The Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo, Mississippi, in the US is welcoming an increasing number of visitors, as fans commemorated the 45th anniversary of the singer's death on Tuesday.
And a new film has awakened international interest in the star: Baz Luhrmann's Elvis has become a global hit.
“It really picked up the first of April with steady increases and then when the film came out, it really picked up,” the Birthplace's executive director Roy Turner said.
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From left, Australian actress Natasha Bassett, producer Jerry Schilling, Priscilla Presley, Australian actress Olivia DeJonge, Australian director Baz Luhrmann, US actor Austin Butler, actor Alton Mason and US actor Tom Hanks leave the Festival Palace following the screening of the film 'Elvis' during the 75th Cannes Film Festival. AFP -
Priscilla Presley, left, and Baz Luhrmann at the screening of 'Elvis' at Cannes Film Festival. EPA -
(6L-R) Priscilla Presley, Olivia DeJonge, Austin Butler, Baz Luhrmann, Alton Mason, Tom Hanks, Steve Binder, Catherine Martin, and Patrick McCormick. EPA -
From left, Austin Butler, Baz Luhrmann, Tom Hanks, Natasha Bassett and Alton Mason. EPA -
From left, Tzef Montana, Smaragda Karydi, Director Panos H Koutras, Natasa Exintaveloni and Mariella Savvides. EPA -
Olivia DeJonge. Getty Images -
Members of Italian band Maneskin, from left, Ethan Torchio, Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis and Thomas Raggi. EPA -
From left, Australian director Baz Luhrmann, US actor Austin Butler and actor Alton Mason. AFP -
Caylee Cowan and Casey Affleck. Getty Images -
Winnie Harlow. AP -
Olivia Culpo. AP -
Shakira poses for photographers. AP -
Jeremy O Harris, left, and Kaia Gerber. AP -
Belgian model Stella Maxwell. AFP -
Ukrainian entrepreneur Sasha Ray (C) arrives for the screening of 'Elvis'. EPA -
Princess Maria Chiara and Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon. EPA -
Indian actress Urvashi Rautela arrives for the screening of the film 'Elvis'. AFP -
Ricky Martin. EPA -
Noomi Rapace. Getty Images -
Tom Hanks is seen departing the premiere of the film 'Elvis' at the 75th international film festival. AP -
Conor McGregor and Kylie Minogue attend the 'Elvis' after party at Stephanie Beach. Getty Images -
US DJ Diplo (C) leaves after attending a party. AFP
Mr Turner was named executive director of the site last autumn after long-time leader Dick Guyton retired.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported Mr Turner's biggest challenge is getting visitors to return to Tupelo's top attraction amid the pandemic.
With international tourists typically making up 60 per cent of visitors, the movie about the king of rock 'n roll couldn't have been released at a better time. The birthplace has had more visitors this year than in the past two.
It was only last November that a busload of visitors became the first international tour group at the site since January 2020.
“They’re coming from all over the world,” Mr Turner said.
He said about 20 people from Belgium visited the Birthplace on August 9, spending most of the day there. About 35 bus tours were expected in a little more than two weeks. Mr Turner said those numbers are approaching pre-Covid levels.
Before the pandemic, the Birthplace welcomed about 60,000 visitors a year.
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American singer and film star Elvis Presley in 1975. To his fans, the undisputed ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’. All photos: Getty -
Elvis performs on stage in 1974 -
US president Richard Nixon meets Elvis at the White House in 1970 -
The ‘Elvis comeback TV special’, in Burbank, California, in June 1968 -
Priscilla Presley feeds Elvis wedding cake at the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, in 1967 -
Singer Frank Sinatra and Elvis share a joke in Hollywood, in 1965 -
Elvis in military uniform during his stint as a US serviceman at the Grafenwoehr training camp, Germany, in 1958 -
Elvis performs outdoors on a small stage to the adulation of a young crowd in 1957 -
Elvis sings his song ‘Hound Dog’ to a basset hound in a top hat on the set of ‘The Steve Allen Show,’ in 1956 -
Elvis surrounded by his adoring teenage fans in 1956 -
Fans view Elvis Presley’s gold records at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
Presley died on August 16, 1977, at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee — about 151 kilometres from the Tupelo site. Mr Turner said tourism at the Birthplace typically increases “in those five-year increments” of the anniversary of the death.
Mr Turner said he’s happy to see more visitors, including younger ones.
“We’ve seen a lot of young people show an interest in Elvis,” he said. “Another interesting thing is that there are more African-American visitors as well, because the movie told more of Elvis’s connection to the African-American community.”
Exploring Elvis Presley's Graceland — in pictures
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Items from Elvis Presley's former wardrobe are displayed at Graceland. Reuters -
Visitors queue to enter Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion. AFP -
Gold records line the walls of Elvis Presley's trophy room. Reuters -
Pictures of Elvis Presley and his parents on display at Graceland. Reuters -
Graceland was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Reuters -
Memorabilia from the early years of Elvis Presley's career. Reuters -
Visitors pass the graves of Elvis Presley, his parents and stillborn twin brother during a tour of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Reuters -
Graceland's front gates. Reuters -
Messages from fans from all over the world cover the rock wall surrounding Graceland. Reuters -
Pictures of Elvis Presley line the wall of a gift shop. Reuters
AP contributed to this report
