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Gary Tarleton
Contact: Judy Forte, (404) 909 - 2911 After temporarily closing the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August 2016 for safety reasons, the National Park Service has repaired the first floor of the home and it will re-open to the visiting public on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, January 16, 2017.On Saturday, August 6, 2016, a structural issue was observed with the sub-floor of the home in Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site. It was subsequently discovered that joists, bearings, and connections beneath the century-old floor had failed. As such, public tours of the home were suspended and the building was temporarily closed until a plan could be put in place to preserve the historic integrity of the building and ensure public safety. The home, built in 1895 is a vital resource of the park and is a popular attraction for visitors. “We are thrilled that the first floor of the Auburn Avenue historic home will be reopened in time for the King Holiday,” stated Superintendent Judy Forte. “We are also excited that a full condition assessment of the entire home is scheduled in the near future to ensure the preservation and protection of this national treasure for future generations.” The park has contracted a concurrent condition assessment of the entire structure to include the HVAC system which is projected to be completed by spring 2017. |
Last updated: January 12, 2017