This is one of 12 significant sites in Elvis’ formative years in Tupelo marked with bronze plaques on the Elvis Presley Driving Trail. Tupelo Hardware undoubtedly played a major role in the life of Elvis Presley. The hardware store was where Gladys, Elvis’ mother, purchased his first guitar and put music in the hands of a boy who grew to become a musical legend. The story goes that Elvis was very upset because Gladys refused to buy him a shotgun for his 11th birthday, so a store employee tried calming him down by handing him a guitar that he then started strumming. He then decided upon the guitar instead of the shotgun. Visitors are welcome during the store’s regular hours. Come in and listen to tales told by store employees while you stand in the spot where Elvis made that fateful decision.