The Martin Luther King Junior National Historic Site in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Historic District charts the life of the celebrated champion of the modern civil rights movement. Within the 14 hectares of this thought-provoking destination, you’ll discover the house in which King was born in 1929, the church where he was baptised and the site of his grave.
Before you start your tour, head to the Visitor Center. The staff will give you a brief overview of the site, as well as maps and guides. Don’t miss the Courage to Lead exhibit, explaining Dr King’s role in the key events of the American civil rights movement. The second exhibit, Children of Courage, tells the story of the children involved in the struggle, and is aimed especially at younger visitors.
Begin with a visit to the King Birth Home, where his parents lived from 1926 to 1941. All rooms, including the study, dining room and five bedrooms are open, and the interior has been restored to reflect how it would have looked at the time. Free guided tours of this building are available, and can be booked at the Visitor Center.
Make you way down the road to the Ebenezer Baptist Church. As well as being baptised here, King was ordained as a minister and served as co-pastor of the church, alongside his father. You will be able to listen to recordings of his famous sermons, made all the more poignant in this significant setting.
Head east along Auburn Avenue towards the King Center, and you’ll come to the final resting place of both Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta. The marble crypt, made of Georgian marble in honour of their southern roots, lies on an island in the centre of the Reflecting Pool.
Within the King Center, there is an exhibition on non-violent social activists, as well as a display of some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s personal belongings.
Finish you visit with a walk through the World Peace Rose Garden, with its starburst design chosen to symbolise the brilliance of Dr King’s ideas.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free.
