The Martin Luther King Junior National Historic Site was established to preserve the birthplace and surroundings of the nation's foremost civil rights leader. The 14-hectare site, which covers about 2 blocks around Auburn Avenue, includes the building where he was born, Ebenezer Baptist Church where he began his career, the King Centre which houses some of his personal belongings, and just outside of here, the crypt where he was laid to rest with his wife Coretta.
It's a good idea to start your visit with a stop at the Visitor's Centre to pick up a map. Entry to the site and its museums is free. Here you can sign up for a guided tour of where Dr King was born in 1929. Tours, which are very popular so get there early, take place every 30 minutes from June through August and every hour the rest of the year. Dr King's family lived there between 1926 and 1941, and it has been restored to look exactly how it did back then.
Just down the road is the Ebenezer Baptist Church, which played a major part in his life. This is where he was baptised as a child and where his grandfather, father and later Dr King himself all preached to the congregation. Recordings of his rousing sermons are played here throughout the day.
Initially Dr. King was buried at Southview Cemetery, but his tomb was transferred here by his wife. An eternal flame burns in front of the tomb. Nearby is the rose garden which is dedicated to world peace and includes the Civil Rights Walk of Fame. Famous inductees include Rosa Parks, Bill Clinton and Stevie Wonder.
The National Historic Site, which is free to enter, is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
