The land on which Graceland now stands was originally owned by S.E. Toof, a Memphis newspaper publisher. The property was named for Toof's daughter, Grace.
The Colonial-style Graceland mansion was built in 1939 by Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife Ruth, one of S.E. Toof's granddaughters. The couple's daughter was a talented musician, so they designed the front of the house to open into a performance space for her.
Elvis purchased Graceland in 1957. He completed extensive renovations on the mansion, altering most of the original interiors. He also added two extensions, a swimming pool and a meditation garden. Elvis lived at Graceland until his death at age 42 from a heart attack.
Graceland is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States government.
After Elvis' death, Graceland became a major tourist attraction. More than 600,000 people visit Graceland each year.