cars, guitars and costumes used by the King and a performance space. Plus, a new 1950s style diner and a rib restaurant for guests to enjoy.
Last week, the singer's ex-wife Priscilla Presley was at the park to cut the ribbon on the new addition - using the same scissors she opened the original museum with in 1982.
There are even more renovations on the way, including a large park across the street from the mansion, but Elvis fans can be confident that the singer's history will be represented in the new designs.
