All Shook Up
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62536)
United States
November 6, 2023 8:25pm CST
My first stop in Mississippi today was in Tupelo. After some delicious BBQ chicken I went to see the birthplace of some guy who was born there…and Elves Presser or something like that. 
The Elvis Birthplace is a tribute fit for a king. The grounds cover much more than the simple space where the shotgun house (two rooms, shared outhouse in back) was built by Elvis’ dad in 1934. The house is there, of course, with a few original items (the ice box and the stove) that survived the Presley family poverty in the 30s and 40s. The Assemblies of God church building that Elvis and his family attended has been moved from its original location in Tupelo to the grounds. A museum shows the family’s humble life in the poorest of the poor side of town.
Man, was that a great visit! I highly recommend it to Elvis fans or people who simply want to see what hard times in the 1930s were.
The photo is in the house, showing where the bed (not original furniture) was when Elvis and his twin brother were born.
The Elvis Birthplace is a tribute fit for a king. The grounds cover much more than the simple space where the shotgun house (two rooms, shared outhouse in back) was built by Elvis’ dad in 1934. The house is there, of course, with a few original items (the ice box and the stove) that survived the Presley family poverty in the 30s and 40s. The Assemblies of God church building that Elvis and his family attended has been moved from its original location in Tupelo to the grounds. A museum shows the family’s humble life in the poorest of the poor side of town.
Man, was that a great visit! I highly recommend it to Elvis fans or people who simply want to see what hard times in the 1930s were.
The photo is in the house, showing where the bed (not original furniture) was when Elvis and his twin brother were born.12 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
How cool! He really seemed down to earth.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134743)
• Roseburg, Oregon
7 Nov
@FourWalls Yes he was and My Mom fixed him his favorite meal. Fried chicken.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159650)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Nov
So nice to visit where Elvis was born. I would love to see it some day.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159650)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Nov
@FourWalls ........Don't know those folks. I would love to see Tenessee and the area where Dolly lived as a child.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
8 Nov
Beautiful place, very unassuming considering the impact he’d make. I’d say the same thing about the hometowns of Marty Stuart and Jimmie Rodgers, too!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
The twin was stillborn. The twin was the first one born, and Elvis was born 30 minutes later. It was such a difficult delivery that Mrs. Presley had to be taken to the hospital and she wasn’t able to have any more children.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
It’s a beautiful park-like setting. There’s a statue up on the hill where Elvis used to play as a child: it shows the superstar in the cape standing over a small boy on a wooden box holding a guitar. It’s called “Becoming.” And the view from that area is amazing.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
8 Nov
There’s a line in a Bob McDill song, “Song of the South” (a hit for the band Alabama) that says “Somebody told us Wall Street fell, but we were so poor that we couldn’t tell.”
Driving through some of the towns in Mississippi and Louisiana makes me think of a Homer and Jethro joke: “a tornado hit our neighborhood and did $50,000 in improvements.” Superficially funny, but that’s how bad some of the places look. 
And, truthfully, this is good. The places near the coal mines in West Virginia look so flimsy that it appears a good hard sneeze could knock over the houses.
And, truthfully, this is good. The places near the coal mines in West Virginia look so flimsy that it appears a good hard sneeze could knock over the houses. 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
It’s not all that far, no. I like this more than the gaudy stuff that’s Graceland. (Disclaimer: I haven’t been to Graceland yet.)
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
7 Nov
@FourWalls I will say this about Graceland. It's interesting, but not really all that impressive honestly. Very 60s, 70s of course, and for the money he had I just thought he'd have more elaborate than he did.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73861)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Nov
I sure would love to see that but I know if I would contact with Elvis' spirit it definitely is at Graceland, Someone who is just as deep with the world beyond as I am went to Graceland and spent some time with Elvis down in the basement is what is the Jungle Room, I sure would have loved that,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
There’s a photo in the museum of Elvis at his twin brother’s grave.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
The “luxury” outhouse would have been a two-seater. The one they had reconstructed on the site was just a one-seater.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157678)
• United States
7 Nov
Sounds like an interesting stop. People forget how tough things were in the 30s. Have a safe trip.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
It was great. Talk about simple, Elvis’ dad built the house without 60 million permits!!
1 person likes this
@MaddieMae (31)
• United States
7 Nov
Wow! I have been to Graceland but never to Tupleo. What a treat it must have been to see Elvis's birthplace! ??
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62536)
• United States
7 Nov
It was a beautiful day and a real joy. I love how there are so many representations of his faith — including a Bible he owned — on display.
