Originally named Gum Pond, Tupelo has a rich history, a vibrant music scene, and some really cool original things to do. It’s the definition of an All-American City. Seriously, it’s the only city in the South to be named such 5 different times.
AND Tupelo is also celebrating a birthday. This year they turn 150 years old!
It’s the Birthplace of Elvis. And as we celebrate what would have been The King’s 85th Birthday today,you should make sure and have Tupelo on your list of places to visit:
- 7th largest city in Mississippi. Stones throw from Jackson, Memphis, and Birmingham.
- 1st City to get power from the TVA.
- One of the deadliest tornadoes in history wiped out the town in 1936.The storm leveled 48 city blocks and over 200 homes, killing 216 people and injuring more than 700 persons. It struck at night, destroying large residential areas on the city’s north side. Among the survivors was Elvis Presley, then a baby
- Was once considered a hub for the furniture industry.
- Machine Gun Kelly robbed his last bank here.
- It is the headquarters of the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, which connects Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee
- Oh yeah, did we tell y’all The King Elvis Presley was born here?
Celebrating Elvis
- There are 12 significant sites that formed Elvis’s young life recognized by Tupelo.
- Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house in East Tupelo where he grew up dreaming of becoming a superhero with wavy hair, a cape, and a lightning bolt on his chest. For his 10th birthday, his mother bought him a guitar from Tupelo Hardware Company. Ten years later, he made his first gold record.
- There is a huge Elvis wall mural at Reed’s on West Main. There is also a Jailhouse Rock mural.
- Selfies must be taken with the Elvis Homecoming Statue in historic Downtown.
- See the full list here.
- Maybe you just want to do the Elvis Triangle: Tupelo Day 1 .. A short trip to Memphis and Graceland Day 2… And then head to Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame on Day 3.
For all those Elvis fans celebrating out there, I am sure he would say: “Thank you…Thank You very much.”
