“The King” was interred in the crypt for only two months before his body was moved to Graceland
Elvis Presley may be resting in peace at Graceland’s meditation garden, but the crypt he was originally laid to rest in will be sold off June 23 as part of a “Sports Legends and Music Icons” auction.
Located at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, the crypt will be sold along with nearly 1,000 other items ranging from autographed sunglasses worn by Yoko Ono, costumes donned by the Jackson 5 and two pairs of boots worn by Bette Midler.
Elvis Presley died at his Graceland home in Memphis on August 16, 1977. “The King’s” body was initially interred at the crypt before it was moved to Graceland’s meditation garden two months later.
The granite and marble tomb was also the final resting place of Elvis Presley’s mother, Gladys. The two were interred together, and both remains were relocated at the same time. The crypt has remained empty ever since. A statue of the rock-n-roll legend was placed within the crypt to commemorate his temporary resting place.
The crypt will be auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions. Julien’s is well-known for auctions featuring other celebrity memorabilia, items like Whitney Houston’s dress and earrings from the movie, The Bodyguard and Michael Jackson’s red leather jacket worn in the Thriller music video from 1983.
Bidding for the crypt will begin at $100,000. According to the Associated Press, the winning bidder will also receive “opening and closing of the vault for burial, a memorialization inscription and use of a chapel for a committal service.”
