Depicted in many forms of media consumed by children, the idea of placing a message in a bottle that will then be retrieved by some unknown person on the other side of the world is a legend that has persisted throughout time.
For all of the children who chucked a cylinder of glass into a sea, with a note safely tucked inside, the idea that someone might find it turns out not to be so far fetched. A bottle recently washed up on an Australian beach that contained a message hidden away for over 132 years. The bottle is the oldest such object found on record, a record which was previously held by a bottle found in 2015 that was aged 108 years old.
Tonya Illman spotted the bottle poking out of the san on a remote beach located 112 miles north of Perth. Illman explained via the Western Australia Museum, “My friend Grace Ricciardo and I were walking across the dunes when I saw something sticking out of the sand so I went to take a closer look. It just looked like a lovely old bottle so I picked it up thinking it might look good in my bookcase. My son’s girlfriend was the one who discovered the note when she went to tip the sand out.”
The note inside gave the bottle a curious backstory. It was an official form, printed in German that was part of an initiative studying the oceans in the late 19th that saw hundreds of bottles thrown from German ships in order to track currents and trade routes.
The note recorded in painstaking detail the exact coordinates where it had been tossed overboard, as well as where it should be returned once found. The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency were able to verify the artifact’s authenticity.
An Inside Look At Elvis Presley’s Iconic Graceland Mansion
The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, was popular for his extravagant lifestyle all through his career. Presley’s Graceland Mansion mirrors his lifestyle perfectly with its grand style and exotic appearance. This article takes an inside look at the iconic mansion.
A Simple Outlook
Built in 1939 by Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife Ruth Brown Moore, Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion has a rather simple exterior. It takes a closer look to be convinced that it was the home of the great Elvis Presley. The outside of the house is made of subtle brickwork, with giant pillars bare of carvings, giving the mansion a simple yet classic curb appeal.

Elegant Dining
Just like the outside of the house, the dining room of Presley’s Graceland Mansion is a combination of brilliant simplicity and masterful elegance. The room, while having simple elements like neutral white walls and plain wooden chairs, is perfectly offset with the extravagance of a lovely chandelier, a classy marble dining table, and floors made of black marble.

Luxurious Living Room
The living room of the mansion is just as elegant as the dining. The space is painted in virtually all-white, giving it the magnificent look of a luxuriant room. The white room is complimented perfectly with simple yet aesthetic upholstery, furniture, and carpeting. The stained glass windows are however the standout feature of the sitting room. The windows, which stand at one end of the room, feature perfectly crafted peacocks.

Futuristic TV Room
Another one of the outstanding rooms in the mansion, the Graceland TV room, is simply a masterpiece. With a mirrored ceiling, a brilliant yellow and black color scheme, and a wide TV wall, Elvis Presley put together a futuristic TV room. It is no wonder why it can still pass for a modern room, over sixty years after it was designed!

The Jungle Room
The jungle room is one of the most famous rooms in the Graceland Mansion and rightly so. This room was added to the mansion by Presley in the sixties, becoming one of his most personal spaces in the house. The jungle room is a den designed to feel like a place in the tropics. The room, which has walls of stone and wood, is decorated with plant life, artifacts, animal statues, and furred furniture.

The Kidney Bean Pool
There is a big pool in the mansion, as expected, and just like the jungle room, it’s designed to Presley’s taste. The pool is shaped just like a kidney bean. Like many of Presley’s style choices, we have no idea why he wanted a pool in the shape of a kidney bean. The peculiar shape makes the pool one of the most distinctive parts of the Graceland Mansion.

The Meditation Garden
The Meditation Garden was one of Presley’s favorite places in the Graceland Mansion. It served as his safe haven, bringing him peace and respite whenever he needed it. This is why he spent a lot of time there whenever he was battling a big problem, or simply struggling to keep up with the demands of life as a famous musician. The garden created an atmosphere of serenity with a statue of Jesus overlooking it, flowers, and nature all around.

A Home To Rest
Elvis Presley lived in Graceland for about twenty years, from 1957 until his death in 1977. He spent a great part of his life within the walls of this mansion, and here he felt truly at home. Presley lived with both of his parents as well as his daughter, Lisa Marie, during his time in Graceland. It is only right that this is his final resting place. Along with his parents and grandmother, Elvis Presley was laid to rest at Graceland.

A Lover Of Apes
One thing Elvis Presley was known for, aside from his extravagant style, was his love of animals. Presley loved apes and monkeys in particular, and this was evident in the decoration of the jungle room in his Graceland mansion. Figures of monkeys and apes make up a great number of animal statues in the room. Each statue has a different style, as Presley did not consider aesthetics when growing his collection.

The Musician
A multi-instrumentalist, Presley was highly skilled with the guitar and piano. Elvis loved playing music just as much as his fans loved hearing him play. This is why he had a piano room, housing a grand piano where he played his favorite songs throughout the day. The piano room is small and connected to the living room, making it easy for Presley to entertain his guests with melodious tunes. The room is elegantly decorated with floor-length yellow curtains and gold lighting.

The Master Bedroom
This was Elvis Presley’s most personal space and he made every inch of the room as glamorous as can be. The big bed is decorated flamboyantly with a gold-detailed headboard and a deep purple velvet drape. Hanging from the ceiling is an extravagant chandelier, just like the one in the dining. The room is spacious with a couch to relax on and bedside lamps.

The Handsome King
Elvis Presley had a picture-perfect face, as such, a number of amazing pictures of his can be found around his Graceland Mansion. One picture, which features a blue steel expression from Presley, hangs in an alcove near one of the bedrooms.

Excellent Stairway
As is in every area of the house, the stairway of the house is also excellently designed to the taste of Elvis Presley. It is graceful and symbolizes opulence with decoration that gives it a classic look. The stairway has deep blue drapes at the top, a stunning chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and is complete with perfect floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

A Lover of Racquetball
Elvis Presley became a fan of racquetball in the 1970s. Just like with everything he loved, he found space for it in his Graceland mansion. He built a racquetball court on the grounds of the mansion. A two-story building, it also has a lounge area in which he entertained his guests after a game. The lounge area is pictured here.

A Stone Bust Of The King
It is expected that the mansion has a great number of pictures situated around in order to pay tribute to Elvis Presley. Having a bust of him on the grounds, therefore, makes perfect sense. The bust is made of marble, which seems just about right. The nose of the bust seems to have been chipped, but that does little to change the blue steel expression which Presley was known for.

The Wedding Souvenir
Elvis Presley was famously married to Priscilla who he met in Germany. Shortly after meeting, Presley and Priscilla started a relationship and she moved into Graceland in 1963. They got married a few years later in 1967 and were together until 1973. This drink tray is one of the souvenirs from their wedding ceremony. Although they seperated in 1973, Elvis and Priscilla remained friends until he passed in 1977.

The Office
It’s easy to think that an extravagant musician like Elvis Presley stayed in his mansion doing nothing all day. It is a wrong notion however, as it took a lot of work to keep his amazing career running smoothly. Elvis Presley did the bulk of this work in his home office. Being a workspace, the office is not as elaborately designed as other spaces in the home. It is, however, decorated with a dog statue and a spacious desk to provide all the comforts needed to keep work running smoothly.

Presley’s Phone
Aside from his office, the jungle room served as Presley’s workspace where he handled all non-music related business. The jungle room, with the tropical setting, animal statues, plant life, and artifacts, was very conducive for Presley to work in. The jungle room also had a phone which he used to make important calls and take messages. The phone is an important fixture in the jungle room, as it was one of Presley’s most important work instruments.

Mirror On The Wall
Elvis Presley sure knew how to pull off a memorable performance, paying close attention to detail. This attention to detail lea to him picking the right outfit to accentuate his movement on stage and add flair to his act. Presley used this ideology when decorating Graceland, adding flair wherever necessary. The living room is one of the major spaces where Presley worked his magic. Being uncharacteristically small for a celebrity home, Presley ensured that mirrors were placed on the walls to make it appear bigger.

A Lover Of Cars
Elvis Presley amassed a great collection of cars during his lifetime, as he was a big lover of them. This collection can be seen today at the Graceland car museum. One of the cars that stands out in the collection is his pink car. Having such a flashy color, it perfectly mirrors Presley’s personality. The car has barbershop pattern seats and roof, which is sure to catch the attention of anyone who sees it.

The Cool Cadillac
Cadillac was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite car brands, and he had a lot of different models during his lifetime. One of them was the white Cadillac Calais. This car exudes extravaganza and opulence, fitting Presley’s status perfectly. Sparkling white with a classic design, it is one of the best cars in Elvis Presley’s top-class collection.

The Stutz Blackhawk
Simply calling Elvis Presley a lover of cars is a bit of an understatement, as he could be best described as a fanatic. This is backed by the fact that he was the owner of the first-ever Stutz Blackhawk. Stutz, established by Harry C Stutz, began production of sports cars in 1911, before closing in 1935. They started producing again in 1968, and it was during this spell that Presley was determined to be the first owner of one of their cars.

The Cadillac Eldorado
Another Cadillac that belongs to Elvis Presley’s collection is the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado. One of his most famous cars, the Cadillac Eldorado has an eye-catching deep purple color. One interesting fact about this car is that its color was originally white before being repainted on Presley’s request. More interesting, is the fact that Presley, while at the paint shop, simply squashed grapes on the car and requested that it be painted in that color.

The Tale of The Peckers
Maintaining these cars and keeping them in prime condition was not always an easy task, as Presley would find out with this Rolls Royce Phantom V. A car he purchased in 1961, Presley had to repaint the car after his mother’s chickens chipped the paint away after constantly pecking at their reflection.

Mini Machines
While having big and exotic cars, Elvis Presley also had a number of experimental vehicles. These vehicles are part of his collection and come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. One thing you can tell from these mini machines is that Presley really had an interesting taste in things. It is, however, quite hard to imagine Presley fitting into one of these vehicles and driving around his mansion.

The Collection Is Plain Without A Plane
Elvis Presley did not only purchase exotic cars and mini vehicles, but he also invested in the big ones—planes! Elvis Presley bought quite a number of private planes, one of which is the Convair 880. Presley purchased the Convair 880 from Delta Airlines in 1975 and proceeded to rename it ”Lisa Marie” after his only daughter.

The Golden Glass
Presley left a touch of extravagance on every piece of his property as a way of showing his wealth. This touch of extravagance trickled down to the smallest details in Graceland Mansion. This glass cup is a perfect example as it is branded in gold with his initials ”EP.” One might not spot this easily, but Presley made sure to leave his mark on it.

A Lifetime of Music
Music made Elvis Presley a star and he loved the art so much. Music brought him great happiness and fed his soul, and this is evident if you look around Graceland Mansion. The piano room connected to the living room was where he played, but you could connect to the music right from the entrance of his home. The entrance gates are designed with two figures resembling Presley playing the guitar with music notes floating between them.

Beautiful At Christmas
Elvis Presley bought the Graceland Mansion in 1957 and its sight at Christmas was one of the determining factors. Situated on the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee, the area was not very developed at the time of purchase. Presley, however, fell in love with the house after seeing the beauty of the grounds covered in unbroken snow during Christmas. The area is quite developed now, but the mansion still remains a lovely sight at Christmas.

The Meditation Area
The meditation area is one of the most charming places at Graceland. This is where Presley came to meditate on several occasions. The pond and fountain are two of the most amazing features of the mediation area. The pond, which takes a circular shape, is surrounded by an elegant fence and adorned with some other ornaments.

The Great Kitchen
Elvis Presley loved a great meal, and as such, he spent a lot of time in the kitchen. This explains why a lot of work went into making the mansion’s kitchen look as great as it does. The kitchen is well decorated and equipped with the best kitchen appliances. The floor pattern is quite memorable too.

Rock-a-bye Baby
Elvis Presley’s only child, Lisa Marie, was a product of his marriage to Priscilla. Born in 1968, Lisa Marie lived with her parents in Graceland until they parted ways. Elvis Presley ensured to decorate a fine room for his daughter. Not as exorbitant as his own room, but quite endearing for a little baby. The baby cot had a small TV as well as many toy dolls.

Like Father Like Daughter
Elvis Presley was known for his flamboyant sense of style, and he made sure to pass it on to his daughter, Lisa Marie. This is a fur coat Lisa Marie wore when she was a child, giving her the look of a little Russian countess. Only a few parents dress their child up in fur, and Elvis Presley was one of them.

Lisa Marie’s Vehicle
It is obvious now that Elvis Presley tried to pass down his love for certain things to his daughter. Aside from fashion, Presley wanted Lisa Marie to inherit his love for cars. This is the tricycle Elvis got for his daughter when she lived in the Graceland mansion. Just like his vehicles, the tricycle is beautifully designed. It has a bright red color with white detailing, while the handles are adorned with ribbons.

Elvis’ Stairway
The Graceland Mansion is now open as a tourist destination for the public. Some parts of it, however, are still inhabited and are off-limits to tourists. This is the stairway that leads to the private part of the house. The stairway looks every bit like something Presley decorated himself. On both sides, it’s ornamented with mirrors and lined with bright red flowers.

Stepping Out In Style
Elvis Presley is well-known for his fashion taste. Starting off simple, Presley grew into his style as he got older until he found his signature look. His signature look was quite charming, as it entailed an all-white suit that is rhinestoned to the gills paired with a flashy cape or jacket. One might consider it extravagant or over the top, but that is really what Presley was known for.

A Record Breaker
Elvis Presley was a successful musician. In fact, he is one of the most successful musicians of all time. He earned a lot of accolades and awards to show for his great success. During his lifetime, Presley was the bestselling solo artist and had a collection of gold records for his many albums and songs. These records, numerous and quite flashy, are befitting of an illustrious career.

Award-Winning Artist
In addition to breaking records with his music, Presley won a lot of awards. His awards are all kept in the trophy display room at his Graceland Mansion. One thing that is surprising about his trophy haul, is that Elvis Presley won only three Grammys in his career. Winning three Grammys is no easy feat, but for someone as gifted and successful as Elvis Presley, it’s normal to assume he would have won more.

The Love Of His Life
It is clear to see that Elvis Presley had a deep affection for the women in his life. He maintained a close relationship with his mother, Gladys, all through his years of fame. Gladys also lived in Graceland for years. He also loved his wife, Priscilla, and daughter, Lisa Marie. He never remarried after his divorce in 1993 and made sure that Lisa Marie inherited a bit of his style and flair, as we discussed above. Pictured here is Priscilla and Lisa Marie. Priscilla owns Graceland Mansion and still lives there today. She is the brain behind the establishment of the Elvis Presley Museum.
