On September 20, 1949, Elvis Presley’s family moved into a modest home in Lauderdale Courts, a public housing complex in Memphis. They rented a two-bedroom apartment there for just $35 per month. For young Elvis and his family this marked a new chapter in their lives.
The apartment in Lauderdale Courts would become the longest place the Presley family ever lived before relocating to Graceland. Their time there helped shape Elvis’s early years. The courtyard surroundings and the people in that neighborhood were part of his daily life.
While living in Lauderdale Courts Elvis made lifelong friends among other children in the complex and he played music around the premises. Those experiences contributed to his musical growth and sense of community. Music and local culture were always present even in that humble setting.
Looking back this move carries sentimental value for many Elvis fans and historians. It represents his roots and where some of his early ambitions took root. The Lauderdale Courts home remains a part of the story of Elvis Presley’s rise and legacy.