The Original Graceland Owners

In the 1800s, the magnificent Graceland estate belonged to the Toof family and bore the name of its original owner’s daughter, Grace Toof, lending it an air of elegance and history. Remarkably, the iconic mansion itself did not grace the landscape until 1939, when Grace’s niece inherited the property following her aunt’s passing.

The transformative era of Graceland, as we know it today, commenced in 1957 when Elvis Presley acquired the estate for a sum just exceeding $100,000. Yet, even before Elvis’s electrifying arrival, the hallowed halls of Graceland had resounded with music. Ruth, the niece of Grace Toof, had a daughter named Ruth Marie, a talented harpist who graced the stages of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.