Plan Your Visit
Components of our grounds, dr. & mrs. king’s crypt.
In 1968, after he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was carried upon a farm wagon drawn by mules to Southview Cemetery. In 1970, Dr. King’s remains were removed from Southview Cemetery to what is the current King Center campus, and in 2006 his crypt was rebuilt to also include the remains of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Dr. & Mrs. King’s crypt is constructed of Georgia marble, a timeless acknowledgment of his southern roots.
The Eternal Flame
The Eternal Flame symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the “Beloved Community,” which was his vision for a world of justice, peace and equality for all mankind.
Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall is the exhibition location on campus, as well as the primary location for special events and programs. It contains a grand foyer, The Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts, Bookstore & Resource Center and various works of art from across the globe. The foyer features art from Africa and Georgia, and the paneling lining the staircase is from the Sapele tree which grows in Nigeria. At present, Freedom Hall’s second floor is utilized as exhibit space honoring Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks.
The Coretta Scott King Peace and Meditation Garden
The Coretta Scott King Peace and Meditation Garden features the Coretta Scott King Monument. The Coretta Scott King monument features a beautiful, hand-crafted sculpture of microphones on a mosaic tile plinth. Visitors are reminded of the power of their own voices, by having the opportunity to speak into the sculpture and have their own words amplified. The Coretta Scott King Monument is 1 of 3 installations dedicated by ‘Hulu Made by Her Monuments in honor of courageous women who defied all odds. The monument was designed by artist Saya Woolfalk.
There is also a peace and meditation garden surrounded by colorful flora including the Coretta Scott King Rose. Visitors are able to enjoy the ambience and reflect and meditate on the beauty of life!
Dr. King’s Birth Home
Location – 501 Auburn Avenue, NE., Atlanta, GA 30312
Contact: National Park Service at 404-331-6922.
Tours of Dr. King’s The Birth Home are conducted by the National Park Service on a first-come, first served basis. Registrations are available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center and must be made in person the day of the tour. No advance reservations can be made. There are only 10 persons permitted on a tour. Groups can reserve up to three spaces (30 persons) the day of their tour. Please Note: Tours fill up fast on weekends and holidays so plan accordingly.
The Birth Home tour schedule is below:
Sunday – Saturday (7 days a week)
The first Birth Home tour begins at 10:00 am and the last tour is 5:00 pm. The 30 minutes tour is conducted every hour.
Special Summer Hours (Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day)
The first Birth Home tour begins at 9:30 am and the last tour is 5:30 pm. The 30 minutes tour is conducted every half hour.
Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (Heritage Sanctuary)
Location – 407 Auburn Avenue, NE., Atlanta, GA 30312
In this sacred place were sown the seeds of greatness from which Martin Luther King, Jr. blossomed. In 1893, Dr. King’s maternal grandfather, Rev. A.D. Williams, became Ebenezer’s second pastor, eventually succeeded by Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., who served as Ebenezer’s third pastor from 1933 until his retirement in 1975. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as co-pastor in 1947 until he left to attend Crozer Theological Seminary in September 1948. From 1960 until his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. again co-pastored Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 2011, the church was restored to the 1960 – 1968 period.
Portions of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is managed and operated by the U.S. National Park Service. Please visit their website for more information about planning your visits, such as maps, directions, and operating hours at http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm .
Suggested Tour Route
After parking in the visitors’ lot on Johns Wesley Dobbs Avenue, begin your tour by following the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, past the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, and proceed to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center , where you can reserve a ticket for Dr. Martin Luther King Jrs.’ Birth Home.
Proceed east on Auburn to enter the King Center’s outdoor campus where you can view the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King, Eternal Flame, Freedom Walkway and Reflecting Pool at will. Walk eastward along the pool to Freedom Hall, where you can learn more about Dr. King, Mrs. King and The King Center through our exhibits.
Admission and Parking are FREE
Hours of Operation
- Sunday-Saturday (Open 7 days a week): 10 am – 5 pm
Please note: The King Center will be closed on the following days: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
The King Center is located at 449 Auburn Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA , just east of downtown Atlanta.
From Interstate 75/85 North or South take exit #248C Freedom Parkway. Southbound travelers must merge over 4 lanes, in order to make the turn onto Boulevard. At the traffic light, turn right onto Boulevard NE, and make another immediate right turn, at the next traffic light, onto John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. The visitor parking lot will be on the left. Bus parking is located on either side of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue.
From Interstate 20 East or West , exit at Interstate 75/85 North take exit #248C Freedom Parkway. At the traffic light, turn right onto Boulevard NE, and make another immediate right turn, at the next traffic light, onto John Wesley Dobbs Avenue. The visitor parking lot will be on the left. Bus parking is located on either side of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue.
Directions by Public Transportation ( MARTA )
There are various bus routes that provide access to the park:
- The #3 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive/Auburn Av from the MARTA Five Points station
- The #99 Boulevard/Monroe Drive from the Midtown and Georgia State stations
The Atlanta Streetcar Provides a Direct Connection to Park Grounds for Visitors.
If you’re using MARTA rail to get to the Downtown area; take the North line to the Peachtree Center station; exit there, then hop on the Atlanta Streetcar at the Peachtree Center stop, which is located on Peachtree Street near Ellis Street. Exit the Streetcar at the King Historic District stop, which is located just across the street from the National Historic Site. Visit theAtlantaStreetcar.com to view the route map, and get information on fares and schedules.
We envision the Beloved Community where injustice ceases and love prevails.
Contact Info
449 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30312
404.526.8900
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Welcome to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park 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, hear his voice in the church where he moved hearts and minds.
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Park Ranger orients visitors to the resources at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.
Review of daily park activities
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park attracts large numbers of national and international visitors.
Park Rangers provide a presentation that explains Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family's experiences while living at the Birth Home.
Experience a Ranger guided tour of the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. co-pastored and was baptized.
Discover attractions throughout the park where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, worshipped, and is buried
Junior Rangers "Explore, Learn, and Protect" their national parks. Complete the booklet of activities, take the oath, and earn your Badge.
Last updated: August 28, 2024
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450 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30312
404 331-5190 x5046
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The Birth Home of Dr. King may be visited only with a park ranger led tour, which is filled on a first-come, first served basis. Register for the tour at the Information Desk, located in Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center, in person upon arrival to the park.
Explore the Civil Rights Movement on this Martin Luther King Jr tour in Atlanta. Walk in Dr. King's footsteps. #1 rated on Tripadvisor.
Experience a Ranger guided tour of the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. co-pastored and was baptized.
This educational sightseeing tour travels throughout Atlanta, exploring the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. Begin the day at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Explore Atlanta through the lens of the Civil Rights movement on this Martin Luther King Jr.-themed walking tour of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. See where the iconic Civil Rights leader worked and lived as you visit sites such as Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King Center, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
The tour of Martin Luther King's restored birth home was excellent, and the ranger shared lots of interesting insights about his childhood and the influences of his formative years. Even the gift shop has great items. Nearby are the King Center and Emmanuel Church which are also well worth a visit.