Martin Luther King Jr. historic site informs, inspires
Published: Feb 28, 2009
It may be hard to encompass the life of a man like Martin Luther King, Jr. One place to start is a tour of the city blocks where he was born, attended church and now is buried.
Every year, more than half a million visitors make the trek to Atlanta to spend the better part of a day seeing the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.
A visit to the district -- which was preserved in 1980 for the benefit of future generations -- should begin at the free visitor's center at 450 Auburn Ave., which offers a short orientation on other historic sites, as well as a museum, interactive kiosks and films covering King's life and the civil rights movement.
The museum uses artifacts and photographs to organize King's life into time periods and help visitors understand who he was and how he become America's most renowned civil rights leader.
From the center, it's a quick walk across the street to Ebenezer Baptist Church Heritage Sanctuary, temporarily closed for renovations and preservation.
It was at the church that King was baptized as a child, ordained as a preacher and co-pastored (with his father) during the 1960s until his death in 1968. Many important civil rights strategy sessions took place in the building. A new Horizon Sanctuary was built, across the street and directly next to the Visitors Center, in 1999 for an expanding congregation.
On the same block as the church sits the King Center and King's tomb, which he shares with his late wife, Coretta Scott King.
The King Center, at 449 Auburn Ave., was founded in June 1968 by Coretta Scott
King and other supporters King's legacy. It features exhibits illustrating his life and teaching.
The tomb, part of the King Center grounds, sits in the middle of large reflection pool and is flanked by an "eternal flame."
Just one block away, at 501 Auburn Ave., sits the house where King was born. Built in 1895, it was where he lived until he was 12. The house has been restored to look like it did during the 1930s and '40s, when King lived there.
Visitors can tour the home for free on a first-come basis. Reservations must be made at Freedom Hall at the King Center, and tours fill quickly, since only 15 can tour the home at a time.
The entire historic site -- about four city blocks -- is free to the public and can easily be toured on foot. More information is available at the National Parks Service website dedicated to the King site.
- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
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