The Birthplace

Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Historic Site and
Preservation District

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

For his first twelve years Martin Luther King, Jr.,
lived in the comfortable middle-class home across
from you. Two things distinguished the King
household: a strong sense of family and the
ever-presence of religion. Bad behavior often met
a stern response; good behavior received a warm
embrace. Evening meals always waited until
"Daddy King" came home. Prayer and scripture
readings punctuated each day.

"Daddy King's" status as pastor at Ebenezer
and strong maternal influences ensured a stable
and secure upbringing for the King children.
While the anguish caused by the Depression swirled
all around them, the Kings lived comfortably—
their home and church a neighborhood mainstay.

The King Family (below, left), about 1938. Front, left to right: Alvin (Ded) King, Christina, and Martin. Standing, Martin's mother Alberta Williams King, Martin Luther King, Sr., and grandmother Jessie Williams, who lived with the family until her death in 1941.

Dr. King returned often to his
neighborhood—here with fans
of his own children, Martin III
and Yolanda (below, right).
The home was closed by
The King Crew in 1971,
it opened to the public in 1975.

"My mother and father went
out of their way to provide
everything for their
children. ...I went right
on through school; I never
had to drop out to work
or anything. And you know,
I was about to conclude
that life had been
wrapped up for me in
a Christmas package."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 27, 1967

The Birthplace

"Daddy King's" status as pastor at Ebenezer and strong maternal influences ensured a stable and secure upbringing for the King children. While the anguish caused by the Depression swirled all around them, the Kings lived comfortably — their home and church a neighborhood mainstay.

The King Family (below, left), about 1939. Front, left to right: Alfred Daniel (A.D.), Christine, and Martin. Standing: Martin's mother Alberta Williams King, Martin Luther King, Sr., and grandmother Jennie Williams, who lived with the family until her death in 1941.

Dr. King returned often to his
neighborhood—here with two
of his own children, Martin III
and Yolanda (below, right).
The home was acquired by
The King Center in 1971,
it opened to the public in 1975.

Reclaiming the Past

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site
includes more than just Dr. King's birthplace.
It also preserves some of the places King knew
as a youth. This house — 522 Auburn Avenue —
is an example of those preservation efforts.

It was once home to two of Atlanta's most
important black business leaders. Rev. Peter
James Bryant, pastor of the influential
Wheat Street Baptist Church and associate
editor of the magazine *Voice of the Negro*,
lived here from 1915 until the late 1920s.
In the 1930s and 1940s, this was home to
Antoine Graves, who eventually became the
most successful black realtor in Atlanta.

Preservation work begun in 1982
helped restore some of Auburn
Avenue's Victorian splendor.
The work done here is typical of
the preservation efforts throughout
the neighborhood surrounding
Dr. King's birthplace.