The King Center

I had the chance to visit the MLK Jr Center at the end of a work trip. I have studied the work of the King Family and I applaud the continued legacy. Like MLK Jr, I was born on Jan 15 and was beside myself when the opportunity came for me to visit. This place is part of the National Park System and is properly protected. Visiting is an experience that you must have when you visit Atlanta...and the Jackson Street Bridge is nearby to take in a great view of the Atlanta skyline!

I love taking my son here. This time he had a project to do for Black History Month and I thought what better way to impress. We went and he got to visit just a small section of Dr Kings life and I hope between that and all the research we did he understands just how important this man truly was. If you plan on touring the house get there around 9am otherwise you will miss out as the entire day fills up quickly.

What better way to start my grandson's Black History tour than at the King Center.

Humble experience at The King Center. Self-guided tour with an outside memorial pool, enteral fire pit, and the final resting place of Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King. Inside of the King Center there is so much history from different artifacts( medals, dresses, clothes, and pictures ). There is also a room dedicated to Rosa Parts and Gandhi.

Work for a local TV Station that covered a wreath laying for MLK Jr on the anniversary of his assassination. His family spoke and sung to the crowd in attendance. The facility is covered with photos of MLK and his family.

This was my first visit since my college days and I am now in my 40s. I'm so glad the funds exist to keep it free of charge for visitors to learn, listen and reflect. We made this the first stop while visiting with our teen and young adult son for Christmas!

Free to enter. Many things to see. Worth the visit.

Beautiful area to walk around, definitely take your time! The sounds of the water feature is so soothing.

God permeates this place. There in sweet rest is Brother Martin and Sister Coretta. I called them brother and sister because De. King preached just that. He gave his life for the concept that we are all inextricably linked by that fact. Seeing their graves encircled by water is awe-inspiring. I took the tour of Ebenezer church and was able to see the place where he preached and where he was eulogized. His family home is nearby too. The Center has a museum where you can see his Noble Peace Prize (it may be a replica, I cannot recall). I just wondered the grounds and sat and reflected about his well-loved life. Although cut short, no less impactful. It is a beautiful place to simply reflect and celebrate he and his family. This is a must see place for all people but especially those who need to be reminded of how a life spend in faith and service can been the moral arc of the universe towards justice.

We were in Atlanta to see a concert and noticed that this place, along with the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, was just a few miles away. With some time to kill, we stopped in and soaked up the history and artifacts. This place is revered and almost seems like a destination for pilgrims. A worthy memorial to a great man.

A must see when visiting Atlanta. Definitely way more impactful than I thought it would be. It's a beautiful place. Sadness does come over you while walking through and I found myself tearing up in some places, especially watching and listening to his last sermon that was played at his funeral. I'm very happy I was able to experience it.

This made my trip to Atlanta so worth it. Visiting the King center and seeing all of the history was beautiful. Words cannot explain you have to visit for yourself. Don't miss the house tour if you are in the area.

It was great to finally have the opportunity to visit Dr. King's birthplace and see this center that showed how inspirational he was with contributions to civil rights in the 1960's. He (Dr. King) advocated for peaceful approaches to some of society's biggest problems which we still face today. More knowledge needs to be shared and taught in all schools because history keeps seeming to repeat itself over and over. Must see center for all!

They learned history about Martin Luther King Jr. We also stop by outside the building they hv new playground. Parking is available for free behind the building.

This visit was more impactful than I imagined. Taking it all in, the center is a beautiful tribute and resting place for Dr. & Mrs King. Would definitely recommend a visit. There is parking in the rear allowing for easy access to the center and Ebenezer next door. A quick walk across the street to the park and if you come on a Sunday you can attend services at the newer Ebenezer as the original one is closed. Dr King's home and the adjacent store are just a block away, a very short walk. A beautiful area to visit. It is family friendly.

Wow! This was a highlight of our tour. I had no idea that Ms. Coretta. Scott King was an intrical part of getting this memorial dedicated to her husband and his works. I definitely didn't know that they have the double tomb there as well on display for the visitors and residents of Atlanta. This place is beautiful and still you feel sad that his life was shortened in such a way. This man accomplished so much in his short life span. He's been deceased longer than he was alive and his legacy or forever lives on. I was just grateful to be able to share this experience with my daughter and it definitely is something a family should experience together if possible. I enjoyed the inside and seeing his Nobel peace prize award and some of his writings and his life journey captured through photographs. It was very well done.

As much as it pains me to admit it, in all honesty The King Center is by no means an adequate homage for such a profound individual. In my opinion, I should get chills from visiting this place. Fervor should overcome me. I should be empowered, overjoyed, solemn and melancholy at the same time. Instead, I felt like I went to a burial site and read a wall full of posters. While the exhibits were informative, they didn't do *enough* to drive home the impact he had during such a remarkable time. Imagine a group of 20 kids or even 10 adults... this won't hold steady attention. And then for the most interested tourist, it's not enough for them to be satisfied. Not enough picture-worthy opportunities. Not enough "tribal" information. Frankly, not enough history. Honestly, I'm only giving the King Center 5-Stars primarily to help promote the fact that this establishment has been around since 1968 and very few native ATLiens have even visited the place. It's gotta change folks. More people from out of town know about the center than locals. Literally, people go to Edgewood/Auburn Ave. District to party and have no clue that the King Center is one block away. More surprising, most people don't even know that the King Center is the resting place for Dr. MLK Jr AND his wife Mrs. Correta S. King. So again, I'm hoping my review embellishes an ATL monument. I'm more than willing to pay an entry fee if it will improve the place. The Muhammad Ali Museum in Louisville, KY is an excellent example. Really, I expect Smithsonian level attention for the King Center. I love my city and its rich history.

Martin Luther King Jr Center is definitely a must-visit place for all the tourists in Atlanta. It's an important and signature historical park & museum which is informative and educational. The ambiance is silent & serious and the exhibition arrangement is organized & well-maintained.

An important part of civil rights history on historic Auburn Avenue. It should be visited by anyone at least once in life. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center is a museum and organization dedicated to preserving his legacy and maintaining civil rights. Dr. King and his wife are interned here. You can look around at the artifacts inside. Because it's considered a national park it means it's free admission. It has lots to see on the outside. There's a wall with many quotes. It sets the tone for the importance of the Center. There's a large pool with an inspirational message featured in it. MLK and his wife Coretta are interned here. They're on a platform in the middle of the pool, where you can't get close but you can read the inscription on the tomb. Also there's an eternal flame. The inside has artifacts and a video. In these current times the inside is closed. It seems the more important stuff is outside. That makes it still worth seeing and hopefully the Center will be even better when they completely reopen at whenever.

Temporary closed until further notice. I drove a long way for nothing not happy. Maybe next year

It is definitely a must see when visiting Atlanta. You can walk and see Martin Luther King Jr birth house as well Ebenezer Baptist Church. So happy I was able to take my 9 year old her to experience it.

The King Center should be on everyone's bucket list. You have probably read about this great man. Now it's time to experience his legacy in all of the grand ways displayed at this iconic landmark. The place is beautiful. Pristine I must say. The bookstore is well stocked. The reflecting pool is clear and blue and free of the ubiquitous coins. The monuments are a testament to the love and endurance these two shared over the course of their brief but impactful marriage. This truly is the shining gem of this beautiful city. The new and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church are both within a birds eye view of the King Center as is the State Park run Martin Luther King's boyhood home. All of them are a must see during your visit. Enjoy!

Weekend getaway to Decatur, GA walked Auburn Ave the home of Dr. MLK Jr. This was an interesting and a very educational historical trip. If you love history this visit has historical homes, museums etc.

Visiting this center was such a great experience for our group. I am really glad I got a chance to visit Martin Luther King center. It is right down the street from his birth home, seriously it's on the same street you can just walk a few blocks to see the house which is near to the center. MLK Tour/historical block Visiting Reverend Martin Luther King Junior's home, the dedicated center and the park was such a great experience for our group. Because of people like him my family was made possible, some members of my family are immigrants and some members are born Americans. I am glad we got a chance to visit and pay our respects to him and his wife and in essence to the entire movement. However a drawback was that upon arrival we found the inside of the center and home were both closed due to Covid. At his birth home they do have a state national history museum employee stationed there. The employees answer any questions, give a description of and explain everything in detail about what you're seeing and how life was. The employee is supposed to also have photos and recordings to share with visitors. All in all it was still a great and an emotional feeling just standing on his front porch. Don't despair, there's still a lot to see like the historical community shotgun homes that are preserved and were traditionally built in those times. They're across the street from his birth home. There are a lot of signs, statues and podiums with information in front of them and buildings too describing in detail what things were used for and how things operated during his childhood. Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King's mausoleums are above the reflection pond which are beautifully displayed in the pictures I've shared. And there's even a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. He inspired Martin Luther King to continue to be resilient and keep up his struggle against injustices using peaceful demonstrations. I would say definitely check this out especially if you are a history buff or simply just want to pay your respects. There are still some many things to see. I intend on going back with my children when they open the inside of the building.

5-star historic interest, 4-star execution, 3-star logistics. Truly unique celebration of a history-making man; truly unique aspect of Atlanta, a town which tends to be a little generic. Historic interest doesn't get more interesting than this IMHO. King changed the world in a big way, and this celebrates his life while going into just the right amount of detail. Execution-wise the center itself is very well-done. They own most of the block (23 acres), and have restored most of the structures. Aside from the King house and the Center itself, there are locations like the local firehouse that have exhibits on civil rights and King. The one drawback is the watering-down aspect of including Gandhi et al in the narrative...one small intro for context there would be all that's needed. Logistics are just OK, not great. Parking is good but hard to find (the big ATL has tough traffic and there are next to no directional street signs to get to the Center). Good options are also the Atlanta Streetcar (takes you all around Sweet Auburn and downtown Atlanta) and MARTA (there's a King Center station).

A must visit. My friend and I visited Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and MLK Jr tomb and gift shop. This is a simple review of both. The tomb. The grounds are beautiful, well cared for and solemn. The grounds are adequate for people of all abilities and people with kids in strollers. The eternal flame, tomb and cascading water is well cared for and a wonderful tribute to MLK Jr. The gift shop has posters, T-shirts, books, plaques, movies, and other memorabilia. To get to the sanctuary in Historic Ebenezer Church you have to walk up a twisted stairwell. I'm not aware of handicap access. The sanctuary is a quiet, solemn space. I enjoyed sitting in the wooden pews listening to spiritual songs and a sermon by MLK Jr. played overhead on speakers. There is a small gift shop just before you exit the church. There is also a National Parks ranger to welcome you into the church. There was no one in the church to answer questions but maybe the ranger is advising to do so.

We set aside time to pay respects to MLK Jr and Mrs. King on our recent visit to Atlanta. The center was closed at that time because we got in late but they had an outdoor campus that included Dr. and Mrs. King's tombs on the reflecting pool as well as the Eternal Flame. It's a must-visit as it's an integral part of our history.

A must visit for any first time visitor to Atlanta. So grateful to have had the chance to visit and take in history.

It would seem that some of the MLK attractions are owned by the federal government (which was shut down when I visited), but this part, which includes his crypt, a memorial, and a small museum, must be non-federal, because it was open. The memorial piece is quite beautiful (I caught some fantastic clouds as well), and a totally different atmosphere from the more staid memorial on the National Mall which commemorates his actions there. An eternal flame stays lit, speakers broadcast constant speeches, and a waterfall display surrounds the crypt itself. The museum isn't terribly impressive, just a couple of rooms on Dr. King, Rosa Parks, and Ghandi. There are some significant artifacts and a few interesting tidbits, but it won't take long to get through them. There is no admission fee, so you can just stop through quickly, and hope that the government buildings nearby are open when you visit.

My Wife and I had a great time. It was full of History! It was a warm and inviting MLK Jr Center!

This is a very nice memorial center built in honor of MLK. There is a brand new playground set out for your little ones to play. The entrance was free. They had some interesting things you can see in here. The layout of the place flows well and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. See my YouTube channel for more a little details: Mama Sisi. You'll truly enjoy yourself if you decide to come.

Cheers to the man uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! Thank you for all you did. Here in Seattle, I heard a story of a 9 year old girl named Sarah up north of Seattle in a city named Shoreline. One day she stumbled upon a memorial of Edwin T. Pratt, when she was near the small memorials of Shoreline's school district building and she was fascinated to learn about this man. Specifically from Q-13 News, "Edwin Pratt was a local activist during the civil rights movement. He served as the executive director of Seattle's Urban League for nearly a decade before he was killed at age 38. He was assassinated answering the door of his Shoreline home in 1969, less than a year after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. To this day, Pratt's murder is unsolved." "In his short life, he championed fair housing, school desegregation and job equality in the greater Seattle area." From Wikipedia it claims, he was "born in Miami, Florida. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Clark College (Atlanta, Georgia) and his Master's in social work from Atlanta University. He worked for the Urban League in Cleveland, Ohio and Kansas City, Missouri before arriving in Seattle in 1956 to be the Seattle league's Community Relations Secretary. In 1961, he became the Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League. Among his achievements was the Triad Plan for the desegregation of the Seattle Public Schools; he also led an initiative for equal housing opportunities." As for Sarah, she is currently in 4th grade and has spent countless hours in making Mr. Pratt known. She has petitioned the school board at meetings to honor Pratt; she has done presentations about him to educate the public; as well as, requesting a school to be named after him.

There's about a million things I could say about the amazing Martin Luther King Jr. Coming here just added about a million more things onto that list. I learned so much more and saw so many amazing things. They're so much detail, videos and hands on things here. It's a wonderful and educational experience.

MLK Jr Center is definitely a must! Absolutely beautiful Due to COVID the museum was closed but my 9 year old son enjoyed just being able to walk around. There was so much to see.

Hello All, I know you're use to reading my reviews and having a few laughs (reaching to pat myself on the back....hoping my arm make it), but this time I wanted to be serious and encourage you to visit this wonderful place. I took so many pictures (wish I could share them all, but I want you to go and take your own to post...I'm NOT your tour guide or personal assistant...lol). Anyways, I learned something else about MLK and the Movement that I didn't know.....I also sat in the same church that he once blessed with his presence. I truly had a good time. If you have the time, take a flight, bike ride, road trip, walk, or sail boat to ATL and stop at this destination... AND PLEASE LEAVE A DONATION. Signing Out, History Junkie

The entire area is a must-see for any local or visitor to Atlanta. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is an iconic figure in American Civil Rights history, and it was fitting for us to visit during his birthday weekend. Designated as a national park, the Martin Luther King Jr Center pays great tribute to the life and work of this incredible leader. Inside the exhibits teach and touch your hearts as you learn about this movement in the 1960s- from the Freedom Riders to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The timeline inside shows the progress, challenges, and successes that Dr. MLK Jr. helped to carve out in his journey. The exhibit can feel small when there are a lot of people visiting. Being a free public park, I would plan around non-peak times to avoid some of the crowds. The center also houses the graves of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his beloved partner Coretta, and is a site to see in itself. Take some time to come, reflect, and honor his legacy- and recognize that we still have a very long way to go as a country.

On Labor Day we decided to take a trip to the King Center. I had not been in almost 20 years and my wife had never gone. This review is based on the museum itself and not the legacy of one of the greatest Americans. Honestly, the museum needs some serious upgrades. It seems like a museum from the 80 or 90s. Nothing is interactive and it is small and dated. The history of MLK, Coretta Scott King, civil rights, human rights, and Ghandi's influence on King's philosophy deserve better representation than the current state. That being said, this is still a great place to come and look at how a young man from Atlanta transformed his country and the world.

Wow! Is all I have to really say. To actually see with my own 2 eyes where Dr. King and his wife are finally resting at was amazing. Couldn't see everything bc there is a government shut down and all national parks are closed. The water is so pretty and blue out there at the grave site. It really gives you chills to be in the area. His house is right down the street also. I will return to see the inside of his childhood home, and the church. Plus its free! Please don't do if you won't embrace the history that is there. Parking around there is horrible, no on street parking only bc it'll be packed. Only got 4 stars because I wasn't able to see everything.

I was so humbled and appreciative to attend such a wonderful display of a great person who was not afraid to be the change and become unstoppable in life. Attending the King center will definitely be a place that i will always remember for the rest of my life. I really liked that the King center is free, therefore it's no excuse to just stop in, explore and get a piece of history. The exhibits are bright and it gives you a depiction of his life journey. While at the King center I began to get goosebumps b/c I was able to imagine what life was like during that time and what life would've been like for a brown girl like myself. I'm grateful that a powerful person like Dr Martin Luther King had the courage to stand up for injustice in a peaceful manner. He's my hero! The king center is just a wonderful place to go and explore. It offers a variety of different colorful exhibits, such as the freedom walk, MLK's church and a beautiful gift shop. After leaving The king center i must say I felt inspired to not live a life of mediocrity but to live in possibility!! I encourage everyone to go whenever your in the Atlanta area!

What an awesome and moving educational experience. It was hard to hold back tears at some points, especially in regards to the civil rights movement. One exhibit had me sitting at a "whites only" diner counter, eyes closed, wearing head phones listening to a recording of angry people trying to get me to leave. It was horrible. I couldn't even sit through the whole recording. That simulation gave me a new appreciation for those brave and determined souls. Wow. Thank you ALL! The center mainly covers Dr. Martjn Luther King's life and death. You also learn about other key players (favorable and non favorable) of the civil rights movement. In addition, the center covers all human rights no matter what group you fall in i.e. gender, handicapp, race, etc. I took some pictures BUT I refused to take pictures of those evil leaders who are known for horrible oppression such as Stalin, Hitler, Idi Amin, etc. I recommend that everyone visiting ATL visit this center. Puts alot of things in perspective. #centerforcivilandhumanrights #marchonwashington

On my last trip to Atlanta I visited the center for Civil and Human rights so I was inspired to come here. They have free parking if you wish to drive, otherwise I would suggest you take the MARTA to Peachtree station and then transfer to the Atlanta streetcar. It drops you off right there. I arrived prior to opening so I had a chance to do a quick tour of the grounds. Near the parking lot is the Civil rights hall of fame where they have footprints of great notables who had contributed to the Civil Rights movement. You will find among them Ralph Abernathy, Rosa Parks, Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder, and other noted celebrities there. You then will see a statue of Ghandi who was an influence in MLK's life. The visitor's center opens at 9 and I was third in line since I wanted a tour of the birth home. When it opened the lady ahead of me requested 45 spots for her group leaving me and the line behind me shut out of tour times. I discussed this matter when it was my turn and was told it was first come first served and the tours are limited to 15 people. He did offer as an alternative the opportunity to watch a "virtual tour" of the birth home in their theater which I was grateful for. I found the movie worthwhile and informative as it took the time to explain the stories behind each room. Also in the visitor's center they have a small museum on the history of segregation and in a larger room you can follow the life of Martin Luther King and all the events leading up to his assassination. What really impressed me was in the center of the room there were statues of all types of "minorities". As you walked up the ramp on the floor you will see the names of cities that played a part in the movement. Leaving the visitor's center there is a rose garden with a beautiful statue of a man holding up his baby for baptism. This statue was inspired by Coretta Scott King. Very moving. Next to that is the new Ebenezer Baptist church. The old and famous one is across the street and will be reviewed separately. Once you cross the street proceed up the stairs to see the reflecting pool with the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King. The epitaphs are very moving. Across from that is the eternal flame. Behind the pool is the freedom walkway that has pictures of the major events in Dr. King's life. From there you enter Freedom Hall which has 3 sections. One is devoted to Dr. and Mrs. King and contains some of the clothing worn. The 2nd is devoted to Ghandi, and the last to Rosa Parks. What impressed me the most was the artwork and sculpture in this building. There is also a large gift shop here that has the best collection of merchandise. Leaving there head east on Auburn Ave and you can see the birth home and actually go up and stand on the front porch. You cannot see inside but outside is a porch swing and you can view the neighborhood MLK grew up in. My last stop enroute back was Fire station number 6. They had an open sign so I went in and was welcomed to join a tour group that was just finishing up so I could hear a talk about it. Inside is an early fire engine, an old working radio, and the telegraph line used to report fires. The park ranger told the story of this fire house and how it was originally segregated but later the first station in Atlanta to include Afro Americans as part of their volunteer unit. Surrounding the walls are pictures of these brave men along with other stories that established this place. It is no longer a working fire station but I was grateful for the opportunity to visit it since this made up for my missing the birth home tour. My only disappointment was not being able to tour the birth home as I had hoped due to their restrictions and feel that groups should be given a set time(s) to tour so as not to infringe upon people who want to see it. Otherwise this is indeed a fine tribute to a great man and great lady who helped shape our nation in the 60s and beyond.

*FREE MUSEUM ALERT* parking and visiting everything below is completely free and about 2-4 hours worth of a day. If you do nothing else to learn or to motivate yourself while in Atlanta, you MUST visit the memorial. There are several things to do while visiting, and like any museum some walking involved. 45 buildings to visit. You can go inside the 2 museums, Ebenezer church and the firehouse. You can't go inside of Dr Kings childhood home without a pre setup tour. You can go into the house next door and take pictures of the outside. There is waaaaaaay to much to see and learn to list here. Just bring tissue in case of tears and enjoy your day. We took our teens and they loved it!

Great place to educate yourself while paying your respect to Dr MLK and Coretta King. I highly recommend everyone to go.

An ATL must see! What a magnificent preservation of our history. It's a beautiful observatory that captures awesome photographed moments, scriptures, sculptures, speeches and the side by side memorials of Dr. King and Mrs. King seated in the center of a well kept basin. Please visit and take a tour of this National Park, you will be glad you did. Thank me later, ~Christy

7/28/20 When I was here as a kid, I didn't know too much about the history of Martin Luther King Jr. I had no idea how crowded the cemetery would have been when Martin Luther King Jr. was buried. Yet, standing in the cemetery near his grave I felt...pride?...paying my respects?...I don't really know, but the man did more good than one could possibly imagine. With what's going on in the world right now, his speeches could help calm a lot of people down. Still, if I were to revisit his resting site today, I don't know if I would recognize the place. I do know that even as a kid, this place held a lot of history. Unfortunately, I just don't remember what we were informed about back then. Too much time has gone by. I am glad I still had the experience of visiting Alanta Georgia...

Worth visiting, low key but surprisingly less than well maintained. I came on my own not with a tour. It's really a 3*** but you should visit for yourself so another *. MLKJC has a small civil museum, reflecting pool and freedom walkway (fountain and arbor), tomb, EBenezer churches (original and new) and his birth/childhood home nearby. I visited this Center a while ago and didn't write a review given my lackluster experience. But am writing to encourage Yelpers to check out this national historic center and hopefully MLKJC will improve in the future. Entrance to the museum is free and donations are welcome. You can research for details, visit and form your own conclusion. Inside the museum could be better organized. Poorly marked directions outside garden, fountain, crypt for MLK Jr and Coretta Scott, eternal flame (was not lit), murals etc., that you have to navigate on your own. My visit outside at the reflection pool the entire time was noisy with yard workers' blowers. Not sure why they do this middle of the day. I had mixed feelings as they were trying to maintain obviously somewhat neglected Center but disruptive. Parking is free in their lot and street. I parked on the street in front of new Ebenezer. It's not in the best part of the city but my car was still there 90minutes later. I've visited civil rights museum Birmingham, AL and also MLK monument at the Mall in DC. Both were better experience than this location. Surprising for Atlanta MLKJC managed by NPS....could be much better to educate civil rights struggle, that a great man gave his life for, than this.

The Martin Luther King Jr Center is a National Historic Site that's administered by the National Park Service. It spans several blocks and you can visit several buildings and activities while you are here: [The Visitor Center - located right next to the Ebenezer Baptist Church]: The Visitor Center opens daily at 9 AM to 5 PM and admission is free. If you want to do the free Birth Home Tour, then you will need to register for free tickets at the information desk. There are exhibits that document Dr. King's life and President Jimmy Carter involvement in civil rights movement. Lastly, don't miss out the 28-minute documentary film and you will get an opportunity to hear some of Dr. King's famous speeches (including the "I Have a Dream" speech). [Dr. King's Birth Home Tour - approximately 30 minutes]: The earliest tour starts at 10 AM and the last tour ends at 4 PM. Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and each tour is limited to 15 people. After you get your tickets at the Visitor Center, you will need to walk about a block and meet your park ranger inside the bookstore (which is right next to the Birth Home). My friend and I came here for the Sunday 10 AM tour because my friend warned me about how this tours can potentially be booked up if we don't come early. Luckily we had a small group (about 6~7 people) and our park ranger, Bruce Lee (you heard it right), had a good sense of humor (e.g. told my friend to loosen up because he wore this military-like winter coat that made him look super serious, poked fun of his education when my friend said he didn't know what a shotgun house is, etc.). No pictures are allowed while you are inside the Birth Home. [Freedom Hall - located right next to the Reflecting Pool]: On the 2nd floor, there are exhibits that honor Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks. On the 1st floor, you will see the Nobel Peace Prize Medal and a small bookstore / gift shop is located right next to the Freedom Hall. [Reflecting Pool / Eternal Flame]: You will find the crypts of Dr. & Mrs. King here. The Reflecting Pool was closed in preparation for remembering the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, so the pool was dry when I was here in December 2017. However, the Eternal Flame was still burning. [Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary / Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Heritage Sanctuary]: Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday services at the Horizon Sanctuary (which I accidentally walked into), but it is not open for tours. Meanwhile, you can tour the Heritage Sanctuary Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 1 PM to 5 PM. I was able to check out most of places and did the Dr. King's Birth Home Tour in about 2.5 hours (I felt slightly rushed because we had to leave for lunch), but you can easily spend 3 ~ 4 hours to truly explore everything the center has to offer. I agree with few Yelpers below and the center isn't as well-maintained as it can be. P.S. - Parking is free and the parking entrance is located on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue.

Amazing reminder of a time where one person and others stood up in the face of adversity for a strong sense belief that the world needs to change. Unbelievable, moving history of how one can through bravery become a hero in the world. All at a risk in his own life and the sadness that knowing his wife and children would be without him as he grew old. This was a great experience and I am glad I went and I plan to take my kids next time.

I wanted to visit the location on MLK day, and I couldn't have been more inspired by what I experienced and learned on my trip to the center. Parking was scarce, as we had to park a few blocks away and walk 10 minutes or so to get there. No monument is big enough to honor such a transcending figure, it was a priority on my trip to Atlanta. The church was full of information for others to learn and gain a grasp of Dr. Kings accomplishments, and the context of his actions in his time. The tomb is beautifully kept with crystal clear water, and we got to actually step foot in Dr. Kings home in which the grew up in. The gift shop also had some neat souvenir items. What an experience!

What an AMAZING experience! Very humbling to visit the church, the home, and the grave site of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. The civil rights museum led me here. I didn't know he was buried... well, entombed in Atlanta. What an experience to visit the historic church where he was baptized... preached and fought with his life for people like me. He is encrypted with his wife, and there is an eternal flame that burns for peace in his memory. I definitely recommend checking out the Historic Ebenezer Baptist church for the presentation by the King foundation volunteer. He is a wealth of knowledge and did an incredible rendition of MLK's "I HAVE A DREAM" speech! Truly an heart filling experience. I loved it so much! You will learn things you never knew... I HIGHLY recommend coming here. Felt so good to pay my respects.

You can not visit the city of Atlanta and not pay respect to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and the countless others that worked for equity and faces unthinkable cruelty and many died for the basic liberties we often take for granted! The entire Sweet Auburn area is similar to other predominantly Afro American neighborhoods across the south and north with the black church being the center institution of CHANGE in the African American community! Powerful experience to witness and see the birthplace and grave site!

Great historic site to visit with your family. I always love seeing the eternal flame and the water feature in front of the center. While the actual museum itself is on the smaller side, it is packed with so many exhibits. My family enjoyed learning new information about the King family.

What an incredible museum. The King Center is massive and is made up of several peace's - Dr. Kong's childhood home, the firehouse, the church, and the actual museum. The firehouse is highly dependent on volunteers and Ms. Sunshine is maybe the best I've seen. Her knowledge was impeccable, her love and passion for the Center infectious, and her emotional intelligence towards children and adults was h like anything I've experienced by a guide of any kind. I'm so appreciate of such a person who is willing to give of her time freely for the benefit of all. How beautiful...

The center and the various locations were closed due to Covid. I still say visit the birth home of Dr. King, walk down to Ebenezer. Visit the gravesites and eternal flame...it's worth the trip. Oh met a very nice park ranger who gave us some information on the house as he was ending his shift.

Of all the national Parks I visited, MLK Center was the most moving one. I took a street car to get to the MLK Historic Site. Too bad I couldn't visit inside of his home, cause I didn't have enough time. The whole area seemed alive with his voice. The footage, microphones, photos, statues and the wagon .. everything was unforgettable. A must visit when you are in Atlanta. You will have an amazing experience just being there.

I'm a fan of pretty much anything the National Park Service is involved with and the MLK center (a NPS Historic Site) is no exception. Along with the nice grounds where the great man and his wife are entombed, the NPS has a very informative and interesting museum where not only MLK's life is celebrated, but also has an excellent room where the joint humanitarian achievements and legacy of him and his fellow Georgian, President Jimmy Carter, are documented. The MLK center is a must for anyone who lives here or visits.

The museum tells a good story, though in limited space and with limited artifacts. The Selma march sculpture exhibit, and story of Dr. King's perseverance under threats to his freedom, his life, and his family, were inspiring to me. Overall, I found the museum to be mostly a collect of photos and reproductions of media, with a few artifacts here and there. Compared to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, I thought the King Center had much less of an impact. Visiting the museum was just a step above reading a book about Martin Luther King Jr. or watching a movie about him. In fact, many of the exhibits are anchored by short video loops. It probably doesn't help that the museum and grounds are not well maintained. The good news is that the King Center is highly accessible, with mass transit, free parking, and free admissions. And the message of peaceful perseverance for civil rights is highly relevant even today. While you're visiting, be sure to check out Ebeneezer Baptist and Dr. King's a short walk away.