Martin Luther King, Jr. Atlanta Tour
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
The nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. every January for his birth month, and January would be an excellent time to plan a visit to King's home, church, and exhibits in Atlanta that memorialize the man and his civil rights work. A visit to King's birth home and Baptist Church is a touching way to remember one of America's most important leaders.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site in Atlanta contains several buildings and exhibits that commemorate the life and work of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. The first building on the tour is his Birth Home Museum at 501 Auburn Avenue, NE in the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Auburn. King and his family lived in the home for the first twelve years of his life, and it is located just two blocks from the church where his grandfather, father, and finally he led. Today, the Victorian home is completely restored and contains a living museum of the time the family spent under its' roof. If you plan to visit the home, you must tour it with a National Park Service ranger.
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Just two blocks from the Birth Home Museum, at 407 Auburn, is the Ebenezer Baptist Church where the King family ministered for decades. The Church is still used for services, funerals, etc., and may not be available for tours during this time. It's best to call ahead before you plan your visit. Martin Luther King, Jr. was baptized in this church, and after a trial before the church's congregation, he was ordained as a minister at the age of 18. In 1960 he took over the ministerial responsibilities of the church from his father, and remained at its head until his death in 1968, when his funeral was held in the church. Due to several grants, the church is being restored by the Park Service.
Visitor Center and Freedom Hall
Located at 450 Auburn, the NPS Visitor Center includes a museum, information on the Historic Site, and a film about King's life. They offer special programs and exhibits, too. This is the best place to begin your tour of King's Atlanta neighborhood. Freedom Hall, with its own exhibits on King's life and career, and housing the King Center, is located right next door to the Visitor Center.
A visit to this National Historic Site would be especially meaningful to help celebrate King's life and his outstanding achievements in civil rights and freedom. Touring Atlanta in January is one way to keep King's memory and work alive in the hearts and minds of the nation and the world.
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