30 May 2013

Tupelo

=Ten Feet Off Beale Visits Tupelo Elvis Birth Place // Ten Feet Off Beale

On Memorial Day, Jeremy and I ventured down to Tupelo, Mississippi. It's only about an hour away from us, and it's the town where Elvis Presley grew up. Elvis lived in this tiny town until he was thirteen years old and his family packed up their car and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. It was truly incredible to see how humble a beginning Elvis had and how this sleepy town shaped the man he was to become.

If you get the opportunity to visit Tupelo, I highly recommend visiting the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. The house he was born in and lived in during part of his childhood is the main attraction. This tiny two room home (pictured above) is in the exact location it was in when Elvis lived there. Even though the furniture and things inside are not original to the Presley's, you really get a feel of what it must have been like, although I can't truly imagine living in a two roomed house. Notice that I said two rooms... not two bedrooms. It is just a room that was a bedroom/living room and a kitchen... that's it.
 
Elvis Presley's Kitchen // Ten Feet Off Beale

It's pretty crazy to think that when the Presley's moved, they sold all their furniture. Jeremy and I keep talking about how their furniture is sitting in someone's home or an antique shop or (we hate to say) has been destroyed, and nobody even knows that it all belonged to Elvis!
 
13 Year Old Elvis // Ten Feet Off Beale 13 Year Old Elvis, Tupelo Mississippi // Ten Feet Off Beale
 
Beside the house, there is a statue depicting 13 year old Elvis holding his guitar. He was very friendly.
 
Elvis Presley Statue with Childhood Church // Ten Feet Off Beale

Also found on the grounds is the church Elvis attended while growing up. It was originally located a few blocks away, but they moved it to this location and restored it in 2008. You have the opportunity (if you buy an extra ticket) to go into the church and watch a presentation where they simulate what a church service would have been like when Elvis attended. It's actually a pretty cool thing to see. You sit down in the pews and screens come down from the two walls on your sides and a screen at the front. Then they play a video of actors going through a service. It's surrounding you so you feel like you're really there. They even have a little boy who pretends he's Elvis and sings a little song. It's pretty cute and very interesting!
 
Elvis Presley's Childhood Church // Ten Feet Off Beale
Elvis Presley's Church // Ten Feet Off Beale

I'm not exactly sure why, but there was an outhouse on the grounds, too! There was no plaque or description or anything, but I imagine it was to show us what it was like to not have bathrooms like we have today.. Jeremy was a little scared to open the door and see what he would find.
 
Elvis Presley Outhouse // Ten Feet Off Beale
Ten Feet Off Beale in Tupelo
 
After we toured the grounds and the museum (sorry, pictures weren't allowed!), we took a little drive into the little town of Tupelo. Since it was a holiday, everything was pretty much closed but it is definitely the cutest little Southern town! Tupelo Hardware is where Elvis purchased his first guitar. It's still there and still a working hardware store! Apparently there's a little mark on the floor of the store showing where Elvis was standing when he was handed his first guitar. It is this cheesy stuff that we love!! I was sad the store was closed, oh well, maybe next time!
 
Tupelo Hardware // Ten Feet Off Beale Ten Feet Off Beale in Tupelo

It was the perfect little day trip! Just what I needed!


 

19 comments:

  1. So fun!! This is something I have never ventured to Tupelo to do (sadly). I have got to make this trip :)

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  2. This is so cool, I want to go! I went to Graceland 2 once. Would love to see the house + the church. Was it Baptist?

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  3. Cute! I should go do this. I've stopped in Tupelo before on the way somewhere and their little main street is super cute. I should add this to my summer day trip schedule. How cute would that church be for a wedding....if it was like 10 times the size, lol

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  4. Aren't day trips the best? Looks like a fun time. I've never been to Mississippi (although I do spell it super fast in my head like I did in elementary school!) hah. Excited to be your newest follower :)

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  5. Day trips are my favorite. I'm planning for a few in July when I have a few days off wth my husband! Looks like you guys had a great time. I'm always jealous of how pretty the weather looks in all of your pictures. In NJ it was 50 degree Tuesday and today it's 94!

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  6. Looks so cool! Love the pictures!!

    xox

    http://thattallgirlinheels.com

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  7. That sounds like such a fun trip! I think the church service would be so fun to attend! :-)

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  8. I love Tupelo! My parents live about 25 minutes away and we go all the time. I've never ever been to his old house but now you have made me want to go!

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  9. What a fun little day trip! You look super cute, btw!

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  10. My hometown (MUCH smaller than Tupelo) is pretty close to Tupelo. That's where we would always go to shop, out to eat, or to the movies! ha Glad y'all enjoyed your trip!

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  11. this looks incredible! I'd love to visit sometime

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  12. This sounds like so much fun and I would love to visit one day! So interesting to see his very humble upbringing. Btw, thank you so much for stopping by my blog:)! Would you like to follow each other on GFC, Bloglovin, etc?

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  13. 1. SO. COOL. Seriously, what a fun day trip! I wish we had cool things closer to us.
    2. Where is your cute bag from!? I'm looking for something little!

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  14. Great blog! Glad you enjoyed your trip to Tupelo. I'm from Tupelo and love it here! Next time you come, be sure you do the Tupelo Historic Tours! You will have a choice of Elvis tour, Ghost tour, History of Tupelo, and Civil War tour. http://tupelohistorictours.com/About_Us.html

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  15. Great photos! This looks like so much fun! Hugs from Cali! xx The Golden Girls

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  16. Super cool! My friends live in Tupelo! Never knew it was so pretty! :)

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  17. You KNOW I love this! :)

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  18. Wow that is SO interesting! I'll definitely have to visit sometime. Too cool!
    I also love your next post about Austin. It made me laugh about how once you crossed the border it instantly felt hotter. Texas sure does get hot! (I'm from Texas)

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