Moving, Memorable, Martin Luther King Memorial (Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial)

Member Name: timdouglas

Product:	Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Date:	07/04/01 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everlasting memory

Disadvantages: Could be better transport to it

My visit to Atlanta in 1996 was primarily to watch the Olympics, and there's so much sport you don't get the time to do the regular touristy things. This one attraction, however, the resting place and memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is rewarding enough that I can recommend it to you even if you are only changing planes in Atlanta!

The man is, in my opinion, an icon - perhaps one of the five most important people to have lived in the 20th century. He was a man of the cloth, but believe me when I say you don't have to be religious to appreciate a visit to his memorial and to bring something back that will stay with you forever. I'm not kidding when I say you can make the visit while changing planes, so long as you have three or four hours to spare, since the MARTA train line links the airport with a station quite close to the site, with a regular shuttle bus from the MARTA station.

The people of Atlanta have built a memorial worthy of the man, just a few steps from the house where he was born, the churches where he first prayed and later preached, and the home where he raised his family. You can visit all of these if you have an extra couple of hours. At the main memorial site there's a resource centre which is continuing his research work, where the staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. There's also an obligatory souvenir shop, which is thankfully not at all tacky and a reflection of the dignity of the man who's memory it raises money to maintain.

The most moving part, for me, was the tomb. Located outdoors, built of glistening marble and set on a plinth surrounded by peaceful water, in a courtyard with a covered walkway in honour of all the countries of the world who appreciated Dr. King's work and mourned his passing. I sat for an hour in quiet reflection about the importance of Dr. King's life, the brutality of his death and the potential the world has been denied.

The
memorial is about a mile and a half to the east of downtown Atlanta, in the heart of the area which seems as disadvantaged today as it was when Dr. King lived and worked there. We decided to walk back to town slowly, passing people who seemed to understand Dr. King's message, they were so friendly and welcoming. As we walked further, however, we re-entered the real world and suddenly realised the walk was not the smartest thing we had done that day. On the other hand, perhaps it was part of the lesson of the experience, to remember that there is much still to do to continue his work. Is Dr. King's influence now limited to the six blocks around his memorial? I hope not.

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