SHARED: Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site by @hobbiesbudget

I found this great article by Hobbies On A Budget and had to share!  Sharon and her family visited a few historical sites {AWESOME!!!} and shared the details and pictures with us! I hope you enjoy! Be sure to stop by the original post and leave her a comment!

Our family has visited many historic sites that have influenced our lives. We have been to Andrew Johnson’s home place,  Davy Crockett’s birthplace,  toured President Lincoln’s Homeplace and tomb and visited President Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Library. On our recent visit to Atlanta, we took the time to visit the Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site.

Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site

I grew up with parents who have always treated everyone as equals. It never mattered to my family what your skin color, ethnic origin or language you speak – everyone was treated as a new potential friend. Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site was important for all of us.

When it comes time for my kids to learn about Martin Luther King Jr in the classroom,  discuss the famous “I Have A dream” speech, or talk about the Civil Rights Movement, they will be able to say they have been there!  Visiting museums and historic sites like this give my kids a better understanding about history and the events that shaped our country.

Martin Luther King Jr Museum

A young boy grows up in a time of segregation…A dreamer is moved by destiny into leadership of the modern civil rights movement…This was Martin Luther King, Jr. Come hear his story, visit the home of his birth, and where he played as a child. Walk in his footsteps, and hear his voice in the church where he moved hearts and minds. Marvel at how he was an instrument for social change.

Ebeneezer Baptist Church Now and Then

One of the highlights of visiting the Martin Luther King Jr Historic Site was walking inside Ebeneezer Baptist Church.  I have been inside thousands of church auditoriums in my life.  But walking in this auditorium was just a little different.  There was such a sense of history. I thought it was interesting to find pictures from the 60′s and then compare them to the pictures we took on our recent visit.

Ebeneezer Baptist Church today and in history

Ebeneezer Baptist Church Now and Then

The Memorial

Martin Luther King Jr and his wife have their memorial here at the Historic Site. It started raining while we were there but there is a covered archway that goes the entire length of the reflecting pool.

King’s gravesite occupies most of the cleared lot east of the Ebenezer Baptist Church to Boulevard Street. In 1976 a memorial park was installed around the marble crypt. The park consists primarily of a brick and concrete plaza with arch-covered walkway and chapel partially surrounding a reflecting pool. In the center of the pool, on a raised pedestal rests the King crypt. On it is engraved the inscription: “Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968, ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I’m free at last.”

Martin Luther King Jr Gravesite

Read more about the Martin Luther King Jr Gravesite.

Things to Know

• If you want to tour the Birth home, you must get your FREE tickets early!  By the time we got there around noon, the tours were all full.  
• You can pick up a map at the Visitors Center of the various historic sites.
• Take a free walking tour of the Historic Site so you can visit the shotgun houses, birth home, firehouse, Memorial Graves, Eternal Flame and Ebeneezer Baptist Church.
• There are parking areas available around the Historic Site.  We paid $5.00 to park in a lot near the church.
• You do not need a ticket to visit the museum, fire house, church and memorial park.
• There are interpretive events and speeches planned throughout the day. They are announced at different times. These are free as well.

Have you ever visited this historic site? What is your favorite memorial or birthplace that you have visited? I’d love to hear!

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