Unusual Life

Middle-America’s equivalent of the White House, Elvis’ Memphis home of Graceland, has been turned into one of America’s greatest tourist attractions by his ex-wife, Priscilla. Graceland receives more visitors than Hermitage, Monticello, Hearst Castle and the White House combined.

Virtual Tours of Graceland

Photographic tour of public Graceland

The 2nd floor is private. It’s so private that no tours, no television specials nor any photographs have ever been released to the public. It is the one thing that has yet to be revealed. It was Elvis’ secluded sanctuary where he lived and loved. This is said to be a tour of the upstairs at Graceland.

Grotto of the Redemption was the second folk-art installation I remember visiting as a child. It was a fascinating place, made completely out of rocks and gemstones by Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein.

It’s said that Father Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for him for the grace of health. He promised to build a shrine in her honor of he lived.

And he did.

Official Grotto of the Redemption website

Grotto of the Redemption Photos by NW-Cybermall

Series of photos of the Grotto, from DesMoinesRiver.org

Unfortunately, this long-standing visual and cultural community landmark is lost forever. The Twin Teepees, which opened in 1937 on Aurora near Green Lake, was torn down, without fanfare or warning. The kitschy building, which had been heavily damaged inside by fire in June 2000, had not been officially nominated as a historic landmark. If it had been nominated as even a local landmark, it could have been saved. Through the years, the distinctive building, modeled after Native American tepees and intended to lure motorists from the road, had been considered for landmark status, but it was never nominated and now it’s gone. So sad…

Twin Tee-Pee’s from History Link

The architecture on Stomgrog reflects the unique character and requirements of the population. Stomgrog Architecture

Unusual Life.  Unusual homes, strange places, odd people, weird things. 

My name is Marlow and I live in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A..  I’m interested in art and real estate, especially when those two subjects collide.  When art meets real estate, it sometimes results in a very unusual home!  When art meets life, it usually results in something fabulous.

I like unusual places, people and things.

I am a real estate consultant and sales person in Seattle and if you have a real estate need, please give me a call at 206-329-3795 or check out my website at www.SeattleDreamHomes.com

I also have a real estate blog,  www.360Digest.com.  Please visit and feel free to comment.

If you have any unusual places you’ve visited, any wacky artists you know, any eccentric people you’d like to virtually introduce me to, please let me know.  You can email me at Marlow@SeattleDreamHomes.com

Unusual Homes,Strange Places,Amazing Architecture, Unusual Artists, Extreme Homes