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National Park Service Plans To Partially Re-open Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site In Early 2017

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Published Date

December 5, 2016

Repairs to the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr., should be completed in time to re-open the home in mid-January/NPS photo

After temporarily closing the childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August for safety reasons, the National Park Service is optimistic that the first floor will be repaired and re-opened in time for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  holiday weekend in January.

In August, a crack was discovered in the sub-floor of the Birth Home at Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, which caused the first floor of the century-old house to sag. Upon a thorough assessment, it was determined that the entire floor was in danger of structural failure. As such, public tours of the home were suspended and the building was temporarily closed until a plan could be put in place to ensure public safety and preserve the historic integrity of the building. The home, built in 1895, is a vital resource of the park and is a popular attraction for visitors. 

The National Park Service has completed a repair plan and anticipates re-opening the first floor of the home in time for the annual events surrounding the January 16 federal holiday designated to celebrate the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader. In the meantime, the Park Service is conducting a comprehensive assessment of other repairs needed for the entire structure. Based on those findings, plans will be developed to address all other structural issues.

“We are hopeful that the first floor of the Auburn Avenue home can re-open in January in time for King Week,” said Superintendent Judy Forte. “We are also excited that a full condition assessment of the entire home is scheduled so that we can ensure the preservation and protection of this national treasure for future generations.”

While the Birth Home is being repaired, the park will to offer visitors several other opportunities within the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site to learn about Dr. King’s early life. A virtual ranger-led presentation of his Birth Home, the "Birth Home Story," is available to guide visitors back to the time of Dr. King's childhood in the Sweet Auburn community, where he was born and raised for the first 12 years of his life.

Visitors may also view large photos of the interior of the Birth Home at the Eastern National Museum Store (497 Auburn Avenue), enjoy the outdoor wayside exhibits along the Birth Home block to learn more about the Sweet Auburn neighborhood, and watch a 20-minute film, “The Birth Home Story,” at the visitor center. Other significant locations include the Historic Fire Station No. 6, the King Center (including Freedom Hall and the gravesites of Dr. and Mrs. King), and the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Dr. King.

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