Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

We thought the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church was a lovely example of churches from the period. The history that occurred here is undeniable and this was a definite crucible of change. Unfortunately it was locked the morning that we visited but you could not miss the history here, even viewing only from the outside.

Took the time to drive past this iconic church where Dr. Martin Luther King once pastored.

Absolutely Loved! This is my second visit here and it is still heartwarming to be in the place where THE DR. Martin Luther King, Jr preached and lived. The history is amazing!

One of the most historic churches in Montgomery where MLK served as pastor from 1954 to 1960! I highly recommend stopping by while visiting Montgomery!

Yesterday, a tour guide, had a personal issue that unfortunatley resulted in a seriously negative experience for MANY attending. More specifically, the name calling and belittling of 10 year old kids was completely unacceptable. No adult, or tour guide for that matter has ANY reason to punish or call out a child for smiling or laughing. Whatever power trip this was, embarrassed the children, the parents and others attending. I'd love to speak with someone regarding this matter.

A prophetic place of hopes and dreams as young Rev. Dr. King came here to pastor and lead the Montgomery bus boycott!

Pretty church in downtown Montgomery that was an important location in the Civil rights movement. If you're visiting civil rights sites in the south, it should be on your stop. Across the street is a marker commemorating Jefferson Davis' inauguration and is easy walking distance to the Alabama state capital building where he took his oath of office. Oh, the irony of the start of the Confederacy, and the civil rights movement. Happy to see the civil rights movement ultimately winning the war, though, the battle continues to this day.

I took a tour($10) of church. You can take pictures but someone from the group must be in the picture. They have a small gift shop with t-shirts for adults and children, writing pens, pencils, magnets and other great gifts. Be prepared for walking up a flight of stairs. No elevator. The sanctuary is beautiful and original.

I stopped by the historic Dexter Avenue Baptist Church while exploring Montgomery, AL on my personal civil rights tour. This iconic church sits just a block away from Alabama's State Capitol building downtown, which really makes you think about how close these two different worlds were. The church is a must-see spot if you're interested in civil rights history. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor from 1954 to 1960, and where much of the Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned and executed. While most people know about Rosa Parks' arrest that sparked the boycott, I learned that a young woman named Claudette Colvin was actually arrested for the same reason months before Parks, she was around 15 years of age. The church became a place where people fighting for equality could safely gather and galvanize during that turbulent era. To my chagrin, the church was closed during my visit, so I couldn't go inside (which was a shame). I still took plenty of photos of the outside, though. Montgomery has done a great job keeping up the building's exterior, so I imagine the inside is just as well-preserved. But what I found out about the church's architectural design is the building dates back to 1885 and was designed by Pelham J. Anderson, as mentioned on the historical marker. The combination of the brick structure with white accents (railings, trim) creates a classic look typical of many important Southern churches of that era. So shall we say a blend of Gothic and traditional elements. Here are some quick tips if you're planning to visit my fellow historians: * Review the church's website for times to tour * Parking is free on weekends (always 5 stars!) * There are other civil rights landmarks within walking distance that you might want to check out too * Resonable priced hotels are also nearby. Even though I didn't get to tour inside this historical landmark, just standing there and thinking about the history and the fearless people that were in that building was pretty powerful. It reminded me that we must continue to be strong and fearless in fighting against injustice in America today. If you're ever in Montgomery, definitely add this to your list of places to see and experience. Keep learning and going and stay positive!

Yet again another historical location in the heart of Montgomery. Just steps from the Alabama State Capitol you will find Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. This building dates to 1889. There was a wood structure that served as the church until they completed this brick structure. This church has hosted university founders, civil rights fighters, bus boycotter and labor rights activist as pastors. The most notable one being Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That is where the King portion of the name comes from. Starting out as the Second Colored Baptist Church, they changed their name to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Then in 1978 they changed the name to what we know it as today, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. It is recognized as a US National Historic Landmark and is on the US National Register of Historic Places. This site currently is being considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits on the UNESCO "Tentative List of World Heritage Sites." Outside there is a historic placard giving a brief history of the church. As well as there being a lamp outside that is "Lighting the Way" in honor of MLK. It is a must see when in Montgomery and not hard to get to.

Again, the possibility to walk around free of charge. It really entices you to visit. But then again, to walk the grounds where MLK started his career as a pastor, and if I am not wrong, the only time he served in that capacity since he turned into a civil rights activist. Plus, this is where the whole Civil Rights movement started, with the bus boycotts and the peaceful protest. It is just awe inspiring. The grounds are a quick visit, but there are tours available. Also, don't forget to ask them to play sermons for you if they are not already being played. Sit down and enjoy the moment, just like if you had jumped back in time to the 1960's...

I had come thinking that this would just be a place where you could walk around and see this important landmark, however, our group was lucky enough to get a tour from Ms. Wanda! Wanda and her sister really make the tour experience and her wisdom and joy are not to be missed. When you enter you are greeted with a hug, which starts the tour out with hospitality. By the end of the tour, we were graced with songs and wisdom that still remain with me. Be sure to visit this important place in history when you are in Montgomery, but also be sure to get a tour with Wanda. She is a powerhouse of passion and positivity: "Accept the cost to answer the call, for the cause of love."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church from 1954 to 1960. It was during those years that MLK organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott as the first president of the Montgomery Improvement Association and became an internationally famous and revered speak and civil rights leader. It's an amazing building to tour and experience. My tour guide, Wanda, was enthusiastic and clearly in love with giving visitors to Montgomery a tour of this historic church. I will say that as a non-Christian, ending the tour holding hands, a short prayer, and hugging the persons next to you was unexpected and a little foreign to me, but it didn't seem inappropriate to the place itself. It was interesting to see the church and MLK's office (still used by the current pastor of the church before Sunday services). An inspiring, historic, and important place to visit!

Came here not knowing what to expect. Joined a group last minute, knowing that this would be our last stop, right before we got back on a plane to the West Coast. It was raining hard. We walked into a warm, quaint lobby and were immediately greeted with a hug and a smile. There was no rush to ask us for any type of entrance fee which is only $7. Brenda and Wanda were there to tell stories and make us feel at home. Wanda is the director and to be quite honest, the best person we met on our entire trip. She was warm, friendly, genuine and just full of home. There is just something about her energy. When she told us what happened in that space with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it was as if we were there. We all felt a presence. When it was all said and done, we formed a circle, sang a song and shedded real tears learning about this history. Wanda is an amazing person, gifted at what she does and we were just glad that we took a chance in this hard weather, and got to meet her.

While visiting Montgomery we stopped by this church. It is an experience not to be missed!! Tours are given daily at set times of the church that cost little and the funds help keep the church running. This was a pivotal place when the march from Selma occurred so I was grateful and proud to be here. Outside there is an eternal flame burning in an old lamp post, very touching.

THE BEGINNING OF HIS JOURNEY! It is amazing to know that this church still stands and conducts services every Sunday. If I recall correctly, Dr. King came to this church at the age of 27 following the completion of his doctoral studies in Boston. He wanted the type of church that would allow him to be actively involved in the local community. Well, heat got that and so much more! The tour begins on the lower level where you will see a short film. You will then get to see Dr. King's office and the church on the main level. You are not allowed to take photos on the lower level and I think that they simply think that if you see it in a photo, you will not feel a need to visit. There is a large mural on the wall painted by one of the parishioners (still attending) that depicts key figures in the movement and those who informed Dr. King's work, (Ghandi). On this level, you will also see Dr. Kings office and his podium from which he delivered sermons. When you go upstairs, you will be inside of the sanctuary that is filled with rows of very narrow benches. This is the perfect opportunity to take pictures of the sanctuary, the stained glass windows and the architectural features of the church. The tour is short but they work hard at stretching it out so that you feel that you get your money's worth. I don't mind a tour that is short and to the point. I just figured that the money given for admission, ($7.50) was really a church offering anyway since this was a small tour with minimal content. What can I say? It was okay but would not be at the top of my list of places to see while visiting. Please be mindful of the tour times which are from 9 am until 3 pm and start on the hour. They are not available during the lunch hour, (from 12 until 1pm).

January 12, 2013, Tony and I was visiting in Montgomery Alabama and who can go to the State Capitol without stopping by one the most historical famous sites in Montgomery. The day was lovely and the weather so warm and mild for January. There was a lot of visitors because it is so close to his birthday celebration. It was a Saturday and it wasn't too busy downtown so it was enjoyable to walk around. We parked at the visitors center down by the river and walked through the town. It was a wonderful walk which we highly enjoyed. Some history about the wonderful church: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama. The church was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974.[2][3] In 1978 the official name was changed to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who helped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the church's basement. The church is located steps away from the Alabama State Capitol The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1877 and was first known as the Second Colored Baptist Church. The church trustees paid $270 on January 30, 1879 for a lot at the corner of what is now Dexter Avenue and Decatur Street. The first church building was a small wood-frame building, it began to be replaced by the current structure in 1883. The new brick building was not completed until 1889. The church began serving the broader African American community on October 3, 1887 when it hosted the first registration of students for Alabama State University.[4] This community service continued into the 20th century with activities associated with the American Civil Rights Movement. Vernon Johns, an early leader of the Civil Rights Movement, served as pastor from 1947 to 1952. He was succeeded by Martin Luther King, Jr. He was pastor of the church from 1954 to 1960 and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott from his basement office. Hours: Closed on Sunday. - Phone: (334) 263-3970 Address: 454 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104 Architectural style: Victorian architecture website: www.dexterkingmemorial.org

So much history and such an important building in the Civil Rights movement. Don't miss this when in Montgomery. Easily accessible and free.

When you walk into a place and the first thing that you get a hug, you know it's going to be a good experience. Walking into the church you can feel this overwhelming type of sensation. We were walking the steps Martin Luther King Jr himself walked. We upstairs to the sanctuary area taking in all the beautiful architecture and photographs. And we were welcomed with open arms. Upon seeing ya, we were immediately told to come right to the front of the church. Another pleasant surprise, others were already up there, beckoning is to join. After we all introduced ourselves, we begin to sing songs. Tell a little bit about ourselves, and one of the coolest parts of all his six of us got to stand by the Stainglass windows where a quote of Dr. Kings rested right on the window seal. We read these quotes and you could you could just feel that the positivity in the entire area. After that we all got together for a group photo which was so awesome! Then had it downstairs to continue the rest of the tour. We were brought in to Dr. Kings office, his secretaries office, and got to see the pastors before him along the walls as well. The really cool and striking thing, was that really pulled us all in, was the breathtaking mural that all covered up the wall. So beautiful, so powerful, and you could see how much was over came you could feel it just by looking upon the wall.

The tour is great and the guide is amazing. She is friendly, welcoming and gives great detail along the way. The history of the church beyond MLK is very interesting. A must-see on your civil rights tour.

This is the one and only church Dr. King was a preacher at. We had Wanda as our guide, and we couldn't have been more blessed to have her to kick off our visit. She showed us around King's office, took us upstairs to the main chapel and she sang "we shall over come". An amazing guide for an incredible place.

A true look back into history with an excellent guide. She was very enthusiastic and you can tell she loved her job and was very knowledgable.

This isn't just a tour, it's a self-realization. Thank you to our tour guide, Wanda, for such a lovely and emotional tour. If you are anywhere near the Montgomery area, I urge you to take this tour. It's history is so monumental in the Civil Rights movement. I feel it is our duty to keep our children educated in the important things that occurred in Montgomery, so that we do not lose sight of our future as a nation of joined peoples. Our tour guide was so passionate about the tour. We started things off with a song of "This Little Light of Mine." Although I'm not much of a singer, how could you not sing in a baptist church? She was very sweet about how terrible we sounded. The best part was touring the upstairs part of the church itself. Our tour guide urged us to take lots of photos and gladly took photos with us. At the end of the tour we all joined hands and sang "We Shall Overcome." I'm tearing up as I am remembering it. Our tour group was all colors of people, all backgrounds and ages. Wanda ended the song with a lovely prayer reminding us to go forth and do good for our fellow man. Many people in the group were crying tears of happiness (hopefully). We all hugged and shook hands with strangers, and walked away better people. And I cried back in the car. I cannot imagine what adversity Dr. King personally felt on his Civil Right journey. This tour really brings the current climate of racial tension to realization. We can ALL do better, regardless of what race we are.

A most moving experience. The staff were more than just welcoming and friendly. They live the message of Dr. King. I can now say I've held hands with momentary strangers and sung "We Shall Overcome."

Wandaaaaa!!! It's Chris and Hope from Canada. We were walking down to the church after checking out the Capitol Building and we decided to open the door and look inside. We were pleasantly surprised to see a tour was going on and Wanda kindly invited us in and introduced us to the current group and also had the group introduce themselves to us. I thought that was a great way to have us all feel connected rather than just individuals listening to some history. Wanda was extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions we had, even though she covered most of it herself. She was extremely passionate about the Church, the history, the legacy, and the message of unity for all people and all races. I really enjoyed all the information that she provided that did not have to do solely with Martin Luther King Jr.. I won't lie, I only stopped here because Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor here and I wanted to experience that energy. What we found instead was that same energy but provided by many pastors, members of the church, and an entire city. We had travelled through Selma the previous night and found this tour to be a fitting finish to our journey. If you didn't already know, Wanda is a great singer and exudes such a positive energy. When the tour was done, Wanda made sure to bring my daughter and I back down to take in the beginning of the tour that we had missed. Overall, this was a great experience and added to our amazing road trip we had been on. Thanks Wanda

One of the most personable and incredible tours I've ever been on. Wanda was an incredible guide! I left feeling like she was my best friend! This place and the people here are truly a beautiful spot in the world.

I agree with the others that say it is impossible to go here and not feel an amazing part of history, and truly a self realization. The tour guide Ms. Wanda made the entire place come to life. We sang, we got a wonderful tour of Dr. King's office, and saw several key parts of history. They have a few nice books and other items you can purchase. Of all the things to do in Montgomery this was by far the top of my list.

Our tour guide Wanda was incredible! Her knowledge and passion for this church and it's history is very inspiring. In these troubling times of political strife it is important to remember the sacrifices made by those in the Civil Rights movement and to honor their legacy. I highly recommend visiting this church.

When in Montgomery you can't miss this! I am a HUGE Civil Rights movement fan and I'm so glad I took the tour. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who helped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the church's basement, preached here. The church is located steps away from the Alabama State Capitol. The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church was founded in 1877 in a slave trader's pen, located on Dexter Avenue (formerly Market Street). On January 30, 1879, the Church's trustees purchased a lot (50' by 110') for $270.00 on the corner of Dexter Avenue and Decatur Streets, where the current church is located.The congregation was first known as the Second Colored Baptist Church. Vernon Johns, an early leader of the Civil Rights Movement, served as pastor from 1947 to 1952. He was succeeded by Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1954 to 1960. I went ahead and signed up for a tour of the church and parsonage. I think the cost for both was around $13 and totally worth it! Pictures weren't allowed in the basement, where major Civil Rights meetings were held, along with MLK Jr. study. After watching a video, seeing the mural and King's office, we climbed the stairs to the sanctuary. King accepted the call to pastor Dexter while completing his doctoral studies at Boston University. In his acceptance speech, delivered on May 2, 1954, King admitted to his new congregation: ''I have no pretense to being a great preacher or even a profound scholar. I certainly have no pretence to infallibility--that is reserved for the height of the divine rather than the depth of the human.'' He continued: ''I come to you with only the claim of being a servant of Christ, and a feeling of dependence on his grace for my leadership. I come with a feeling that I have been called to preach and to lead God's people." In November 1959, King resigned from Dexter and joined his father the following February as co-pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church. Our tour guide said the windows are original from the time he pastored. They were lucky enough to not have the damage so many other black churches did.

My family was here running away from Hurricane Irma. We attended the mass in honor of black women. Wonderful experience.

A moving experience that no one should ever pass up. I appreciate the attention to detail and history that was brought to the tour. Thank you for an eye-opening education to the struggle for civil rights. Wanda was a expert in the struggle and I truly appreciated her energy. She is a cherished person and friend that I will hold dear in my life.

I wasn't expecting much from this church, but I was pleasantly surprised. Tours start on the hour, with a video and tour. The information is pretty basic, like middle school curriculum level, so if you are very knowledgeable about the Civil Rights Movement, you might not learn anything. But it is so interesting to see the very pulpit where Dr. King preached from and his desk, as well as beautiful art and pictures commemorating the struggle. What made the tour worth it, was our tour guide. She made a point to ask us where we were from, give us all a big hug, and engage the visitors. At the end, we all held hands and sang "We Shall Overcome" in the sanctuary. It's corny, but it made me smile. I would love to come back just to see her.

Wanda led our tour and was absolutely amazing. You could not find a kinder, more passionate individual to educate guests about Dr. King and the civil rights movement. Her energy is contagious and I highly recommend paying a visit to the church for a tour should you ever be in the Montgomery area.

The inspiring tour of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Dr King was pastor for 6 years was the highlight of our visit to Montgomery. Wanda Battle, a former member of the Spelman College Glee Club, has a phenomenal voice. At the beginning of the tour she hugged everyone, had us introduce ourselves and then we sang "We Shall Overcome" which brought us together as a group. Wanda led us through Dr. King's office which has archival photos of him with his parents, siblings and kids, then showed us the pulpit he used and that was used in the film "Selma." As an aside, we'd recently watched "Selma" which ends with Dr King leading 25,000 triumphant marchers up the steps of the state capital building, just a block away from the church - so see that before you tour Montgomery if you can. Wanda described in detail a mural of civil rights leaders and spoke briefly about the contribution of each to the Civil Rights movement. She also spoke about her family's role in Montgomery's bus boycott - they owned a funeral home and used their hearses to carry people to work during the boycott, which lasted more than a year (Dec. 5, 1955 to Dec 20, 1956). Wanda ended the tour by singing "This Little Light of Mine" and "Precious Lord, Lead Me Home" which was very stirring. Her voice is transcendant. Don't miss this tour - Wanda is one of two tour leaders at the church - the other may be just as good but if I were to send friends, I'd suggest they call ahead and try to find out when Wanda is leading a tour.

We had an amazing time. Wanda is truly passionate and explained in detail about the history of this historic place. This is a must do tour to see. Thanks again to Wanda for expert knowledge, fun sense of humor, lovely singing voice and her refreshing enthusiasm for our tour group comprised of two teachers from Oregon, baptist ministers, etc!