Introduction:
Graceland has always held a special kind of magic for Elvis Presley fans. For decades, visitors from across the globe have walked through its iconic front doors, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man behind the legend. Yet even as nearly 20 million guests have toured the mansion, few realize that the story of Elvis’s home goes far beyond what meets the eye. In a captivating video installment from The Gates of Graceland, host Tom Brown and Angie Marchese, Graceland’s Director of Archives, invite us to explore the Hidden Graceland—a revealing, behind-the-scenes journey into rarely seen treasures and little-known stories tucked away throughout the King’s beloved home.
From the very first moment, it’s clear this isn’t your standard Graceland tour. With Angie donning the signature white gloves—reserved only for handling priceless Elvis artifacts—the journey begins in the living room, where the original 1957 furnishings still sit proudly. But the real surprise comes when Angie opens a drawer and unveils a samurai sword, untouched and undocumented, believed to have been sitting in that drawer since 1977. Its mysterious origins only deepen the sense of wonder that fills every corner of the home.
In the music room, we’re introduced to a grand mirror with deep familial ties. Once part of Elvis’s previous home on Audubon Drive, the mirror has since watched generations pass—capturing reflections of Elvis, his mother Gladys, and even his daughter Lisa Marie during recent photo shoots. The room also hides a large bust of Michelangelo’s David—one of two statues in the mansion, whose arrival remains a mystery.
Venturing into the foyer, Angie reveals an overlooked oil painting of Elvis holding a bicycle rim, a portrait based on a long-forgotten promotional photograph taken during his Army days. Even Elvis’s natural hair color—light brown, seen in the painting—becomes a surprising fact to many fans who only knew him as a jet-black-haired icon.
Yet perhaps the most touching discovery comes in the kitchen. There, tucked in a drawer beneath the now-iconic surveillance monitor setup, lies a casual yet deeply personal signature: “Lisa’s home – Graceland” handwritten by a young Lisa Marie Presley. It’s a quiet reminder that beyond being a public landmark, Graceland was, and remains, a family home.
Throughout the tour, what’s most striking is the meticulous attention to authenticity. Every drawer, dish, and decor item has been carefully preserved, often kept exactly where Elvis left it. The staff’s unwavering commitment to maintaining these items—down to original paint colors and furniture receipts—underscores their mission: to preserve not just the mansion, but the spirit of the man who called it home.
As Tom Brown and Angie conclude this first installment of Hidden Graceland, they leave viewers with an invitation: come back, look closer, and discover for yourself the magic that lies behind the velvet ropes. Whether you’re a lifelong Elvis fan or a first-time visitor, Hidden Graceland promises there’s always more to uncover at the King’s castle.