• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement

    Martin Luther King Jr

    National Historic Site Georgia

News Releases

The Crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King

The Crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King

NPS Photo, Linda Byers, Park Ranger

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Remembrance
Week 2012 April 4-9, 2012

ATLANTA, GA- The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Ebenezer Baptist Church will commemorate the annual observance of King Remembrance Week which honors the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4-9, 2012 with a special Wreath-Laying Ceremony April 4, 2012 to commence the Park's week long series of public activities. The Wreath-Laying Ceremony will take place at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Heritage Sanctuary in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday April 4, 2012 at 5:30pm. This year marks the 44th anniversary of the death of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and was brought home to be buried in the Sweet Auburn community. On April 9, 1968, his funeral took place at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and Morehouse College.


To reflect upon that solemn occasion in history, the National Park Service along with members of Ebenezer Baptist Church will place a replica of the 1968 wreath on the historic location of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Heritage Sanctuary as it appeared on April 9, 1968. There will be a brief program with special featured remarks by Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock along with other dignitaries and National Park Service officials before laying the wreath upon the church's façade. In addition, a continuous Silent open house Birth Home Tour will take place on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 and Monday, April 9, 2012 only and will begin at 10am and end at 4pm. Tours are free. To tour the home, visitors must meet at the front steps of the Birth Home where a ranger will begin the tour. "We encourage the visitor to silently walk through the Birth Home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and explore the community and family life that guided and nurtured this future Civil Rights leader, "stated Judy Forte, Park Superintendent.


All events are free of charge and open to the public. For more information on upcoming events at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, visit www.nps.gov/malu or call (404) 331-5190.

 
Rev. Bolden and US Naval Academy Gospel Choir

King Holiday Celebration 2012

Did You Know?

Dr. King's funeral wagon

On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN.  Hundreds of thousands attended his funeral in Atlanta.  President Johnson declared a day of national mourning.  During the week following his death, riots erupted in over 100 cities.