Gracelands

The famous, yet kitsch Music Gates.

No guide to the seven kitsch wonders of the World would be complete without the kitsch 'mecha' that is Gracelands. Home to rock legend Elvis Presley, the colonial mansion of Gracelands, Memphis, Tennessee, has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the USA attracting millions of visitors a year on a pilgrimage to see the final resting place of "The king".

Now renowned for its famous resident, Gracelands was built in 1939 on the site of a former cattle farm. The house and grounds were named after Grace Toof, the former owner's great aunt and had been used by the local church for several years as an annex. Elvis purchased the 13 roomed house in 1957 for $100,000 (USD) and had the now famous "Music Gates" installed at the entrance (pictured top left).

Despite the relatvely small size of the mansion, the fantastically gaudy lions guarding the entrance to the house, plus the mock Roman columns gracing the entrance make this a true kitsch spectacle. Collect a bargain and equally tacky souvenier to remember your visit with a plethora of gift shops and market stalls along the route leading to Gracelands.

Gracelands now serves as a memory to Elvis with thousands of visitors coming to see the final resting place of the King. A true kistch wonder.