Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Start at the visitor center and then work your way around the three main sites in this historic park: the home in which the leader of the Civil Rights movement in America was born, the church where he preached and the memorial site where he is buried. A major Atlanta attraction, the park draws some 500,000 visitors each year.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- Christian PHouston, Texas105 contributionsMust SeeI took my wife to Atlanta for her birthday. The MLK Jr National Historic Site was the highlight of our trip. So much history and so much to learn. We stayed in the area for several hours. It's a free self-guided tour with so much to see. We visited Ebenezer Baptist church and MLK's birth home. On Saturday's you don't need a ticket to visit the birth home. It's an open house guided tour form 10am - noon led by park rangers. The park rangers were knowledgeable and friendly. I learned more about MLK and his family than I ever have.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 24, 2023
- Dean_Amy-2004Gettysburg, Pennsylvania8,399 contributionsSo much to seeBe sure to allow sufficient time for this site. There is so much to see, I ran out of time. The birth house is available for a free tour, but requires advance sign up and space is limited. There is also a ranger talk at the Ebenezer Baptist church. The Kings’ tombs are directly across the street at the King Center. The Park Service has purchased several properties on Auburn Street to preserve the neighborhood as part of the national site. The movie at the visitor center was also very good.Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 25, 2023
- keljopy333Holland, Michigan51 contributionsStop here for a few hours if you have the chanceThe visitor center exhibits were a nicely laid out chronology with lots of information. The Ebenezer church talk was good. The Boyhood home tour was fantastic. The guide on my tour, Morgan, was an excellent storyteller, really making MLK's childhood come alive. This site is definitely worth a visit.Visited November 2023Traveled soloWritten November 13, 2023
- notcarlaLitchfield, Illinois196 contributionsDifficult to find but worth it.The displays were very well done and captured the life of MLK. The parking lot is actually off John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE near Jackson St NE and Boulevard NE. GPS took me all around it. There is a tour of his birth home that you have to reserve at the desk, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church also has a program by the NPS. Allow at least 2 hours. FreeVisited November 2023Traveled soloWritten November 14, 2023
- Miranda108 contributionsVery InformativeWe stopped to see Martin Luther King Jr's birth home. Parking was a little difficult, but we went on a Sunday morning and forgot about the church services. You could not go into the house at this time because they were renovating it. That wasn't a big deal, we could see the outside and the surrounding houses had information to read. We went into the freedom hall and saw some of Martin Luther King JRs, his wife, Ghandi, and Rosa Parks things. Each room had information about each one. The visitor center was closed so we didn't get to see inside. We did pay our respects at MLK Jr and his wife's grave stone. The grounds are beautiful with a lot of information about him and his life and work. Great place to visit.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 11, 2024
- Jason GBaltimore, Maryland703 contributionsWorth ExperiencingDefinitely worth the visit just to try and envision all that happened there. Plenty to see and do. The house talks (since MLK's birth home is being renovated until next year) and talks in the church don't happen very often throughout the day, so if you're trying to plan an itinerary, it might be worth calling ahead to see what the schedules are for the day you'll be there (or just arrive when they first open).Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 2, 2024
- TravelingMamaGlvGlenview, Illinois299 contributionsHope to Return After Birth Home RenovationOur visit to the tomb, visitor center and the ranger talk at Ebenezer Church were very moving and informative. Unfortunately the film was not available that day and the birth home is closed until 2025 for renovations. We also walked around the neighborhood and grabbed lunch at a local eatery.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 4, 2024
- The_Coach55Ruislip, United Kingdom1,310 contributionsFascinating Insight to the Life of a Great ManThe visitor centre is located towards the east side of Atlanta in Auburn Avenue NE. It’s around a mile on foot from the Downtown area of the city. The centre has great collection of photographs, articles and other memorabilia covering the life of Dr. King. It portrays his upbringing and his role in the Civil Rights movement. Events such as the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, the 1963 march on Washington (including the “I have a dream” speech) and the 1965 Selma to Birmingham march are well documented. His murder in Memphis in 1968 where he was campaigning for the rights of sanitation workers is poignantly covered. I wasn’t able to visit the house of his birth as it is currently being renovated. Admission is free.Visited July 2024Traveled soloWritten August 5, 2024
- Dewayne PElizabethtown, Kentucky2,025 contributionsWalking among the footsteps of MLKThis is a spread-out National Park with three main sites along an historic street. The Visitor's Center is a wealth of knowledge about the King family. The birth house is currently under renovation and inaccessible, but there is an informative 'talk" at the gift shop next door. Ebenezer Church had a wonderful presentation lasting around 30 minutes. And the final resting place is a tribute to a man who changed America.Visited August 2024Traveled soloWritten September 2, 2024
- ValleyblueSacramento, California393 contributionsExcellent Site, should be at the top of your listThis is a beautiful setting for this type of tribute. The museum is excellent, the grounds are perfect for strolling. As long as you're walking, be sure to go down the street to Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home (it was closed for renovation but still great to see) and see the historic homes, fire station, and of course the tomb and eternal flame. You'll also see the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Everything is free and it's pretty easy to get to on public transportation. There is no reason not to have this high on your list when visiting Atlanta, it's an important piece of history. After your visit, the walk along the Freedom Path to the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum is a very nice walk, about 40 minutes.Visited September 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 18, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,536 reviews
Excellent
2,490
Very good
823
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181
Poor
34
Terrible
8
dlbemoll
Neptune Beach, FL969 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
This is such a must-see in Atlanta. First of all, there is no entrance fee and it is open everyday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a self-guided tour that you can do at your own pace. We started out at the visiting center. One of my favorite exhibits was Coretta Scott King’s granddaughter describing her grandma. So endearing and loving. Beautiful artifacts and of course the amazing speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King. From there, we went to the Ebenezer Baptist Church, and then to Freedom Hall, and walked to the King Birth Home. We were only able to look at the house from the outside, because the home tour was sold out. You probably can get tickets online, prior to your visit.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jenned17
Conyers, GA1,178 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
I live in Atlanta and regret I never toured this gem before now. What a wonderful exhibit, film, tour of the birth home and Ebenezer Baptist Church—all for free! Go early to the visitors center and get your free tickets to the birth home before the limited number is distributed. Everything is within walking distance. Hearing Dr. King’s voice echo through the speakers in historic Ebenezer Baptist Church while sitting in the original wooden pews is quite an experience. Don’t miss the tombs of Dr. and Mrs. King and take a look through Freedom Hall. Our tour of the birth home was extraordinarily unique. Inside the home during our tour happened to be 88-year-old Mrs. Naomi King (wife of the late A.D. King, who was brother of ML King) and her daughter, Alveda King, who were in town visiting. They both shared memories of the home with us and words of love, peace and acceptance. It was a wonderful experience that left all in our tour in awe and emotional—quite a blessing! Go. You won’t regret it and will walk away with renewed appreciation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sumaksito
Houston, TX55 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Beautiful, well-maintained park with rose gardens that houses a visitors center where people can learn some details about the life of MLK Jr. The park museum focuses primarily on the civil rights movements before and after Dr. King, and the displays include photos, video testimonials, artwork, and memorabilia. The carriage that was used to carry Dr. King’s body after his assassination is also on display. This visitor’s center is small, but it contains unique images and depictions, as well as first-hand accounts of people who had endured the civil rights movements in the 60s. Worthwhile place to visit, one among many points of interest in the area pertaining to Dr. King and his legacy.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lottelli
Wirral, UK2,932 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
It is set up really nicely where there’s the museum, resting place, fire station, church and birth house all within a short stroll of each other.
The museum I enjoyed but it was quite busy. They have different parts about each part of Martin Luther kings life which also includes a video. The videos are really good but it meant everyone was stood in front of the displays so it made it hard to read.
His house where he lived was nice to see (you can go inside but you need to book onto a tour). The fire station was good and the final resting place was peaceful.
There is a big car park available for free opposite the museum.
The museum I enjoyed but it was quite busy. They have different parts about each part of Martin Luther kings life which also includes a video. The videos are really good but it meant everyone was stood in front of the displays so it made it hard to read.
His house where he lived was nice to see (you can go inside but you need to book onto a tour). The fire station was good and the final resting place was peaceful.
There is a big car park available for free opposite the museum.
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josué González
Puerto Rico32 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
To follow the path of the Social Liberties in the US you must visit this site. History, memorabilia, recordings of Dr. Kings speaches and all what compromises the civil rights are here. Visitor's Center, Ebenezer Church, Hall of Freedom, The eternal flame, Dr. King's and Correta's Scott King's tombs, the Auburn Firehouse and Dr. King's birthplace house are a mus in your visit.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
genglertNorfolk_VA
Norfolk, VA172 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
There are exhibits directed to both adults and children.I ways especially interested in his time in Birmingham, and in Atlanta.
We were fortunate to obtain tickets (they are free, but limited in number) to tour Dr. King’s birthplace, which is a short walk away from the visitors center. This is a guided tour, and I hope you are fortunate enough to get Ranger H. Carr, Jr. as we did. He is an excellent guide,full of facts, and able to help relate them to life today. He has a great sense of humor, and a way of keeping the touring guests engaged.
We were fortunate to obtain tickets (they are free, but limited in number) to tour Dr. King’s birthplace, which is a short walk away from the visitors center. This is a guided tour, and I hope you are fortunate enough to get Ranger H. Carr, Jr. as we did. He is an excellent guide,full of facts, and able to help relate them to life today. He has a great sense of humor, and a way of keeping the touring guests engaged.
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OceanJane
Northport, NY32 contributions
Nov 2019
I'm very interested in history so this was a must do when I visited Atlanta. We really enjoyed exploring the MLK, Jr. National Historic Park. The museum was excellent-we spent about an hour looking at the exhibits. The park ranger who ran our tour was fantastic. He was knowledgable, humorous and a true ambassador for this historic site. The time flew by! The National Park Service should be commended for their management of this site. Thank you!
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RRK41003
Bethesda, MD12 contributions
Mar 2022
We were not able to enter the building to them being closed still because of covid, but we enjoyed very much seeing the grounds and the Peace Garden which we were told will be in full beautiful blossom by early May. We walked all around on a quiet Sunday morning, and enjoyed seeing the burial site of MLK Jr. and Mrs. King, as well as the new and old Ebenezer Church, and reading all the beautiful quotes that line the walls. It felt like we were in a very special historic place.
Written March 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah L
5 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
I have been thinking a lot about my visit to the various MLK spots (ebenezer, birth home and eternal flame) and I am just plain saddened by it. I brought my 8-yo daughter down from Virginia after studying his life at home in honor of MLK day and I drove home in tears. Not because of the actual places associated with Dr. King, but because of how terrible every square block surrounding these tourist spots are. I saw countless homeless people, city blocks filled with tents and old mattresses. I even saw a homeless person naked (in January), I had to have my daughter cover her eyes. I am saddened even writing this. Come on Atlanta, you can do better for your people in honor of this great human being.
Written February 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan L
Willesden, UK440 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
A must visit stop on any visit to Atlanta. This historic site tells the story of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. in such an elegant way. From the museum itself to Dr King’s home, the history and black rights movement comes through everywhere. I left with a greater respect for black rights, and the wider movement.
Written October 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any Park Ranger talks at any of the sites? I know the Birth Home is closed right now, but was wondering if they give any talks at places like the Visitor's Center or the Ebenezer Baptist Church?
Written January 16, 2024
They have talks at both those locations, and many park rangers around to speak with as well. Definitely worth the visit.
Written January 17, 2024
Que figura utiliza para explicar los derechos que tiene la población negra?
Written August 13, 2021
Do I need to arrive well before the visitors center opens to get tickets for the tour? How early if so? Are there open house hours to see the house on a self guided tour? Planning to visit either the afternoon of Sat 3/21 or morning of Sun 3/22. We have limited time so we can’t wait all day for our slot. If the chances of getting morning tickets are slim we may just opt to do the self guided tour outside.
Written March 9, 2020
Unless there has been a recent change, there is no advance booking of home tours, either by phone or online. You must show up in person at the visitor center to get tickets and reserve a time slot. Arrive a few minutes before opening during the off season.
HOWEVER.....
It is completely possible, even likely, that because of the COVID-19 situation that NO home tours are being offered. Be prepared for disappointment. You might have even cancelled your vacation already.
Written March 18, 2020
How is the overall area of the Hisotrical Park? Does it feel safe? I've read some reviews about there being a handful of homeless and panhandlers around the area. Not that I'm personally really bothered by it, but just asking because I will be visiting Atlanta in April and it's more because my parents are kind of the paranoid type.
Written February 27, 2020
Hi! I was last November. I was the only one participant of the walking tour, so we were two women and I felt safe. Yes, you see some homeless people around, but the tour guide (sorry forgot her name 😞) was keeping very calm and ignoring them , so nobody bothered us.
I highly reccomend taking this tour, gave me sich much better understanding how big MLK was, as a man, as an activist.
Written February 28, 2020
How early should I be at the Visitor Center on a Sunday morning to get tickets for my family of 4 to tour MLK's Birth Home?
Written March 15, 2019
As early as possible, Sunday can be very busy and tours can book rather quickly. It closes at 5pm
Written March 17, 2019
Are dogs allowed here? They are for sure allowed in the outside areas right?
Written March 7, 2019
Outside, absolutely. You can see the landmarks and get a feel for the neighborhood. Only service dogs inside. There is a nearby dog park too (Freedom Barkway). Dogs are welcome at Park on the Tavern too, where you can grab a bite and a drink. There are two dog parks there as well (Piedmont Park).
Written March 7, 2019
Are dogs allowed here? They are for sure allowed in the outside areas right?
Written March 7, 2019
No, not on the site outside of the grounds yes
Written March 8, 2019
Do you have to book a tour to see the outside of the house, the cemetery, and, the church?
Written September 22, 2018
No, you don’t have to book a tour. You can visit these places on your own.
Written September 22, 2018
How early do people typically start queuing for spots on the home tour? Is 8:45am too late?
Written February 4, 2018
No it isn’t. As soon as you arrive check in at the desk and sign up for the home tour. It’ll probably be within 1-2 hours. You can spend that time visiting the exhibits, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the fire station where MLK spent time as a youth.
Written February 5, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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