In 1968, after he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was carried upon a farm wagon drawn by mules to Southview Cemetery. In 1970, Dr. King’s remains were removed from Southview Cemetery to what is the current King Center campus, and in 2006 his crypt was rebuilt to also include the remains of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Dr. & Mrs. King’s crypt is constructed of Georgia marble, a timeless acknowledgment of his southern roots.
The Eternal Flame symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the “Beloved Community,” which was his vision for a world of justice, peace and equality for all mankind.
Freedom Hall is the exhibition location on campus, as well as the primary location for special events and programs. It contains a grand foyer, The Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts, Bookstore & Resource Center and various works of art from across the globe. The foyer features art from Africa and Georgia, and the paneling lining the staircase is from the Sapele tree which grows in Nigeria. At present, Freedom Hall’s second floor is utilized as exhibit space honoring Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks.
The Coretta Scott King Peace and Meditation Garden features the Coretta Scott King Monument. The Coretta Scott King monument features a beautiful, hand-crafted sculpture of microphones on a mosaic tile plinth. Visitors are reminded of the power of their own voices, by having the opportunity to speak into the sculpture and have their own words amplified. The Coretta Scott King Monument is 1 of 3 installations dedicated by ‘Hulu Made by Her Monuments in honor of courageous women who defied all odds. The monument was designed by artist Saya Woolfalk.
There is also a peace and meditation garden surrounded by colorful flora including the Coretta Scott King Rose. Visitors are able to enjoy the ambience and reflect and meditate on the beauty of life!
Location – 501 Auburn Avenue, NE., Atlanta, GA 30312
Contact: National Park Service at 404-331-6922.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929, at 501 Auburn Avenue, the home of his maternal grandparents. For the next twelve years, he lived here with his grandparents, parents, siblings, other family members, and borders. The home is located in the residential section of “Sweet Auburn”, the center of black Atlanta. The Birth Home of Dr. King may be visited only with a park ranger led tour, which is filled on a first-come, first served basis. Register for the tour at the Information Desk, located in Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center, in person upon arrival to the park. The tour is strictly limited to 10 people per tour. Tours fill up fast on weekends and holidays so plan accordingly.
Tours of Dr. King’s The Birth Home are conducted by the National Park Service on a first-come, first served basis. Registrations are available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center and must be made in person the day of the tour. No advance reservations can be made. There are only 10 persons permitted on a tour. Groups can reserve up to three spaces (30 persons) the day of their tour. Please Note: Tours fill up fast on weekends and holidays so plan accordingly.
The Birth Home tour schedule is below:
Sunday – Saturday (7 days a week)
The first Birth Home tour begins at 10:00 am and the last tour is 5:00 pm. The 30 minutes tour is conducted every hour.
Special Summer Hours (Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day)
The first Birth Home tour begins at 9:30 am and the last tour is 5:30 pm. The 30 minutes tour is conducted every half hour.
Location – 407 Auburn Avenue, NE., Atlanta, GA 30312
In this sacred place were sown the seeds of greatness from which Martin Luther King, Jr. blossomed. In 1893, Dr. King’s maternal grandfather, Rev. A.D. Williams, became Ebenezer’s second pastor, eventually succeeded by Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., who served as Ebenezer’s third pastor from 1933 until his retirement in 1975. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as co-pastor in 1947 until he left to attend Crozer Theological Seminary in September 1948. From 1960 until his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. again co-pastored Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 2011, the church was restored to the 1960 – 1968 period.
Portions of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is managed and operated by the U.S. National Park Service. Please visit their website for more information about planning your visits, such as maps, directions, and operating hours at http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm.
Admission and Parking are FREE
Please note: The King Center will be closed on the following days: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
The King Center is located at 449 Auburn Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA, just east of downtown Atlanta.
From Interstate 75/85 North or South take exit #248C Freedom Parkway. Southbound travelers must merge over 4 lanes, in order to make the turn onto Boulevard. At the traffic light, turn right onto Boulevard NE, and make another immediate right turn, at the next traffic light, onto John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. The visitor parking lot will be on the left. Bus parking is located on either side of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue.
From Interstate 20 East or West, exit at Interstate 75/85 North take exit #248C Freedom Parkway. At the traffic light, turn right onto Boulevard NE, and make another immediate right turn, at the next traffic light, onto John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. The visitor parking lot will be on the left. Bus parking is located on either side of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue.
Directions by Public Transportation (MARTA)
There are various bus routes that provide access to the park:
The Atlanta Streetcar Provides a Direct Connection to Park Grounds for Visitors.
If you’re using MARTA rail to get to the Downtown area; take the North line to the Peachtree Center station; exit there, then hop on the Atlanta Streetcar at the Peachtree Center stop, which is located on Peachtree Street near Ellis Street. Exit the Streetcar at the King Historic District stop, which is located just across the street from the National Historic Site.
Visit theAtlantaStreetcar.com to view the route map, and get information on fares and schedules.