Sweet Auburn to Montgomery: 1929-1959

Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, surrounded by his close-knit family. Neighbors were prosperous working people. Life for the Kings revolved around Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin's father and maternal grandfather preached. Ordinary as his childhood was, it played out against the backdrop of the segregated South. Young Martin grew increasingly aware of words and actions—in Sweet Auburn as in other African American communities—that would become the modern civil rights movement.

The roots of Dr. King's lifelong fight for equality are here at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. The house where Dr. King was born still stands, along with the surrounding neighborhood, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and many more places from his youth. In preserving this setting, the site honors the man and those who live the legacy.

1929
Born January 15 at home of maternal grandparents, 501 Auburn Avenue. Alberta Williams King (mother), Martin Luther "Daddy" King Sr, (father), Jennie Williams (maternal grandmother); A. D. (brother), Christine (sister), Martin Jr.

1930s-40s
Attends segregated Atlanta public schools: Yonge Street Elementary; David T. Howard Colored Elementary; Atlanta University Laboratory School; and Booker T. Washington High. Admitted to Morehouse College.

1947
Preaches his first (trial) sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

1948
Ordained as Baptist minister and appointed assistant pastor at Ebenezer. Graduates from Morehouse College with BA in sociology. Enters Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Penn. Begins studying life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

1931
Earns BD from Crozer. Begins PhD studies in theology at Boston University. Meets Coretta Scott, a student at New England Conservatory of Music.

1934
U.S. Supreme Court rules school segregation unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education. Dr. King becomes pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala.

1955
Earns PhD in Systematic Theology from Boston University. Rosa Parks arrested December 1 for violating Montgomery bus segregation ordinance. Dr. King and others initiate bus boycott. Dr. King receives national attention as a civil rights leader.

1956
U.S. Supreme Court ends segregation on public transportation. Montgomery buses integrated on December 20, 1956, and boycott ends after 381 days.

1957
Becomes founding president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Appears on cover of Time magazine. Congress passes first civil rights act since Reconstruction.

1958
Stride Toward Freedom published, the first of his four books.

1959
As guests of Prime Minister Nehru, Dr. and Mrs. King travel to India to study the nonviolent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. Back in the U.S, while autographing his book in Harlem, New York City, King is stabbed in the chest and seriously wounded.

Back Home—and Beyond: 1960-1968

In the 12 or so years that Martin Luther King Jr. led the American Civil Rights Movement, African Americans made more progress toward equality than in the previous three centuries. Dr. King credited this success to the courageous men, women, and children he led, and to the philosophy of nonviolence he learned from the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, Mahatma Gandhi, and others. Perhaps most widely celebrated for his powerful "I Have a Dream" speech, Dr. King was also a brilliant strategist in organizing nonviolent protests, and a tireless soldier marching side by side with others in the movement.

In 1964 he became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In January 1986 the nation first celebrated the federal holiday in his honor. Dr. King earned his place in history with his dream of equality for African Americans, but his ultimate dream was of human rights worldwide.

1960
King family moves to Atlanta. Dr. King becomes co-pastor of Ebenezer with Daddy King. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) formed in Raleigh, N.C., to coordinate student protests. First lunch counter sit-ins occur in Greensboro, N.C. Dr. King arrested in Atlanta sit-in.

1961
Dr. King and other protesters arrested in Albany, Ga. Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) organizes Freedom Riders to nonviolently protest interstate bus segregation.

1962
Arrested at prayer vigil in Albany, Ga. Sentenced to 45 days in jail, served three days, then ordered to leave town. "For the first time," he stated, "we witnessed being kicked out of jail." James Meredith is first black student to enroll at University of Mississippi.

1963
Writes "Letter from Birmingham Jail" after being arrested in Alabama protest. Strength to Love published. Delivers "I Have a Dream" speech at Lincoln Memorial during March on Washington.

1964
Named Time magazine Man of the Year. Attends signing of 1964 Civil Rights Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Why We Can't Wait published. Wins Nobel Peace Prize.

1965
Malcolm X assassinated in Harlem. SNCC, SCLC, and other protesters are beaten during Selma to Montgomery voting rights march in Alabama. Under federal protection. Dr. King and 25,000 marchers finally reach state capital. President Johnson signs 1965 Voting Rights Act.

1966
Campaigns in Chicago for equality in education and housing; leads march through crowds of angry whites on city's south side. James Meredith shot and wounded in Memphis, Tenn., during his solitary March Against Fear. Dr. King and others continued the march in Meredith's honor.

1967
Delivers first public antiwar speech, "Beyond Vietnam," at Riverside Church in New York City. Launches SCLC's Poor People's Campaign. Where Do We Go From Here published.

1968
March 28: Leads 6,000 protesters through Memphis in support of striking sanitation workers; march turns violent. April 3: Final speech, "I've Been to the Mountain Top." April 4: Fatally shot in Memphis. April 9: Buried in Atlanta.

1969-Present
Coretta Scott King and supporters establish the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Center in Atlanta, which becomes the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded posthumously in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site established in 1980. First observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday in 1986. Coretta Scott King dies in 2006 and is entombed next to her husband.

Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve... You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve... You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

—Martin Luther King Jr., "The Drum Major Instinct" sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, February 4, 1968

Planning Your Visit

(click for larger map)

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 is buried. The site is open daily except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm (6 pm in summer).

Check at the visitor center 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 Center, 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.

Getting to the Visitor Center
From I-75/85: take exit 248C (Freedom Pkwy, Carter Center); turn right on Boulevard; take immediate second right on John Wesley Dobbs Ave to bus/visitor parking. From I-20: take exit 59A (Boulevard, Cyclorama, Zoo), go north on Boulevard for almost two miles; turn left on John Wesley Dobbs Ave. to parking.

MARTA Bus and Rail Routes: At Five Points MARTA Station, take Bus No. 113, Auburn Avenue Eastbound. Or take MARTA East-West Rail Line to King Memorial Station, board Bus No. 99 Northbound, and ride about one mile to Jackson St. and Auburn Ave.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, Heritage Sanctuary
Built in 1914-22, Ebenezer was the center 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 and Fellowship Hall are restored to their 1960s appearance.

The King Center
Freedom Hall has exhibits and a gift shop/resource center on the first floor. Upstairs are biographical exhibits on Dr. King 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 is restored to its appearance in the 1930s-40s. The interior has exhibits on firefighting history, including a 1927 LaFrance fire engine.

King Birth Home
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in an upstairs bedroom on January 15, 1929. Young "M. L." lived here for his first 12 years with his parents, maternal grandparents, 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-40s.

Historic Residential Area
The residential neighborhood surrounding the King Birth Home is still an active community. Many of the late 19th- and early 20-th century homes 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 Ave., 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 wheelchair accessible by other means. • Use established crosswalks at intersections. • Service animals are welcome in the park. • Solicitation (panhandling) is not permitted. • Firearms are prohibited in park buildings. • Report unsafe or suspicious activity to a park ranger or call 911. • Many structures are private and are closed to the public.

Source: NPS Brochure (2013)

Establishment Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park — January 8, 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site & Preservation District — October 10, 1980 Sweet Auburn Historic District — December 8, 1976 Martin Luther King, Jr., Historic District — May 2, 1974

For More Information Please Visit The OFFICIAL NPS WEBSITE

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

Date Unknown		1986-1988		1990-1996
1997-2001		cover only 2003-2006		cover only 2007-2010
cover only 2010-2017		cover only 2019
Date Unknown	Date Unknown	Date Unknown (Japanese edition)	Ebenezer Baptist Church Date Unknown	Ebenezer Baptist Church A Brief History Date Unknown
Trading Cards
					(©Jefferson National Parks Association)

Catalog of Historic Structures, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Preservation District (Date Unknown)

Condition Assessment Report for 13 Buildings in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta, Georgia (HARTRAMPF, October 2009)

Condition Assessment Report: 491 Auburn Ave. NE, Fulton County, Atlanta, GA 30312 (Jennifer Dixon, September 29, 2010)

Cultural Landscape Report: Birth-Home Block, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (Lucy A. Lawliss, May 1995)

Cultural Landscape Report: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc. and Liz Sargent HLA, August 2020)

Cultural Landscape Report: King Family Home, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (WLA Studio, August January 2022)

Foundation Document, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Georgi (August 2017)

Foundation Document Overview, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Georgia (January 2017)

General Management Plan, Development Concept Plan: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (February 1986)

Guidelines for Furnishings Maintains and Protection, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (Judy Greenfield, 1992)

Historic Finishes Analysis: 493A, B, C Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (George Fore, December 2017)

Historic Furnishings Report: Martin Luther King, Jr., Birth Home (David H. Wallace, March 1989)

Historic Resource Study: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (Robert W. Blythe Maureen A. Carroll and Steven H. Moffson, August 1994)

Historic Structure Report: 472-474 Auburn Avenue, NE (Duplex), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 476-478 Auburn Avenue, NE (Duplex), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 480 Auburn Avenue, Double-Shotgun House, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Joseph K. Oppermann, 2018)

Historic Structure Report: 484 Auburn Avenue, Double-Shotgun House, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Joseph K. Oppermann, 2018)

Historic Structure Report: 488 Auburn Avenue, Double-Shotgun House, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Joseph K. Oppermann, 2018)

Historic Structure Report: 491 Auburn Avenue, NE, Delbridge-Hamilton Apartments, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2015)

Historic Structure Report: 492-494 Auburn Avenue, NE (House), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 497 Auburn Avenue, Reid-Zachary House, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (Joseph K. Oppermann-Architect, 2018)

Historic Structure Report: 503 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, September 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 506 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, September 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 510 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, September 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 514 Auburn Avenue, NE (House), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 515 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, August 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 518 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, August 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 526 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (WLA Studio, SBC+H Architects and Palmer Engineering, May 2017)

Historic Structure Report: 530 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Joseph K. Oppermann, December 2013)

Historic Structure Report: 535 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, August 2019)

Historic Structure Report: 540 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (WLA Studio, SBC+H Architects and Palmer Engineering, May 2017)

Historic Structure Report: 546 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (WLA Studio, SBC+H Architects and Palmer Engineering, May 2017)

Historic Structure Report: 550 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (WLA Studio, SBC+H Architects and Palmer Engineering, May 2017)

Historic Structure Report: 53-55 Boulevard, NE (Duplex), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 443-445 Edgewood Avenue,, SE (Commercial Building), Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (February 2020)

Historic Structure Report: 54 Howell Street, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, August 2019)

Historic Structure Report: Ebenezer Baptist Church (2001)

Historic Structure Report: Ebenezer Baptist Church — Part III: Record of Treatment (Charles Lawrence, 2018)

Historic Structure Report: Historic Fire Station No. 6, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, August 2019)

Historic Structure Report Amendment: 501 Auburn Avenue, NE, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta, Georgia (Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates, Inc. and WFT Architects, September 2019)

Historic Structures Report: 493ABC Auburn Avenue, Three Double-Shotgun Houses, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (Joseph K. Oppermann-Architect, May 2017)

Long-Range Interpretive Plan, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site (December 2011)

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Forms

Martin Luther King, Jr., Historic District (Elizabeth Z. Macgregor and Carole A. Summers, March 25, 1974)

Martin Luther King, Jr., Historic District (Joseph Scott Mendinghall, undated)

Martin Luther King, Jr., Historic District Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation (Steven H. Moffson, March 12, 2001)

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site (Robert W. Blythe, Maureen A. Carroll and Steven H. Moffson, October 15, 1993)

Official Activity Booklet, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park (Date Unknown; for reference purposes only)

Shuttle Feasibility Study, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Final Report (Day Wilburn Associates, April 2001)

The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sweet Auburn: Proposals for the National Historical Park (undated)

The Visitor Experience at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: Signage, Safety and Services NPS Natural Resource Report NPS/NRSS/EQD/NRR—2013/687 (Yen Le and Nancy C. Holmes, July 2013)

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site

The following visual bibliography is just a sampling of the handbooks and books which have been published for this park. NPSHistory.com does not endorse these, but are merely presenting them for informational purposes only. As most are copyrighted, we are only able to provide the covers, and not contents, of these publications.

cover only Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home: A Photographic Essay Date Unknown