The Gibson Guitar Factory

Having survived the night in 'Tornado Alley', I awoke and was relieved to find that i'd not made any new metallic or feline friends (although I did see a rather sketchy looking scarecrow hanging out in a field nearby). However, it was safe to say that I was not in Kansas :-)

Todays mission was to complete the journey on to Memphis. I made an early start and by mid morning I was safely installed in a hostel and ready to explore the city. Two places of interest today:

The Gibson Guitar Factory: I've had a very keen interest in Guitars since I was about 16 years old. I actually took a few guitar lessons when I was 8, but it took another 8 years before I picked up the instrument with real enthusiasm and that lasted until my mid-twenties. But, even though its been over a decade since I played the instrument myself, I still maintain an interest.

Seeing such a famous Instrument as a Gibson Guitar created from the beginning blocks of wood through to the shiney finished product was a morning well spent. The tour finished in the factory shop and it would have been very easy to add a few new additions to the 'dust gathering' guitar collection back in the UK. However, I managed to show restraint and left empty handed.

Next stop Graceland.

I've never really been a big Elvis fan but 'when in Memphis.' Apparently Elvis bought the whole 13.8 acre estate for $100,000 back in 1957. It was opened to the public back in 1982 and it is now the second most visited private residence in the USA just behind the Whitehouse. Elvis lived here until his death in 1977 and although his body was initially buried at the Forrest Hill Cemetery, it was moved to Graceland after a grave robbery attempt. He is buried alongside his parents and his grandmother.

As well as the House, Elvis amassed a pretty cool collection of Cars, Bikes and Planes.