Atlanta is a city rich with history. In this post, you’ll learn about more than 17 Sites that Honor MLK: Atlanta Edition.
No visit to Atlanta is complete without checking off a few stops on this list! These are also must-see spots for Atlanta residents who wish to more fully understand their city’s history and MLK’s legacy.
Of course, our favorite way to honor MLK Day is with our unforgettable King Historic District Tour, to learn all about Dr. King’s life and legacy!
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Historic sites where you can experience the MLK Atlanta legacy
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth home, resting place, church, and more
- Noteworthy Civil Rights sites in Atlanta
- MLK tours in Atlanta, GA
- Year-round and MLK Day events and activities in Atlanta
Find more ideas to honor MLK Day in Atlanta in the short video below.
1. Take a Walking Tour of MLK Atlanta Sites – One of Our Favorite MLK Atlanta Experiences
See a little bit of everything with Unexpected Atlanta’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Tour. During this tour, you’ll learn about MLK’s Atlanta legacy. Get an in-depth look at the people and locations that inspired this leader. Plus, this tour has been named by Conde Nast as one of the 16 best things to do in Atlanta.
Highlights of the tour include seeing many of the sites included in this list. For example, you’ll visit the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and see Freedom Hall at The King Center. You’ll also take in amazing views of the city on Jackson Street Bridge. The tour ends at the reflecting pool and memorial where Dr. and Mrs. King are entombed.
View tour details and book your Martin Luther King, Jr. tour.
2. Explore the King Collection at Morehouse College
Did you know that MLK’s grandfather, father, and Dr. King himself we were all alumni of Morehouse College in Atlanta? MLK’s brother and two sons also attended the college, which is known for producing high-achieving alums.
Today, Morehouse maintains a 10,000-piece collection of historic artifacts related to Martin Luther King, Jr. The collection includes handwritten notes, unpublished sermons, manuscripts, personal possessions, and other items of unparalleled historic significance.
While the King Collection is not available for public viewing, you can explore the collection’s contents online. From time to time, Morehouse also hosts special events and “open house” sessions for the King Collection.
View Morehouse’s King Collection YouTube Playlist to experience hours of interviews, speeches, and discussions of significant artifacts.
3. Learn More About The King Center
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change was established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King. Since then, the organization has emerged as a significant destination and resource center for hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The King Center operates as both a memorial site as well as a nonprofit organization. Its services include educational and community programs. For example, The King Center offers nonviolence education, community talks, a resource library, and a youth leadership academy.
Learn more about The King Center and its programs. Note: The King Center is temporarily closed to visitors as of the time of writing.
4. Walk the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park – One of Our Favorite MLK Atlanta Experiences
Take a self-guided tour of the MLK National Historic Park campus in downtown Atlanta. The MLK, Jr. National Historical Park is operated by the National Park Service. An on-site parking lot makes visiting this downtown spot easy.
While you’re there, stroll through the “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden, which was planted in 1992. The site is an artistic interpretation of Dr. King’s life and ideals. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome on the outdoor grounds. As a result, this is a great activity to pair with a visit to Oakland Cemetery. Read more about Oakland Cemetery below; this site also welcomes 4-legged visitors.
The park’s Visitor Center is currently closed. However, during ordinary times, this is a great spot to begin your visit. Here, you can get a brief orientation of the historic site and learn how to engage respectfully with the site’s history. You can also view the “Children of Courage” exhibit, geared toward teaching children about the Civil Rights movement.
Plan your visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park.
5. See Where it All Began at Dr. King’s Birth Home
Dr. King’s birth home is part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national historical site mentioned above. The building is currently closed as a safety precaution. However, normally, you can take a free, half-hour, ranger-led tour of this significant downtown Atlanta site. Tours are offered first-come, first-served and tend to get fully booked up when available!
This historic spot is where Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. He also spent the first twelve years of his life here. The building is a two-story, Queen Anne style house. It had been purchased by King’s grandparents in the early 1900s. After King was assassinated, plans were set in motion to restore the house as a historic museum.
Read more about MLK’s birth home in Atlanta.
6. Pay Your Respects at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Resting Site
On the grounds of the MLK, Jr. National Historical Park, you can view the tombs of Dr. and Mrs. King. This significant site is a peaceful and contemplative place to honor their legacy.
MLK, Jr. was first laid to rest at the Southview Cemetery, but was relocated to this site in 1982. An eternal flame in front of the tomb represents the ongoing work to fulfill Dr. King’s dreams of justice, peace and equality.
Get more information on visiting Dr. and Mrs. King’s gravesites.
Note: Unexpected Atlanta’s MLK, Jr. walking tour concludes at the Kings’ resting site and nearby reflecting pool.
7. Visit Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
Visit Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. This church is where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s father and grandfather pastored. It was also where the Civil Rights leader was baptized, ordained and served as co-pastor with his father until 1968.
Referred to as America’s Freedom Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church is still active today, with worship services and membership opportunities available. The church also carries on social justice initiatives through the Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resources Collaborative.
Read more about Ebenezer Baptist Church and plan your visit.
8. See Historic Fire Station No. 6
Built in 1892, Fire Station No. 6 is just down the street from MLK, Jr.’s birth home. Located in the historic district of Auburn Ave, this fire station served the area in which the King family lived.
Fire Station No. 6 was built in 1894 and served the “Sweet Auburn” community through 1991. At that time, it was the oldest operating fire station in Atlanta. Now, it operates through the National Park Service as a part of the MLK, Jr. National Historic Park.
This fire station was one of the first in Atlanta to hire Black firefighters. When you visit, you can learn more about how the Atlanta Fire Department was desegregated. Plus, get an up-close look at a 1927 American LaFrance fire engine.
Explore Fire Station No. 6.
9. Visit The Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center
A grand mural of MLK welcomes you to the MLK, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center. With the Civil Rights leader’s words decorating the building, MLK’s legacy is honored throughout this downtown space.
The Center is operated by Atlanta’s Parks Department and features a 25-yard lap pool with the city’s first zero-entry indoor pool. The facilities also include a fitness area and weight room, a climbing wall, and a walking and jogging track. Plus, you’ll find indoor and rooftop event spaces, classrooms, a senior center, lounge, computer lab, and more.
Learn more and plan your visit to the MLK, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center.
More to See: Sites that Honor Black History & the Civil Rights Atlanta Movement
Atlanta has plenty of places where you can explore the Civil Rights movement. Here are a few others:
10. John Lewis Memorial
You’ve probably seen this mural on social media. It’s a painted image of Civil Rights icon John Lewis, with the word “HERO” painted above. The mural features a snippet of John Lewis’s speech from The March on Washington.
11. Atlanta Daily World
A Morehouse graduated founded this newspaper in 1928. It was the first Black daily newspaper in the 20th century and the first Black newspaper with a White House correspondent. It was also the first Black newspaper to have its name on a major airport newsstand. While its offices are not open to the public, you can view the paper’s building from the outside and read its publications.
12. National Center for Civil and Human Rights
This downtown Atlanta museum is a destination for tourists from around the world. Explore issues of race, social justice, and human rights through the museum’s on-site exhibits and programs. You can even take a virtual tour.
13. Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History (AARL)
This special library is part of the Fulton County Library System. It’s the first public library in the Southeast to offer specialized collections on of African American culture and history.
14. Oakland Cemetery
Many noteworthy Atlanta rest in Oakland Cemetery. Its grounds include the graves of Maynard Jackson, Bishop Wesley John Gaines, Carrie Steele Logan, and others. Oakland’s African American Grounds project surveys and restores unmarked burial sites. This work aims to restore a sense of dignity and identity to the people buried here.
Note: you can stroll through Oakland Cemetery and learn about its history on our Grant Part Past & Future Food Walk.
15. The APEX Museum
This museum interprets and presents history from an African American perspective. Further, their goal is to help people from all walks of life appreciate the many contributions of African Americans on our society.
16. Paschal’s Restaurant
Paschal’s history dates back to 1947, when the Paschal brothers, James and Robert, opened their first fried chicken spot. Over the years, Paschal’s became a meeting spot for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Maynard Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Later, the restaurant moved to the Castleberry Hill area.
17. Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building
The judges of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals enforced Brown v. Board of Education in the South here. In addition, the courthouse implemented significant Civil Rights legislation here.
Visiting these MLK sites from out of town? Check out our guide Visiting Atlanta: Top FAQs for Tourists.
