Museum-goers are all buzzing about Graceland – as Elvis Presley’s Tennessee mansion has been named America’s favorite museum.
The King of Rock and Roll is still a major attraction almost 50 years after his death, with over half a million visitors flocking to Memphis each year to catch a glimpse of the singer’s former home.
According to a study conducted by Airport parking reservationsGraceland is the nation’s most beloved attraction, with over 1.2 million visitors creating online reviews at a 19.5 percent positive rate.
Although the museum is only the fifth most visited in the US, music fans are clearly impressed as it beat New York’s famous gallery, The Met, to take the top spot.
Rounding out the podium was the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois, which had 219,608 reviews with a positive score of 12.5, reports WREG.
Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee has been named America’s favorite museum, garnering more positive reviews than any other in the entire country.
Elvis bought the huge property in 1957, the same year he recorded the iconic hits “Blue Christmas” and “All Shook Up.”
The sprawling 13.8-acre estate attracts over half a million visitors each year, where music lovers flock to catch a glimpse of Elvis history. Pictured: Presley’s tombstone at Graceland
Presley bought Graceland for $102,500 as his career was taking off
While The Met came in second with a positive score of 18.5 percent, Presley’s vast fortune netted some happy customers thanks to its array of King memorabilia.
The excitement left a visitor Jailhouse Rocking this month, however, after tourist fanatic Tommy Purcell was arrested after being filmed jumping into Graceland’s backyard pool.
Presley bought the house in 1957 for $102,500, the same year he recorded a string of iconic hits including “Blue Christmas” and “All Shook Up.”
The 13.8 acre property was built in 1939 by Ruth Brown Moore and her husband Dr. Thomas D. Moore, who named the property ‘Graceland’ after Ruth’s aunt, Grace Toof, the original owner of the land.
When Elvis first bought the house, it was 10,266 square feet, but extensive renovations en route to becoming a popular museum have seen the mansion grow to 17,552 square feet, according to Graceland website.
While only the White House receives more visitors as a house-museum, Graceland couldn’t be further from the presidential residence’s appreciation. It’s known as a wild and crazy look at Elvis’ lifestyle, including the famous “Jungle Room” filled with greenery and family heirlooms.
Today, the property at 3763 Elvis Presley Blvd stands as one of America’s musical landmarks and was named to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was ranked second among America’s most beloved museums
The Art Institute of Chicago became the third favorite museum in the country
America’s plethora of museums has created some quirky options for tourists across the country, including the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota, a cocktail dedicated to the canned meat.
While the top three museums in the country offer thousands of tourists a taste of culture every day, the abundance of choices across the country has also led to some quirky alternatives.
In Minnesota, a 14,000-square-foot space is devoted entirely to Spam, the canned meat many remember only from decades past.
Fittingly, the museum has historic Spam memorabilia dating back to World War II, including how the meat cocktail played an important role in people’s diets back then.
In the West, animal enthusiasts can find the Bunny Museum in Altadena, California, which has an extensive collection of over 35,000 rabbit-themed memorabilia.
Entrance to the Rabbit Museum in Altadena, California, which has a collection of more than 35,000 rabbit memorabilia
One of the exhibits at the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma, which houses the world’s largest collection of banjos
Visitors browse the vintage mustard bottles, cans and jars that can be found inside the National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin
The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, which explores the development of barbed wire and displays 2,000 types of it
Run by husband and wife team Candace Frazee and Steve Lubankso, exhibits include art, literature, figurines, games and even Candace and Steve’s real-life former rabbit-related bunnies, which have been cleaned and preserved for visitors to enjoy. next.
In the state of Elvis, one of Graceland’s competitors in Tennessee is the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, which houses 20,000 sets of shakers.
The museum is thought to be the only one of its kind in the world and the owners and curators, Andrea and Rolf, have been collecting shakers for over 25 years.
Other unusual museums found across the country include the Barbed Wire Museum in Kansas, the Banjo Museum in Oklahoma, and the National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin.
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