Stone of Hope

This quote from King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” inspired the design of the memorial.

NPS Antoine Thomas

Quick Facts

Location:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Designation:

National Park

Amenities

1 listed

Wheelchair Accessible

The quote is the only one in the memorial that is from King’s “I Have a Dream Speech”. It serves as the theme statement for the memorial. The speech was the basis for the design concept of the memorial. 

This memorial sits on a direct line between the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial, symbolically connecting the “Emancipation Proclamation” (signed by Abraham Lincoln) and “Declaration of Independence” (written by Thomas Jefferson), two documents King talked about at the beginning of the speech. 

The Stone of Hope, moved forward out of the Mountain of Despair, points to the Jefferson Memorial. King referred to the Declaration of Independence as an unfulfilled promissory note for the American people. The distance between the Stone of Hope and the Jefferson Memorial indicates that there is much work left to be done to ensure that the promises made in the document are truly afforded to all. 

The sculpture of Dr. King becomes visible on the front of the Stone of Hope.