Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Historic Site
Just past noon on January 15, 1929, a son was born to the Reverend and Mrs. Martin Luther King in an upstairs bedroom of 501 Auburn Avenue, in Atlanta, Georgia. The couple named their first son after Rev. King, but he was simply called "M.L." by the family. During the next 12 years, this fine two story Victorian home is where "M.L." would live with his parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and their boarders. The home is located in the residential section of "Sweet Auburn", the center of black Atlanta. Two blocks west of the home is Ebenezer Baptist Church, the pastorate of Martin's grandfather and father. It was in these surroundings of home, church and neighborhood that "M.L." experienced his childhood. Here, "M.L." learned about family and Christian love, segregation in the days of "Jim Crow" laws, diligence and tolerance. It was to Ebenezer Baptist Church that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would return in 1960. As co-pastor with his father, "Daddy King", Dr. King, Jr. would preach about love, equality, and non-violence.
VISITATION:
- Highest in January, February, June, July, and August; lowest in October, November and December.
LOCATION:
- Martin Luther King, Jr., NHS is located approximately 2.5 kilometers (1½ miles) east of downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
ADDRESS:
- Martin Luther King, Jr., NHS
450 Auburn Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30312-1525
TELEPHONE:
- 404-331-5190 24 hour recorded message
404-331-6922
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
- Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; hours from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving Day, January 1 and December 25.
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
![Current weather conditions for Atlanta, GA.]( "Click for Atlanta,Georga forecast from wunderground.com.")
Summers generally hot and humid. Winters are generally cool with variable precipitation. Recommend layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall, and good walking shoes.
![sun with face]( "Click for climate records and forecast for Atlanta, Georgia.")
Weather records and forecast for Atlanta.
DIRECTIONS:
-
- From I-75/85 take Exit 96 (Freedom Parkway/Carter Center) and move to the right lane as soon as possible. At the first traffic light turn right onto Boulevard and follow the signs to the national historic site parking lot.
- From I-20 take I-75/85 north and follow the directions above.
- Site Map
TRANSPORTATION:
- Travel to Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site by Atlanta's public transportation system, MARTA (Take MARTA, it's smarta), is highly recommended. Take Bus #3 east from the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta to the national historic site.
FEES, COSTS RATES:
- There is no entrance fee to the national historic site but donations are accepted.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Trails, Roadways:
- Freedom Walk; urban interpretive trail to downtown area along Auburn Avenue.
- Freedom Parkway; vehicle parkway with paved walking/biking path to Carter Presidential Center.
Programs, Activities:
- Birth Home Tours;
Tours are conducted daily by park rangers. Register for a tour upon arriving on site at Fire Station No. 6 Museum. Reservations are not taken over the phone. Tours are limited to 15 people and are filled on a first-come first-served basis. Tours begin every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour at 5:00 p.m. During the summer tours will begin every half hour.
- Parks As Classrooms;
An educational program for school children is offered throughout the school year.
Lodging and Camping Facilities:
None in the national historic site. Lodging is available in Atlanta. Some camping is available in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
Food, Supplies:
Restaurants and Convenience Stores are within walking distance of the national historic site.
Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
The Eastern National Bookstore, operated by Eastern National, is located in the Fire Station No. 6 Museum. Over 200 titles are available with special emphasis on African-American History. For further information call 404-331-6922.
Accessibility:
Most exhibits and museums are fully accessible. Wheelchairs are available at the National Park Service Visitor Center and Fire Station No. 6 Museum. Parking spaces are available at the national historic site parking lot. Some MARTA buses are lift equipped. The Martin Luther King, Jr., NHS web site is in the process of being made accessible to all visitors. If you have problems accessing pages, or parts of pages, on this site with any software other than a standard graphics browser please send a message to our web master.
Special Needs:
None.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
- Visiting various museums and exhibits is recommended for all visitors. The Birth Home Tour is the most popular activity and is often filled by noon during peak seasons.
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
- Schools wishing to participate in the Parks As Classrooms program should contact the national historic site for more information. Filming permits are arranged on an individual basis. For additional information concerning reservations, special use or filming permits, call 404-331-5920.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Stop at the National Park Service Visitor Center upon your arrival to pick up a map and become oriented to the national historic site. A minimum of two hours is recommended to visit the national historic site.
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS:
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- January -- King Week Celebration
- February -- Black History Month
- March -- Womens History Month
- April 4 -- Remembrance Day
- October 10 -- National Historic Site Birthday
- December -- Candle Light Tours of Birth Home
Call or write the Park for specific dates and times.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Additional information about the park and its programs may be obtained by calling or writing to the national historic site.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 11-Aug-99 10:51:23
http://www.nps.gov/malu/
Created by: Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site Interpretive Staff.
Send a comment and/or suggestion to the web master.