There are dark days and histories of every nation. America called itself the land of the free back in 1814, but it would be many years until slavery was abolished and many more until Martin Luther King Jr. would lead a movement that would abolish segregation in the United Station.
This is short of both the injustices of history and the bravery and determination of some key people. It is important to remember these events of the past. For those wishing to remember the dark days at Gettysburg, see here.
About The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Martin Luther was born in a time of segregation and he had a dream to see the nation embrace acceptance and equality. The Historical Park is a great chance to see the life he lived as a child, how he preached in his church, and how he moved the hearts and minds of the people around him.
Today the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and including several key buildings. These buildings are related to the life and work of Martin Luther King - one of America's greatest civil rights leaders and his ultimate sacrifice.
- Birth Date: 1929
- Assassination: In April 1968
- Where: Memphis, Tennessee
On the holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, the site normally draws large crowds with some of the attendees on occasion including American Presidents. There are also remembrances on the 4th of April 1968 in memory following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.
Buildings
The buildings in the historical park include those of his boyhood home and the Ebenezer Baptist Church. This was where he was baptized and he would go on to become the pastor (following in the steps of his father - Martin Luther King Sr.).
- Size: 35 Acres
Other notable buildings include the shotgun row houses, King's gravesite, and memorial, Victorian houses, the Atlanta Baptist Preparatory Insistute site, the Triangle Building, the Fire Station No. 6, and the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
- First Designated A National Historic Landmark: May 5, 1977 (Most Of The Buildings - More Were Added Later)
Located on 501 Auburn Avenue, King's birth home was built in 1895. His family purchased the house for $3,500 in 1909. His father married his mother, Alberta Williams, in 1926 and he was born in 1929. Today one can tour the building with one of the free tours offered by the National Park Service ranges. That being said, availability is limited.
Following King's assassination, Coretta Scott King founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change - or King Center for short.
This is also the resting site for King. In 1977 a memorial tomb was built and dedicated to the fallen civil rights hero and his remains were transferred into the tomb. This is a solemn memorial with his final resting place and a reflecting pool. It is located in a plaza between Freedom Hall and the church. In 2006 King was joined by his wife who died in 2006 and they are now interred together; next to the tomb is an eternal flame.
Memorable Quotes Of Gandhi And King
Cross over to Freedom Hall and one will find an exhibit about some of the world's most famous rights activists. These include Dr. and Mrs. King, the American activities Rosa Parks, and the famous Indian rights activist Mahatma Gandhi. Here there is a plack to Gandhi's famous quote as well as a King quote of Gandhi.
"Nonviolence, to be a potent force, must begin with the mind. Nonviolence of the mere body without the cooperation of the mind is nonviolence of the weak of the cowardly, and has, therefore, no potency. It is a degrading performance. If we bear malice and hatred in our bosoms and pretend not to retaliate, it must recoil upon us and lead to our destruction."
— Gandhi
"Tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought, and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore him at our own risk"
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Visiting The Historical Park
As of the time of writing, the buildings of the historical park are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. See the National Park Service website for more information about when it will be reopened. Normal opening hours are no longer displayed.
- Closed: Temporary Closed Due To The Pandemic
The Information Desk is located in the visitor center and is the place one should first stop in for a brief orientation to the historic site. This is where one can also sign up for a Birth Home tour. In the lobby, one will also see the "Children of Courage" exhibit and which tells the stories of the children of the Civil Rights Movement. It is part of an effort to make the whole visit geared toward families with children. See here for some family-friendly museums in Europe.