There needs to be an official Elvis Aron Presley Museum

[EP75]

This thread is dedicated to the importance of an official Elvis Aron Presley Museum. I started this new thread separately from the other poll thread because certain ones were turning it into an argument. This one is to discuss the importance for an official EP museum and what it would serve a purpose for.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the plans for Graceland and how some don't like what they are hearing about the coming plans. That is fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However I thought I would point out, not judge or attack views or instigate a fight as certain ones did on the last thread about this topic, but to debate and discuss like grown adults for why there should be an official EP Museum. So let's begin.

What would be the purpose of an official EP Museum?

The purpose would be to tell his life story through special exhibits and to give the visitor's an experience like never before. It would allow the visitors to explore his professional and private life, his religious and cultural beliefs, and his accomplishments. It would give a more complete vision of the man, the music and the myth.

A major purpose and need for an official museum is because many visitor's who are not the die hard fans (including the celebrities) normally just tour the mansion due to cost for the Platinum tour of everything. So they miss out on the smaller Sincerely Elvis museum and Elvis After Dark, the planes, and the car museum. This would be the main purpose for an official state of the art hi-tech interactive museum to display everything together and not in separate areas of the campus, as is the case today. It would be the main attraction after the main attraction which is Graceland mansion.

State of the art museums today are very important for telling rich cultural history and reliving historic events through modern day technology. Museums are learning experiences that a class room cannot deliver.

Where would an official museum be built?

Some may argue the location. But the best location would be at Graceland inside the newly planned Visitor's center. This would allow tourists to tour the home then see his life through the museum and it's hi-tech interactive exhibits. Or go to the museum first then tour the mansion. This way they hear and see the whole story at once and not in separate locations as is the case today.

Why not build it in downtown Memphis or in Las Vegas?

Those two locations would work IF Graceland wasn't a national tourist destination zone or opened to the public. If there were no Graceland, then downtown Memphis would be the ideal location with a mini Rockabilly Park of historical value built around it. Building the museum at Graceland allows visitors to tour the mansion AND the museum within walking distance and not having to travel by car to see one or the other. Besides Graceland, EPE, and FXS would all lose out on a financial standpoint if they had the museum downtown and away from Graceland. After all money does make the world go around.

How big would this museum be?

Size isn't everything. The facility could be a two level museum and extend bigger than a football field (as is what Bob Sillerman is planning) and still look small, or it could be a single level museum that looks bigger than a double level museum.

Will it overshadow or dwarf Graceland?

Not at all. If anything, it will allow Graceland to look more bigger than it is and to be more visible from the roadside and look more attractive to onlookers. It won't decrease the image or visual size of Graceland in any way.

How much would it cost to build this dream museum?

Usually museums of this nature are finance through city and state funding. And sometimes privately and publicly. However Bob Sillerman and EPE don't have to go that route for this project. They will finance the museum and new attractions privately without increasing city resident taxes. The average state of the art museum facility today costs around $50-100 million or more. The new Civil And Human Rights Museum in Atlanta is projected to cost $200 million and will be built around Martin Luther King's memorial burial.

The museum that Lisa and Priscilla has been planning for the past decade has been estimated at $100 million. How big would that be? I would bet that EPE hasn't spent more than $15-20 million combined on the current plaza since it opened in 1982. So imagine how much nicer this museum and Visitor's center will be compared to the current setup. Mind blowing!

How long would it take to build this dream facility?

Most museums are on timetables of about 2-3 years (24-36 months) to complete. That also has to do with building permits, city and state support in construction companies and etc. Because none of that will affect the construction, this project which could begin shortly could be completed in a 18-20 month period. Depending how elaborate in size it (museum and Visitor's center) will be and how much extensive construction will be needed.

If groundbreaking begins in early 2008 in the Spring (as Lakeisha has alluded to hearing) then I would expect it to be completed as early as August 2009 in time for the 32 Anniversary or no later than January 2010.


Here's some other historical landmarks and figures who have official museums on their property or planning one.

Theodore Roosevelt Group Plans New Museum
http://www.nysun.com/article/59526

The Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum - Branson, MO.
http://www.royrogers.com/museum.html

The Gene Autry Museum
http://www.geneautryokmuseum.com/GA2...boutMuseum.htm

The Liberace Museum And Foundation
http://www.liberace.org/liberace_museum/

The Beatles Story Museum
http://www.igougo.com/travelcontent/...?entryID=35629

[EP75]

Something else that is needed at Graceland and should be a big part of the new museum and/or visitor's center is a Singers & Songwriters Museum. This would showcase and highlight the musicians and producers behind EP's music. The band members such as Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, Bill Black, James Burton, etc. The producers such as Sam Phillips, Steve Sholes, Felton Jarvis, etc. The back up groups such as The Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, The Blossoms, The Imperials, and JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet. This museum exhibit would also feature the people who wrote the songs and for once give them the much deserved credit such as Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, Ottis Blackwell, Ben Weisman, Mark James, and Mac Davis.

[ksimms2]

I don't think we need an EP Museum on site at graceland only because Graceland is the museum and is full of his stuff....and the car museum, elvis after dark, etc. is included in your ticket to graceland....it's there for all to see.....BUT....I do agree with having a songwriter type display....honoring the song writers of Elvis.....

[keke23]

From what I was told, a state of the art museum is part of the plans.

Most likely a VC/Museum complex. That's somethin they need at Graceland.

The whole Graceland area needs to be upgraded and expanded to make tourist feels safe and welcomed, and to bring in more tourists.

ITA about the singers/songwriters idea. But instead of it as an exhibit, why not make it a major attraction museum of its own?

Jay, I read your update on your blog and you got some fantastic ideas! The Civil Rights exhibit is a MUST and should be considered by Sillerman, IMO, because of his support in it.

[EP75]

From what I was told, a state of the art museum is part of the plans.

Most likely a VC/Museum complex. That's somethin they need at Graceland.

The whole Graceland area needs to be upgraded and expanded to make tourist feels safe and welcomed, and to bring in more tourists.

ITA about the singers/songwriters idea. But instead of it as an exhibit, why not make it a major attraction museum of its own?

Jay, I read your update on your blog and you got some fantastic ideas! The Civil Rights exhibit is a MUST and should be considered by Sillerman, IMO, because of his support in it.

Thanks Lakeisha, but why didn't you leave feedback on my blog? Then I'll know who's reading it. That goes for all of you.