There are more than 700 aviation and space museums around the country. Each Monday we profile one of them. Eventually we’ll hit them all.
Today, to mark the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death on August 16th, 1977, we’ll make a stop at Graceland, where two of Elvis’s jets are on display.
This Lockheed JetStar was dubbed Hound Dog II:
(Photo courtesy jbcurio, via Flickr).
According to this article, Elvis purchased this Lockheed JetStar in September, 1975 for $899,702, while waiting for his other plane, the Lisa Marie (below), a Convair 880 Jet previously owned by Delta Airlines, to arrive.
At Graceland, visitors sit in a mock 1970’s-era airline terminal to see a short film about Elvis and his airplanes and are then allowed to tour the JetStar and the Lisa Marie, which was also known as Hound Dog I or Flying Graceland.
(Photo courtesy rgblasson via Flickr
Sadly, I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Graceland. Yet. But when I do, I’ll make a beeline for the airplanes. First stop, the Lisa Marie. According to this article, the airplane has a seating area, conference room, library and plush bedroom with an executive bathroom equipped with gold washbasin and faucets.
Have you seen Elvis’s airplanes at Graceland? Share details of your visit below.
And please let us know if you have a nomination for an aviation or space museum you’d like to see featured on a future edition of Museum Monday here at StuckatTheAirport.com.
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I was impressed by Elvis’s planes. He definitely knew how to live large. Dunno if my picture will show up below or not, but I’ll try it anyway.