Martin Luther King, Jr. National historic site was established in 1980 to preserve the places where Martin Luther King Jr. was born, lived, worked, worshipped, and buried. The site is opened daily except on Thanksgiving day, December 25, and January 1 between 9 am and 5 pm (6 pm in summer).Check at the visitor centre for schedules of King Birth Home tours and other activities. Guided tours of the birth home are offered daily, free of charge. Tours are limited to 15 persons and fill quickly; on-site registration is required. Exhibit areas include the Children of Courage Discovery Centre, courage to lead, and D.R.E.A.M. Gallery. Films about Dr. King and the civil rights movement are shown throughout the day.The preservation district surrounds the national historic site. The eastern part of the district is primarily residential and the western section commercial. Most buildings within the national historic site and preservation district are privately owned.Ebenezer Baptist Church, heritage sanctuary Built in 1914 to 1922, Ebenezer was the centre of spiritual and community life for the Williams-King family, "The church has always been a second home for me.'Dr. King wrote, For nearly 80 years, Martin's maternal grandfather, Rev, Adam Daniel "A. D," Williams, and father Rev, Martin Luther "Daddy" King Sr. served as pastors, Dr. King's grandmother Jennie C. Williams and mother Alberta "Mama" King diligently led various church activities.During the 1960s Dr. King served as co-pastor with Daddy King. After Dr. King was assassinated, his brother A. D. King was co-pastor until his sudden death in 1969. In 1974, a gunman fatally shot Mama King and Deacon Edward Boykin and wounded three others in the sanctuary.The heritage sanctuary (below) and fellowship hall are restored to their 1960s appearance.The king center Freedom Hall has exhibits and a gift shop/resource centre on the first floor. Upstairs are biographical exhibits on Dr. King (pastoral robe and sash below) and Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and Mahatma Gandhi.The Reflecting Pool surrounds the tombs of Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King Jr. The Eternal Flame serves as a reminder of the Kings' undying commitment to their beloved community.Historic fire station No. 6 Built in 1894 in Romanesque Revival style, the fire station stood guard over the city for nearly 100 years. In the 1960s, it became Atlanta's first racially integrated firehouse. It closed in 1991.The exterior (below) is restored to its appearance in the 1930s to 40s. The interior has exhibits on fire- fighting history, including a 1927 La France fire engine.King birth's home Martin Luther King Jr. was born in an upstairs bedroom (below) on January 15,1929. Young "M. L." lived here for his first 12 years with his parents, maternal grand- parents, sister, brother, uncle, and great aunt.In 1941, the family moved to Boulevard and the house on Auburn became a rental property. It has been restored to the time of M. L.'s childhood in the 1930s to 40s.Historic residential area The residential neighbourhood surrounding the King birth's home is still an active community. Many of the late 19th - and early 20th - century homes (below right) are restored and used as park offices or private residences. Wayside exhibit panels give some history of the Sweet Auburn community.Books and gifts are available for sale at the Eastern National shop at 496 Auburn Avenue next door to the birth home.For a safe park visit Park in designated visitor parking, 417 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. Secure your vehicle and personal belongings. Points of interest are in close proximity of each other. Sites that have steps to climb are wheel chair accessible by other means.
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