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Elvis Presley: A Rare Look at the King’s Mother Gladys’ Dresser at Graceland

The iconic home of Elvis Presley, Graceland, continues to be the second-most-visited house in the country, apart from the White House.

From his Jungle Room to his private upstairs suite still not seen by the public to pianos and memories, Graceland was and continues to be an extension of the artist’s life and success.

Elvis Presley and Family at Graceland

While Elvis Presley lived in the house during his life, he wasn’t the only one that resided in the house. His wife at the time, Priscilla Presley, had also lived with him once they were married. He bought that house in 1957 for his entire family. His parents, Vernon and Gladys, both lived there, as did his grandmother, Minnie Mae.

He also had an array of close friends (the Memphis Mafia) that would drop in and out. Everyone in his family is also buried on the property at the Meditation Garden at Graceland. Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, also lived there until the couple got divorced and she moved to California with her mother. Now, she has inherited the estate, a National Historic Landmark, in 1993 and continues to frequently visit.

Apparently, the kitchen even makes her extra banana pudding (one of her favorites) when they know she’s coming.

Gladys’ Room and Dresser at Graceland

Gladys passed away in 1958. Vernon got remarried to Dee Stanley and the two lived at Graceland for a bit. After disagreements, the family ended up moving to a house that ran alongside the estate.

As for Gladys, her memory is still very much alive at Graceland. For starters, according to a video from the Graceland YouTube page from 2016, her dresser is still in the estate. Graceland still has her room similar to the way she would have had it. Elvis Presley’s aunt also lived in the room, but when she passed away the estate turned it back into a replica of Gladys’ living quarters.

One of the prized possessions in the room is the dresser. On top of it on display are a pair of Minnie Mae’s glasses (Elvis’ grandmother). There is also one of Gladys’ very old and fragile hats sitting on the dresser. While it has nothing valuable inside, a glass box is also on the dresser filled with little knick-knacks and household goods.

Angie Marchese, the Director of Archives, said that it is very reminiscent of what would be present in somebody’s grandma’s house. The dresser also has her powder container, which still has powder in it (although long, long expired). A photo of a blonde-haired Elvis as a child in Tupelo, Mississippi also sits neatly on the piece.

The dresser feels very much like a piece of furniture from an everyday home. Elvis Presley worshipped and deeply loved his mother and was heartbroken by her passing. He referred to her as his “number-one girl in his life.” He reportedly slept in the same bed as her growing up and the two talked using “baby talk.”

For Elvis Presley, Graceland was a home because it was filled with his closest family.