Elvis might’ve left the building, but his adoring fans still flock to the late singer’s Graceland home in droves. And with Baz Luhrmann’s film “Elvis” hitting movie screens in the coming days, and with Graceland in the midst of celebrating its 40th anniversary hosting public tours, those crowds are only going to get bigger.
Step in Tauck, which has announced that guests on its Life on the Mississippi cruise-tour will enjoy a private after-hours tour of the Memphis mansion and grounds.
Designated a National Historic Landmark and included on the National Register of Historic Places, Graceland is one of the most famous homes in the U.S. The estate welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year, including more than 4,000 on peak days, and it is second only to The White House as the most visited home in the country. Since opening for tours in June 1982, Graceland has hosted more than 20 million visitors from every state in the U.S. and nearly every country of the world.
“Whether you enjoy his music or not, there’s no arguing that Elvis Presley remains an enduring cultural phenomenon and Graceland, his iconic Memphis home, is still an object of popular fascination,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, in a press statement. “And with Tom Hanks’ new movie opening in theaters in the coming days—and coinciding with the home’s 40th anniversary celebration—Graceland promises to be more popular than ever. We’re thrilled to provide our guests with an exclusive, after-hours tour at Graceland, after the throngs of other visitors have departed for the day.”
Tauck guests will enjoy an uncrowded, hour-long tour of the Presley mansion and grounds. And along with the after-hours tour at Graceland, guests traveling on Tauck’s Life on the Mississippi trip will also enjoy a private, exclusive performance at New Orleans’ fabled Preservation Hall.
The 11-day Life on the Mississippi itinerary begins with a 2-night stay at the Four Seasons in New Orleans, where guests will attend a private cooking demonstration and have lunch at the New Orleans School of Cooking, enjoy walking tours of the French Quarter and Garden District, and visit the National World War II Museum. After boarding the American Duchess paddle wheeler, guests will embark on a 7-night Mississippi River cruise highlighted by visits to Nottoway Plantation and St. Francisville in Louisiana, along with excursions in Natchez, Vicksburg and Greenville, Mississippi, before disembarking in Memphis. There guests will explore the city’s musical history, visit the National Civil Rights Museum and enjoy their after-hours Graceland tour before overnighting at the Guest House at Graceland.
For more information, visit tauck.com.
