if you’re visiting Atlanta soon or just want to take in some Martin Luther King Jr.-related history on Auburn Avenue, you’d better hurry. The birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is set to be close for up to two years due to renovations, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
The home, a Queen Anne style structure, is set to close to the public on Nov. 27, 2023, the NPS said in a press release.
Some of the work that needs to be done on the home includes interior wall replacement, adding a crawlspace, exterior painting, driveway, window and door repairs and more.
The NPS bought the King home in December 2018 and has been charged with its upkeep ever since.
How Touring The MLK Birth Home Works
The park ranger-led tour is free and lasts approximately 30 minutes during which time you will learn about the life of a young MLK.
The home is typically open for tours on a daily basis, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, with the first tour at 10:00 am and the last tour at 4:00 p.m. Tours are limited to 15 people.
Here is some history on the MLK birth home that some may not know.
What Was MLK’s Birth Home Built?
The MLK birth home was built in 1895 by a white family. In 1909, the two-story frame was bought by the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams, who was pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Williams paid $3,500.
The Rev. Williams lived in the home with his wife Jennie Celeste and their 6-year-old daughter Alberta Christine.
On November 25, 1926, Christine wed Michael Luther King at her father’s church. The couple would move into Christine’s parents’ home.
Over time the Kings would have three children born in the home, Willie Christine, Michael Jr. (later known as Martin Luther King, Jr.), and Alfred Daniel.
In 1968, MLK Ir. would be assassinated outside a Memphis hotel. His mother Alberta would be killed years after her son.