GROUNDBREAKING ON EXPANSION AT ELVIS' BIRTHPLACE BEGINS

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- A Tupelo tourism attraction which attracts over 75,000 visitors each year is about to receive a large face-lift.

City leaders held a ground breaking at the place where Elvis Presley was born as it will soon expand 10,000 plus square-feet.

Project plans estimate to cost about $6.6 million including a theater, reception hall, walking trail, and other displays.

Two and a half million dollars for this upgrade comes from the Mississippi Legislature, a wise investment according to some of our tourism experts.

"For every dollar we spend in advertising and marketing in the state of Mississippi we get about seven dollars returned on that one dollar," says Neal McCoy, Director of the Tupelo Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "So this is a good sound investment we think will attract visitors."

"We're the number one tourist attraction for the State of Mississippi. The state tourism people realize that and they're not afraid to put money into a project like this," believes Executive Director of the Elvis Presley Memorial, Dick Guyton.

Records show in 2010, the birthplace brought visitors in from all 50 states as well as 50 foreign countries.

     Above is an artist rendering of the new museum expansion to the current one.

RARE ELVIS MOMENTS!

Below is a clip of rare footage of Elvis recieving an award plaque for his current album at the time, 'Moody Blue' by an RCA represenative at the Indianapolis airport on June 26, 1977, seven weeks before his death. The presentation was for the two-billionth record pressed at RCA's Indianapolis plant.  Elvis doesn't appear to be overweight from the looks of his jogging suit opposed to that of the stage suits he wore for that last tour.

NEW SPANKOX REMIX: POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS

This is a nicely done new remix by Spankox kept within the original version.

AWESOME FOOTAGE OF ELVIS ROCKIN' LIVE IN VEGAS-1970

This is some of the most electrifying live footage of the King live on stage jamming on some of his 60's hits like Little Sister in a medly mix with The Beatles, Get Back. Very rare from the Turner archives!

ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT ELVIS: KING OF HAWAII

While I'm not a fan of books on Elvis' life, this one looks promising. Here is the cover of the new book by Erik Lorentzen, "Elvis King Of Hawaii". If all goes well, the book should be ready by mid-May, More information on the number of pages and pictures, and retail prices will follow later

Elvis Car Museum Makes List of Unique Venues for Corporate Events

How about hosting a company meeting your employees will enjoy attending? The Elvis Presley Car Museum at Graceland has just been named one of the top unique venues for corporate events by Exhibit City News, a tradeshow industry newspaper out of Las Vegas.

The Car Museum features over 33 vehicles owned by Elvis, including his famous pink Cadillac, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and a 1975 Dino Ferrari, as well as a drive-in theater. Exhibit City News says that makes it an ideal location for a company looking to hold a live event and let loose a bit.

The Elvis Presley Car Museum holds 150 seated guests and 250 standing.

MUST SEE LIVE ELVIS FROM 1974 IN HD!!

This is some of the very best live footage in 8mm by a fan at Elvis' concert in Kansas City, MO in July 1974.