00:00Only those who knew him or his family well were allowed inside the Presley Mansion today.
00:05The private funeral service reportedly drew many celebrities, but they all drove quickly
00:09quietly through the gates, in keeping with the family wish that this not be turned into
00:13a side show.
00:24Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, left an indelible mark on music and popular
00:29culture.
00:31Even in death, his legacy continues to captivate millions worldwide.
00:35Join us as we uncover the hidden tales and lasting legacy surrounding the eternal home
00:40of a true American icon.
00:43The King's Final Resting Place
00:45In the scorching heat of a Memphis August, the world stood still as the news of Elvis
00:50Presley's untimely death spread like wildfire.
00:54The king of rock and roll, a cultural icon who had redefined music and captivated millions
00:59worldwide, had left the building for the last time.
01:02As fans worldwide grappled with the loss, attention turned to where the legendary performer
01:08would be laid to rest.
01:10Initially, Elvis found his repose at Forest Hill Cemetery, a serene expanse just five
01:16miles from his beloved Graceland Mansion.
01:19On August 18, 1977, two days after his passing, Elvis was interred next to his mother, Gladys,
01:26in a mausoleum at Forest Hill.
01:28The choice seemed fitting – a son reunited with his beloved mother in eternal slumber.
01:34But this peaceful arrangement was not meant to last.
01:37In a twist that could have been pulled from one of his own dramatic performances, Elvis's
01:41final resting place became the subject of an audacious plot and forced a re-evaluation
01:47of the burial site.
01:48The destination?
01:49Graceland itself, the very place Elvis had called home for two decades.
01:54In October 1977, under the cover of night and with utmost secrecy, Elvis and his mother
02:00Gladys were exhumed and re-interred in what would become known as the Meditation Garden.
02:05This garden, a place of tranquility nestled behind the grand Graceland Mansion, had been
02:10a favorite spot of Elvis's during his lifetime.
02:14Originally constructed in the mid-60s, it offered the singer a place for contemplation
02:19away from the pressures of fame.
02:21Today, the Meditation Garden stands as a poignant memorial to the Presley family.
02:26At its center lies Elvis, flanked by his parents, Vernon and Gladys.
02:30His grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley, also rests nearby.
02:34In a tragic turn of events, the garden later welcomed Lisa Marie Presley's son, Benjamin
02:39Keough, marking the first burial at the site in four decades.
02:43For millions of fans who make the pilgrimage to Graceland each year, the Meditation Garden
02:48represents the final stop on the journey.
02:50Here, amidst the peaceful surroundings, visitors can pay their respects to the king and reflect
02:56on the legacy of a man whose music continues to touch lives long after his passing.
03:02A Grave Robbery Attempt Changes Everything In the days following Elvis's death, as the
03:07world mourned, few could have predicted the bizarre turn of events that unfolded.
03:12The king had been laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery, but the peace was short-lived.
03:17A daring plot to steal Elvis's body not only shocked the nation, but also led to a significant
03:23change in his final resting place.
03:25Less than two weeks after Elvis's funeral, on the night of August 29, 1977, three men
03:31embarked on an audacious scheme that made headlines across the globe.
03:35Their intention was to steal the king's body and hold it for ransom, hoping to extort a
03:40substantial sum from the grieving Presley family.
03:43But the would-be grave robbers had severely underestimated the challenges they'd face.
03:48The sheer weight of Elvis's casket proved an insurmountable obstacle.
03:53As they attempted to move the coffin, they quickly realized the futility of their efforts.
03:58The plan, ill-conceived from the start, began to unravel rapidly.
04:02Before they could make any significant progress, law enforcement, already on high alert due
04:07to the high-profile nature of the grave, swooped in and apprehended the culprits.
04:12The aftermath of this attempted theft sent shockwaves throughout the Presley family and
04:17Elvis's vast fanbase.
04:19The audacity of the crime highlighted the vulnerability of Elvis's final resting place
04:24and raised serious concerns about the security of Forest Hill Cemetery.
04:28Vernon Presley, Elvis's father, was particularly shaken by the incident.
04:33The thought of his son's remains being desecrated or held for ransom was simply unbearable.
04:39In response to this unsettling event, Vernon made the decision.
04:43With the support of local authorities, he initiated the process to have both Elvis and
04:47his mother Gladys exhumed from Forest Hill.
04:51Secrets of the Tomb
04:53The final resting place of Elvis Presley, nestled within the serene meditation garden
04:57at Graceland, has long been a source of fascination and speculation for fans and historians alike.
05:04While the King's Tomb stands as a testament to his enduring legacy, it also harbors secrets
05:10that continue to intrigue the public decades after his passing.
05:14One of the most discussed aspects of Elvis's burial is the clothing in which he was laid
05:19to rest.
05:20In keeping with his larger-than-life persona, Elvis was not buried in a simple suit.
05:25Instead, he was dressed in one of his trademark white jumpsuits, a garment that had become
05:29synonymous with his later career and Las Vegas performances.
05:34Elvis's choice of attire ensured that even in his death, Elvis maintained the iconic
05:38image that he had cultivated throughout his life.
05:41Accompanying the white jumpsuit was a TCB necklace, a symbol that held deep personal
05:46significance for Elvis.
05:48TCB, standing for Taking Care of Business, was his personal motto and the name of his
05:53band in his later years.
05:55The inclusion of the necklace in his final ensemble served as a poignant reminder of
05:59the dedication and work ethic that had driven Elvis throughout his career.
06:04But it wasn't just Elvis's attire that held significance.
06:07Various personal items were also placed in the casket, each chosen to accompany the king
06:12on his final journey.
06:13Among those was a metal bracelet, a gift from his father Vernon.
06:17This touching inclusion highlighted the strong bond between father and son, a relationship
06:22that had weathered the storms of fame and fortune.
06:25Perhaps the most heart-wrenching addition to Elvis's casket came from his young daughter,
06:29Lisa Marie.
06:30In a gesture of love and farewell, she placed her bracelet on her father's wrist.
06:35This small personal token served as a lasting connection between father and daughter, bridging
06:40the divide between life and death.
06:43As with many aspects of Elvis's life, his burial has also been the subject of numerous
06:48rumors and conspiracy theorists.
06:51Some have speculated about additional items that might have been placed in the casket,
06:56ranging from beloved guitars to secret letters.
06:58While most of these claims remain unsubstantiated, they speak to the enduring mystique surrounding
07:04Elvis and the public's insatiable curiosity about his life and death.
07:08The exact contents of Elvis's tomb remain a closely guarded secret, known only to a
07:14select few who were present during the private burial.
07:18The veil of mystery has only served to fuel further speculation and interest over the
07:23years.
07:25The Legacy Lives On
07:26Long after Elvis's final curtain call, his legacy continues to resonate through the halls
07:31of Graceland and beyond.
07:33The pilgrimage to Elvis's grave has become a rite of passage for devoted fans, many of
07:38whom save for years to make the journey to Memphis.
07:42During Elvis Week, held annually in August to commemorate the anniversary of his death,
07:47the meditation garden becomes a sea of flowers, teddy bears, and heartfelt notes left by admirers.
07:54The candlelight vigil, a solemn procession past Elvis's grave, stands as a testament
07:59to the enduring impact of his music and persona on generations of fans.
08:04And in a surprising turn of events that further cemented his posthumous legacy, his original
08:09tomb at Forest Hill Cemetery became an unexpected piece of memorabilia.
08:14In 2012, the crypt that briefly housed Elvis's body was put up for auction, sparking a bidding
08:20frenzy among collectors and superfans.
08:23The auction house initially set the starting bid at $100,000.
08:27Darren Julian, who ran an auction for Elvis's original tomb, reflected on its significance.
08:32Quote,
08:33I just consider that if you're an ultimate fan of Elvis Presley, it's an opportunity.
08:37It's definitely a conversation piece.
08:39Only one person can say, hey, I'm going to be buried where Elvis Presley was.
08:45Now it's time to hear from you.
08:46If Elvis was alive today, how do you think he'd want to be remembered?
08:49Let us know in the comments section below.
Comments