Atlanta, Georgia
Ebenezer Baptist Church, now maintained by the National Park Service, was a major influence in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. It was here that he was baptized, delivered his first sermon, served as a pastor, and was eulogized at his funeral service. King’s maternal grandfather, Rev. A.D. Williams, and his father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., led the church for 81 consecutive years between 1894 and 1975. They focused on uplifting the spiritual, social, economic, educational, and political spirits their congregations. Dr. King, Jr. became a co-pastor of Ebenezer with his father in 1960, and he remained in that position until his death in 1968. Thanks to a Save America's Treasures grant and the contributions of many individuals and corporations, the National Park Service has restored historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Photo: Interior of Ebenezer Baptist Church
– NPS
