AMERICAS

by Steve Klein, Communications Coordinator

Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. King, leader of America's greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace. Dr. King took part in the American Civil Rights Movement in 1950s to 60s.

More than one million visitors from all over the world are drawn annually to the King Center to pay homage to Dr. King, view unique exhibits illustrating his life and teachings and visit the King Center's Library & Archives, his final resting place, his birth home, Bookstore and Resource Center, and other Facilities. The King Center is located in Atlanta's Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

The King Center has Freedom Hall, main exhibition facility. It contains a Grand Foyer, large theater/conference auditorium, bookstore and resource center and various works of art-domestic and international. The Grand Foyer is decorated with art from Africa and Georgia. On the north wall hangs "Freedom and Justice", a relief from the Republic of Zambia, given by His Excellency, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia.

The King Center utilizes diverse communications media, including books, audio and video cassettes, film, television, CDs, DVDs and web pages, to educate people all over the world about Dr. King's life, work and his philosophy and methods of nonviolent conflict-reconciliation and social change.

In The King Center, there are Dr. King's crypt, his birth house and others. His birth house was located in the residential section in the center of black Atlanta the home of his maternal grandparents. For the next twelve years he lived here with his grandparents, parents, siblings, other family members and boarders. The home is. In 1967, Mrs. King approached then Mayor Ivan Allen to help save Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth home from an urban renewal/removal project and in 1974 the Birth Home was purchased by the King Center for restoration.

The Birth Home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., may be visited only with a park ranger led tour. The tour is first-come first serve, and each tour is limited to 15 people.

Address: 449 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: +1-404-526-8900
Homepage: www.thekingcenter.org
Days closed: Closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day (Open 7 days a week)
Admission: Free

(Originally published on March 8, 2010)