On August 17, 1977—the day after his death—Elvis Presley’s casket was brought to Graceland so his family could grieve in private before the public was allowed to pay their respects. Many who saw him later noted how unusually youthful he appeared, the result of careful embalming. His coffin itself was immense, crafted from copper and bronze and weighing nearly half a ton. After the funeral, Elvis was laid to rest in a crypt at Forest Hill Cemetery. But when an attempted grave robbery shocked the family, his father, Vernon Presley, made a decisive choice. Elvis—and his mother, Gladys—were moved back to Graceland, where they were permanently entombed in reinforced steel-and-concrete sarcophagi. In the end, the King was finally allowed to rest safely at home.
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