News Release
NPS Photo / Cecilia Arteaga
News Release Date: January 4, 2018
Contact: NPS Office of Communications
All Parks will have Free Entrance on January 15
WASHINGTON – On January 15, commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with free admission and special events at national parks.
“A national park is a meaningful place to remember and honor Dr. King, whether one participates in a day of service or visits a site with a direct connection to the man who moved hearts and minds in the struggle for civil rights and equality,” said National Park Service Deputy Director Michael T. Reynolds.
Reflect on his life and legacy at parks with personal ties to Dr. King:
- Visit the home where he was born and spent the first 12 years of his life, as well as the church where he preached, at Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.
- Trace the steps he marched in the fight for voting rights on the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
- Stand on the exact spot where he stood while delivering the “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial.
- Gaze at his larger-than-life carving and read his inspirational quotes at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial.
Special events on January 15 include the ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell at Independence National Historical Park and the program “Through Our Voices: Get the Word Out!” at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park featuring poets, musicians, and a panel of African American park rangers who will share stories about the struggles for social justice.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an official day of service in remembrance of the man whose commitment to community bridged barriers. Many parks will host service projects on this day on, not off.
- More than 500 people will gather in Anacostia Park to clean the shoreline, remove invasive plants and construct picnic tables.
- Partners and volunteers will clean a beach and restore scenic garden walkways by weeding and pruning at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
- Volunteers will create native seeds balls, clean irrigation ditches, and perform trail maintenance at Montezuma Castle National Monument.
All National Park Service sites will have free admission on January 15 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will be the first of four nationwide. Normally, 116 national parks charge admission fees which range from $3 to $30. The other 301 national parks do not have an entrance fee.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Last updated: January 4, 2018