Martin Luther King Jr. was born during the time of racial segregation in America. He went on to lead the modern civil rights movement and was an advocate for social change. Come to Atlanta, Georgia and hear his story, visit his childhood home, and walk in his footsteps at this historic site. Here are five amazing things to check out while you’re there.
Birth Home Tour
Start at the beginning with a tour of Martin Luther King’s birth home. The only ranger-led tour in the park, the journey takes you through the house where Dr. King was born and lived the first 12 years of his life. This activity is free, takes about 30 minutes to complete, and runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plan to arrive early, as the tours accommodate a maximum of 15 people and fill up fast. There are no advanced reservations; first come, first serve.
Stop by the D.R.E.A.M. Gallery
Filled with awe-inspiring exhibitions, the D.R.E.A.M. Gallery should be the next stop on your adventure. The exhibition highlights the close bond between former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., two of Georgia’s great leaders. The images depict both families through the years and tell the story of the creation of this historical park in MLK’s honor.
Explore The King Center
King’s wife Coretta started the MLK Center for Nonviolent Social Change in the couple’s basement following his assassination in 1968 with a mission to preserve his legacy. Today, the King Center represents the largest repository of his primary source materials, as well as the most extensive collection of American civil rights movement documents and oral histories in the world. While you’re there, you can visit the various exhibits and stop by Dr. King’s final resting place.
Discover the Ebenezer Baptist Church
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a co-pastor at this 19th-century church. Here, MLK was baptized as a child and provided spiritual guidance to many residents of the “Sweet Auburn” community. Dr. King became co-pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church with his father in 1960 and served the community until his death in 1968. Now a famous tourist destination, the church’s restoration project began in 2001, thanks to a grant from the Save America’s Treasures organization. It’s also where his final farewell was held.
Stroll Through the “I Have a Dream” Rose Garden
The World Peace Rose Garden at the Martin Luther King Historic Site was planted in 1992. Using the Country’s official flower the rose, the garden’s starburst design serves as a visual representation of this great leader’s life and ideals of peace through nonviolence. Explore 185 roses in a variety of colors and fragrances at the garden. Find this oasis bordering the Peace Plaza in front of the visitor center.
Every great tour of a historical site begins at the visitor’s center. Stop by before you embark and get a copy of the park’s brochure that includes a map of all the different sites.
Connect with us
