Atlanta History Attractions - 3

Civil Rights and Martin Luther King, Jr.

While GWTW presents a romanticized view of the Deep South, Atlanta also recalls the more recent struggles of the Civil Rights movement. Progressive leadership helped Atlanta avoid the era’s strife and violence, and “The City Too Busy to Hate” became the capital of the New South that grew from the ashes of segregation.

The life and legacy of Atlanta civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. are preserved at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The “Sweet Auburn” district includes King’s birth home on Auburn Avenue; Ebenezer Baptist Church, where three generations of the King family preached; the King Visitor Center; and the burial sites of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta. (Note: Historic Ebenezer Baptist is being restored and will reopen by mid-2009.) Auburn is also home to the APEX Museum, which recounts and interprets history from an African-American perspective.

 

• Visit the birthplace of Martin Luther King in the Auburn District of Atlanta.

Courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development

There are several options for exploring the area. The Atlanta Preservation Center gives walking tours of the Sweet Auburn district. Rent a hand-held GPS at the firehouse and travel at your own place. Or, download an iPod tour—narrated by King associate and former mayor Andrew Young—through the Center for Civil & Human Rights Partnership.

Whether you’re interested in the Civil Rights movement or the Civil War, you’ll need a car to explore the history of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Rest assured: you’ll find the unique attractions are worth the drive.