Landscape

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Cherry Blossom Season

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Designation:

National Park

Amenities

7 listed

Benches/Seating, First Aid Kit Available, Information, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Junior Ranger Booklet Available, Wheelchair Accessible

Landscape, as both a noun and verb, adds much symbolic meaning to this memorial. 

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity proposed and successfully lobbied for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC. That ensured a place of high visibility and visitation (within Area 1 of the Commemorative Works Act.)  

When choosing a site, the new memorial must fit into the landscape. It must tie in thematically with things that already exist, within view or nearby, without interrupting important sight lines. The mindset of those promoting and building this memorial was to find a peaceful spot near water. 

  This location was perfect, not only being near water and tying in with other memorials, but also because of the Yoshino flowering cherry trees that line the perimeter of the Tidal Basin. Their peak bloom every year coincides with the time of Dr. King’s death. The blossoms provide opportunity for an annual resurrection of King and his ideas for the million+ visitors that normally visit between mid-March and mid-April.