Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is a featured stop on my Waterfront Walk Tour route.​

​The official dedication for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial took place on October 16th, 2011. 

The original dedication, postponed due to Hurricane Irene was scheduled for Sunday, August 28, 2011 on the 48th anniversary of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream Speech" which was delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. 

The centerpiece of the memorial  is a 30 ft 9 inch granite relief of Dr. King, a "Stone of Hope."  This  "Stone of Hope" stands past two huge granite boulders symbolizing "The Mountain of Despair."  The  "Stone of Hope" and "Mountain of Despair" are both references from his "I Have a Dream Speech." A 450 ft  inscription wall features fourteen inspirational and moving quotes from Dr. King's speeches, sermons, and writings.

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The four acre memorial is located on the northwest shore of the Tidal Basin at the intersection of West Basin Dr. and Independence Ave. SW. The address is 1964 Independence Ave. SW. The main entrance is off of Independence Ave. Visitors can also approach the memorial from the path that surrounds the Tidal Basin. The memorial sits on a "line of leadership" from the Lincoln Memorial to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

NOTE: For all of the information regarding the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, I recommend that you check out the Memorial's National Park Service website at  http://www.nps.gov/mlkm/index.htm

For additional info on visiting Dr. King's Memorial go to https://washington.org/visit-dc/martin-luther-king-jr-memorial