Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Pictures
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is a collection of historical buildings and museums near the heart of downtown Atlanta, GA that celebrate the life and story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s great for casual visitors, as well as those with a little more time, and I found the historical significance inspiring.
Things to see and do
- Learn about Dr. King and his incredible life at the Visitor Center
- Take a tour of the home where Dr. King was born, located just down the street from the Visitor Center
- Tour Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and listen to one of Dr. King’s fiery sermons
- Stroll through the “I Have A Dream” World Peace Rose Garden just outside the Visitor Center
- Visit The King Center for more exhibits and history
- Pay homage at Dr. & Mrs. King’s Tomb
- Visit Historic Fire Station No. 6
- Visit the Gandhi Statue and walk down the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame
The Visitor Center and surrounding grounds
Start off at the Visitor Center to pick up some maps and then take a walk through the “I Have A Dream” World Peace Rose Garden.
Just outside the Visitor Center, explore the grounds where you’ll find the Ghandi Statue, along with the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame and also the BEHOLD Monument.
Nearby Historical Buildings at the Park
After exploring the Visitor Center, head down the street to see some of the historical buildings that are part of the park.
Sit down in the sanctuary of Ebenezer Baptist Church and listen to recordings of Dr. King delivering one of his famous sermons.
Visit the King Center and the Tomb of Dr. and Mrs. King
Just a bit farther down the street you’ll find the King Center. It’s full name is The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and was established by Coretta Scott King in 1968 as both a memorial and an institution to drive change. In addition to the tomb, there is a museum with many interesting exhibits, artifacts, and historical documents related to Dr. and Coretta King’s work. Click here to learn more about the King Center.
Getting Here
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is centrally located near downtown Atlanta, Georgia and can be reached easily by using MARTA, Atlanta’s public transit system, or the Atlanta Streetcar which makes stops around the park. During my visit, I was staying in a downtown hotel and simply rented a scooter to make the trip, which was a fun way to explore the area.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Stats
Date created: 1980 as a landmark and then 2018 as a National Historical Park
Annual Visitors: 761,650 in 2019
Fun Fact: Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and his father were ministers at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Visitor Centers and Passport Stamps
There is one Visitor Center at the park that includes a store, exhibits, and passport stamps.
Other Nearby Parks
Be sure to read about all of Georgia’s National Parks here.
Have you visited Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park?
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