On a clear blue November 4th morning, Marty A. Smith, Chief of Interpretation, led a group organized by The Heritage Ministry and September Month Club of Ebenezer Baptist Church on a tour of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s childhood home on Auburn Avenue. Smith started conducting tours with the MLK National Historic Park in 1991 under the guidance of the late Dr. Christine Farris King. A local to the area and a member of Ebenezer, Smith told us stories about a young King like the one of the missing C key on the piano in the parlor; the hole in the bush in the front of the house; and the baby doll in the bedroom.Â
Mrs. Coretta Scott King helped facilitate the relationship with the National Park Service to preserve the neighborhood and restore it back to the way it looked in the 1930s. Interestingly, the home is not owned by the King family, but Robert Smith purchased the home and gave it back to the federal government for preservation purposes. Now under the care of the Federal Government, The National Park Service, and our tax dollars, we are responsible for protecting and preserving the home a King was born in.
Dr. King Jr.'s childhood home, Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia
Richard DuCree, Chair of Heritage Ministry with Marty A. Smith, Chief of Interpretation
Windy Radical ready to leave the group at the end of the tour.
Fun Facts:Â
Reverend Williams bought this house in 1909 for $3,500. Â
Mrs. Alberta Williams King put everything back to the period of when Dr. King’s childhood using a Sears catalog.
The King Family attended Spelman and Morehouse.Â
Dr. King Jr. and Dr. Christine Farris King were born in this home.
The King Home will be closed to tours for the next 2 years for renovations.
Special Thanks to
Richard DuCree
Tiffany ParksÂ
Dr. Marva Carter Griffin
Tameka Robinson Bell
Ms. Donna of the September Club