Before leaving Memphis on Day 13 we toured Elvis Presley's former home, Graceland Mansion. The property was purchased by Elvis in 1957 for $102,500. He bought it because he needed privacy from the growing number of fans who would continuously show up at his previous home. The house, which was built in 1939, sits on top of a hill surrounded by nearly 14 acres of enclosed rolling pastures and a grove of oak trees. It is a two-story, five-bay residence designed in a Colonial Revival style. Elvis made numerous renovations, expanding the original house, and added additional buildings to the property while living there. The house has 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and bathrooms. The second floor of the home, where Elvis' bedroom is located, is off-limits to the general public out of respect for the Presley family, and also to avoid any inappropriate focus on the bathroom where he died. We did not take the guided tour; instead, we walked through the property on our own. One of the complaints about visiting Graceland Mansion is the entrance fee. You can choose to do a self-guided tour, a guided tour or a deluxe VIP tour that includes lunch and access to other private areas. Each one has its own cost, but none of the prices are cheap. Visiting Graceland is probably best for the real Elvis fan who wants to get a glimpse into the King's former life. In 1991, Graceland was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the first site recognized for its significance to rock music. And since 2006, it has also been listed as a National Historic Landmark. Located on the property are Elvis' two planes and a separate hall containing a collection of awesome automobiles owned by him throughout his years as a celebrity. Another complaint I read (by online haters) is that the interior is gaudy or tacky or outdated. Well, everything in the house is preserved from a period extending from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s. Have you ever seen old photographs of your own home from that time period? In other words, when you visit Graceland you have to realize you're looking at a time capsule. My brother and I enjoyed our visit immensely. Both of us grew up watching all those fun (if cheesy) Elvis Hollywood movies from the 1960s. And I can still remember moments from his record-breaking and historic live performance from Hawaii in 1973, which was the first entertainment special broadcast live around the world by satellite. I'm not sure if he was 'the king of rock and roll' but he was definitely one of its biggest and most charismatic stars. Below are the photos taken of Graceland.