When Is The Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site Open
- The National Park Service Visitor Center, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and Freedom Hall are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- The birth home of Martin Luther King Jr. is open for ranger-led tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
- Fire Station No. 6 is staffed by park volunteers and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when volunteers are available.
- All facilities are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Cheer On A Parade In Dekalb
Monday, Jan. 17, 2022Noon to 2 p.m. FREE & open to the public
The NAACP DeKalb Branch will observe the MLK Holiday with a parade. The theme is Marching to the Sounds of Justice. The procession will launch from the Green Pastures Christian Ministries and march to MLK High School . This is about a 2 mile route down Snapfinger Rd.
New Safety Measures In Place:
- Tickets MUST be purchased online prior to visits. to purchase tickets.
- Tickets are timed to meet capacity requirements.
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Things To Do For Martin Luther King Day In 2022
MLK Day Atlanta, Martin Luther King Day in Atlanta, things to do on MLK Day
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lives on in Atlanta, the city in which the famous minister and scholar led the American Civil Rights Movement.
There is no shortage of things to do on MLK Day, which is Monday, January 17, 2022, or over the holiday weekend. We invite you to celebrate Dr. Kings memory through one of these activities or events.
You can also check our full events calendar for January 17th, but remember that some activities, like those hosted by the King Center, will start the week before the Monday holiday.
At the bottom of the post, youll find a calendar listing of general activities taking place over the MLK Day holiday weekend including ice skating, drive-in movies, and more.
During this time of frequent cancellations, please verify that an event is actually happening as planned, before you head out.
Attend A Service At Ebenezer Baptist Church
In-person services have been suspended, but there may be a virtual service on Monday, Jan. 1th this was the case in 2021. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service has been the hallmark of the King holiday observance.
Sunday services are being streamed each week, at 9 and 11 a.m. via Facebook Live, the church YouTube Channel, and the Ebenezer Baptist website.
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Visiting The Martin Luther King National Historic Site In Atlanta
History is always best when you can experience it yourself. When you can sit in the pews at Ebenezer Baptist Church and hear recordings of the sermons that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered in that very room.
The Martin Luther King National Historic Site, sometimes informally referred to as the Martin Luther King Museum in Atlanta, offers that opportunity. You can walk through Kings birth home and see the rooms where he had dinner with his parents , where he played with his siblings , and where he grew into a young man who would later change the country and the world.
The Martin Luther King National Historic Site in Atlanta is incredibly inspiring. Besides Kings birth home and former church, youll find a bunch of exhibits on the civil rights battles of the 50s and 60s, a civil rights walk of fame, a colorful mural and a statue of Gandhi. Any visitor to Atlanta should really stop by to understand an important part of our history.
Theres so much to see at the museum site, which is easily accessibly by public transportation. The first thing youll notice after the welcome signs is a giant mural featuring MLK and many other faces from the civil rights era.
Just behind the main building is a statue of one of Kings idols. Gandhi was a huge influence on the young MLK, who traveled to India and met surviving relatives of Gandhis family. King admired and was inspired by the leaders insistence on nonviolent resistance.
Beyond The Visitor’s Center: A Tour Of The Sweet Auburn District
To truly get a sense of the influences that shaped Martin Luther King, Jr., into the man he became, spend time exploring the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Sweet Auburn, once known as the richest Negro street in the world, was a six-square-block area that was the home for Atlantas wealthy and educated African-American community through the 1960s.
Many of the citys first black-owned businesses were along Auburn Avenue. It was here that Martin Luther King, Jr., grew up and where he began the civil rights movement that was the catalyst for change and racial equality.
Guided tours are available of the . However, only 15 people are allowed per tour, and tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitors Center. There is no way to call ahead or pre-order, and they go quickly. So, plan your visit early in the day, and reserve your tour as soon as you arrive.
On Jan. 8, 2018, the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site was redesignated as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, and its boundaries expanded to include the Prince Hall Masonic Temple at 330 Auburn Avenue NE. The temple was the headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the 1960s.
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Explore The Center For Civil And Human Rights
This museum shows, through exhibits, how the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-1960s connects with the global human rights movements of today. It is operating during limited hours, and you must purchase a timed ticket for entry about $16.
On Saturday, Jan. 15th and Monday, Jan. 17th, there is a wide variety of MLK Day special programming that is free with a paid admission. It includes storytelling, spoken word, music, trivia, and more. See the schedule here.
The permanent galleries are open including, including the exhibit Fragments, which is a stunning illuminated sculpture of Kings handwriting and phrases. Another exhibit, Rolls Down Like Water, immerses visitors in sights, sounds, and interactive displays depicting the courage of civil rights activists.
Monday, Jan. 17th, 20212 timed entry sessions, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Enjoy scheduled activities that celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn about Dr. Kings life and his famous I Have a Dream speech on stage, then explore his legacy through activities in the Creativity Café, and work on a collaborative mural.
MLK Day special programming Unfortunately, the History Center is not offering its usual FREE admission day in honor of Martin Luther King Day in 2022. Instead, there is limited-capacity in-person programming, plus some virtual events. You can RSVP for a spot thru the link above.
Join The Free Celebration In Cobb County
Monday, Jan. 17, 2022
UPDATE: The celebration will be virtual, due to the current Covid surge. You can watch on Cobb Countys YouTube channel County leaders and the local branch of the NAACP host this annual celebration. It is FREE and open to the public. The celebration usually takes place at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at the Cobb Civic Center. It includes music, dance, spoken word, and other performances as well as the presentation of a local service award.
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Reasons To Visit The King Center
Become A Junior Ranger
It can be especially hard for kids to grasp the idea of a world catering to whites only. The Junior Ranger Activity booklet, available for free at the Ranger Station, guides children through the museum with fun activities, and it helps them understand the struggle for civil rights.
Once children complete the activities in the booklet, they receive a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Historic trading cards also are available for free at the front desk.
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Where Is The Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park Located
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is located at:
450 Auburn Ave. NEAtlanta, Ga. 30312
The entrance to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park parking lot is located on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. Start your visit at the National Park Service Visitor Center, which is a short walk across Irwin Street and down the Promenade. Here you can pick up maps and get the latest information on the park.
Who Was Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr, the quintessential figure of the Civil Rights movement and arguably America’s greatest leader, was born and raised in Atlanta, the son of a preacher and choir leader. His lineage was significant not only because he followed his father to the pulpit of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, but also because his political speeches rang out with a preacher’s inflections. King remains one of the most respected figures of the 20th century and is Atlanta’s quintessential African American hero, his legacy emblazoned across the city’s historic Sweet Auburn district, home to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site.
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Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
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. Kings maternal grandfather, Rev. A.D. Williams, became Ebenezers second pastor, eventually succeeded by Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., who served as Ebenezers 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 .
Expanding Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park
Birth Home at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
This two-story Queen Anne style house, with its distinctive architectural features, including a porch, overhanging eaves, woodwork trim, and porthole windows is located in the residential section of Atlantas Auburn Avenue Historic District, also known as Sweet Auburn. The district has a rich history of African American achievement and was where many African Americans established businesses and built community in the early 20th century. Thanks to the National Park Foundation and our partners, this neighborhood has been further imbued with historical significance, as the location of a memorial and museum commemorating the early years and family life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2018, NPF facilitated the purchase Dr. Kings birth home from the King Center. Upon its purchase, the home was immediately transferred to the National Park Service, to be protected in perpetuity as part of the National Park System. Thanks to this transfer, Dr. Kings birthplace will eventually be open to the public to welcome visitors for ranger-led interpretive tours, free of cost.
And in 2019, NPF helped to transfer the King family home, where Dr. King and Coretta Scott King raised their four children, to the national park service. The transfer of the house, located in Atlantas historic Vine City neighborhood, will help visitors appreciate a more complete history of the King family and their contributions to our country.
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Volunteer For An Mlk Day Of Service Project
Did you know that MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service? If you want to volunteer for a project, you can find an MLK Day of Service project at this clearinghouse site. Just check the box for MLK Day and enter your zip code in the green box. You an also specify how many miles outward you want to search.
Examples of service projects include cleaning up a park, delivering meals, planting flowers, painting murals, and more. There is a very long list of MLK Day service activities on the Hands on Atlanta site, ranging from Jan. 13th to 17th.
Want to focus your efforts on your immediate community? You can find MLK Day service projects through community newsletters, municipal websites, Facebook groups, etc. Most of the city calendars we look at regularly include service projects. And if you have a favorite park or non-profit organization, check its website or social media pages to see if theres a scheduled Day of Service this year.
Reasons To Visit The Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park
Birth Home at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. : James Duckworth, AtlantaPhotos.com
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Preserving The Legacy Of Dr Martin Luther King Jr
One of the foremost figures in the American civil rights movement Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on thesecond floorof a house in Atlanta, Georgia. It was here that he spent the first decade of his life and perhaps some of his most formative years, adoptingthe very principles he would come to preach: love, acceptance, justice, and equality.
No Trip To This World
One of the best places to learn about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is at the national park in Atlanta named in his honor. There is so much to do here for the whole family! The 35-acre site is home to The King Center, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, , outdoor monuments, and even a playground and recreation areas. Formerly a National Historic Site, in 2018, it was given the designation of a National Historical Park.
While you could spend hours exploring this impressive area in the Sweet Auburn Historic District in downtown Atlanta, there are some things you definitely should not miss. Check out the top six parts of the that are “must-sees” for visitors of all ages.
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Inside The Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site Museum
The Main Hall is the area that would be considered the Martin Luther King Museum. Exhibits on display include numerous videos and audio clips from speeches King gave throughout his life.
Newspaper clippings and other written and photographic exhibits remind visitors of just how awful the blatant discrimination was.
Also on display is the wooden wagon that carried Kings casket through the streets after his funeral.
What To See At The Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site
The historic site commemorates the life, work and legacy of the Civil Rights leader, taking up several blocks. Stop by the excellent visitor center to get oriented with a map and brochure of area sites. Here you’ll find a video theater showing short films, and the D.R.E.A.M Gallery, which hosts changing exhibits that elucidate the context the segregation, systemic oppression and racial violence that inspired and fueled King’s work.
The majority of the site is self-guided, with ranger-led tours for Dr King’s Birth Home only . The new Ebenezer Baptist Church is the home of the congregation once led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Stop by the World Peace Rose Garden, which borders the Peace Plaza. The King Center is Dr King’s final resting place. A 1.5-mile landscaped trail leads from the site to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum.
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Place Yourself In History
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, prohibiting discrimination in voting, education and the use of public facilities. Its hard to imagine Whites Only signs and schools segregated by race yet much of Atlanta was still divided into the early 1970s.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Visitors Center offers a glimpse of life under segregation it also shows how Martin Luther King, Jr.s father, also known as Daddy King, sowed the seeds for change. The majority of the museum chronicles the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr.s leadership, including movies, which weave historical footage with modern-day reflection.
