One of America’s interesting attractions lies in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a testament to the human spirit and to the conviction of courage. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is dedicated to the doctor and to all of his work. It was established in October of 1980 and, since then, has seen countless people make the pilgrimage to learn about the incredible civil rights advocate. It isn’t just one building, but rather encompasses an entire area including the King Centre, the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.
The King residence can be found at 501 Auburn Avenue. It was bought by the doctor’s grandparents in 1909 for only $3,500 and it’s where he was born in 1927. The family lived in the house until 1941. Free tours of the house are offered, but they are limited to 15 people and fill up quite quickly. They run every half an hour. While all the other buildings at the historic site are self-guided tours, this house is strictly guarded. No photography is allowed.
The Ebenezer Baptist Church is where Dr. King was baptised. His paternal grandfather was the pastor there before handing things over to his son-in-law. Dr. King gave his first sermon there at the age of 19 and was soon ordained as a minister. He worked alongside his father at the church until he died in 1968. It’s also where his funeral was held. This is also the site where Dr. King’s mother, Alberta, was murdered six years after his assassination. The Horizon Sanctuary is currently closed for Phase II of its restoration project that began in September of 2007. The Heritage Sanctuary is, however, open.
The King Centre is hallowed ground because it’s where the doctor was laid to rest. Although he was originally buried in South View Cemetery, his body was moved to this site in 1977. The tomb is in the middle of a gorgeous reflection pool in between the center and the church. The Eternal Flame rests directly in front of his tomb and, as its name implies, it is always lit. On February 7th, 2006 Dr. King’s wife, Coretta, was interred alongside her husband.
Other notable buildings at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site include the visitor’s centre, the Peace Plaza, Firestation No. 6 and the International World Peace Rose Garden. Admission to this site and parking is free. Between mid August and mid June the site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mid June through mid August it’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. It is only closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.