Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. King and Our Visit to the King Center

Atlanta is one of my favorite cities. It has a rich history and is a mecca for foodies, art lovers, musicians and more. During a recent visit to Atlanta with my sister, we decided to take the kids to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. The King Center is a National Historic Site and home to several sites associated with Dr. King including his birth home, his childhood church and the crypts of both he and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

January 15, 2018 marks what would have been the 89th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As a kid, I remember reciting lines of his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech and learning of his commitment to the Civil Rights Movement. 

We stayed at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis during our visit to Atlanta and OMG! what a wonderful place to get some rest before exploring the sites of the King Center. The staff of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis was very attentive and knowledgeable about the area and nearby places of interest. 

A couple of notes about the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, several scenes from the Hunger Games – Mockingjay were shot at the 4-star hotel, it houses several restaurants, shopping  and is less than a mile from the King Center.  Less than a mile!  Yes, we could’ve walked to The King Center if we wanted to but it was chilly so we drove and it took us all of 5 minutes from the hotel parking garage to the parking lot at the King Center.

The parking lot is huge and has plenty of free parking for cars and buses. Once you cross on the grounds of the National Historic Site look down at the path of footprints emblazoned with the names of notable leaders and celebrities which lead to the Welcome Center. 

At the end of the path is a statue of Gandhi.  The massive bronze sculpture is a wonderful tribute to a person Dr. King greatly admired.  Dr. King acknowledged Gandhi as an inspiration in several speeches including his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture.

Although King and Gandhi never met, King cites Ghandi as being one of his biggest inspirations.

Inside the center there are lots of interactive exhibits, a theater and documents chronicling the life of Dr. King.  From the small cell where he penned the Birmingham letters to the horse drawn carriage that carried One of our favorites was the Freedom Road Exhibit.  

Look directly towards the window of the Freedom Road exhibit, past the garden and you can see the tombs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King and the eternal flame.  

The crypts of Dr. King and his beloved wife, Coretta Scott, lie in two large marble slabs centered in the reflecting pool. Dr. King's tomb has the words "Free At Last, Free At Last, Thank God Almighty I'm Free at Last" and is encircled by the Chapel of All Faiths.  During our visit the walkway of the Chapel of All Faiths was blocked off as the King Center prepares for the upcoming 50 anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King. 

A few steps from the resting place of Dr. and Mrs. King is Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church Dr. King attended as a child and the church where he began his pastoral ministry.  The church has such a rich history and there's something soul stirring about sitting in the pews of this historic church.

There's a plaque on the wall recognizing the 75th anniversary of the church.  The names of Dr. King and his father, the former pastor of the church, among others are inscribed on the plaque.  

Be sure to visit Three Boys and an Old Lady on Instagram to view more pics of our visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Touring the King Center is great exercise for the mind, body and spirit.  

If you're ever in Atlanta, make a pit stop at the King Center.

Have you ever visited the King Center?