Memorials to Martin Luther King Jr. facts for kids
Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He worked hard for equal rights for all people, no matter their skin color. Because of his amazing work and his dream of a fair world, many places around the globe have created memorials to honor him. These memorials help us remember his message of peace and equality.
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Remembering Dr. King in the United States
Many places across the United States have special memorials to honor Dr. King. These include statues, parks, and even buildings named after him.
The National Memorial in Washington, D.C.
One of the most famous memorials is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.. It's on the National Mall, a very important area where many national monuments are located. Dr. King was the first African American and only the fourth person who wasn't a president to have his own memorial there.
The idea for this memorial started in 1996. A group called Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, which Dr. King was a part of, helped raise money and design it. The memorial officially opened in August 2011. Its address, 1964 Independence Avenue, reminds us of the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law. This law was a huge step towards equal rights for all Americans.
Other Important U.S. Memorials
- The Landmark for Peace Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a special place for reflection.
- King County, Washington, changed its name in 1986 to honor Dr. King. In 2007, they even changed their logo to show his face!
- The main government building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is named after Dr. King.
- Dr. King's childhood home in Atlanta, Georgia, and other nearby buildings are now part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. This park helps people learn about his early life.
- A statue of Dr. King's head and shoulders was placed in the United States Capitol in 1986. It shows him in a calm, thoughtful pose.
- The first words of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech are carved into the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. This is the exact spot where he gave that powerful speech. These five lines were added in 2003, 40 years after the historic march.
- The Homage to King sculpture and the Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. are both located in Atlanta, Georgia.
- The Dream sculpture can be found in Portland, Oregon.
- The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge crosses a river in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. This is the place where Dr. King sadly passed away.
- Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma, Alabama, is an important historical site from the Civil Rights Movement.
- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the first public park in the U.S. dedicated to Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. It has a life-size statue of him and a large stone monument honoring local civil rights leaders.
- A bust of Dr. King has been displayed in the White House since 2000. Another copy is at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- In Norfolk, Virginia, there's an 83-foot-tall granite obelisk (a tall, thin monument) honoring Dr. King.
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco is a unique memorial behind a large waterfall. It features parts of Dr. King's speeches etched into glass in different languages.
Honoring Dr. King Around the World
Dr. King's message of peace and justice reached far beyond the United States. Many countries around the world also have memorials to remember him.
- In Uppsala, Sweden, there's a park called "Martin Luther Kings plan" with an art piece named Befrielsen (which means Liberation).
- The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Church is located in Debrecen, Hungary.
- The King-Luthuli Transformation Center can be found in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Forest is in Israel's Southern Galilee region.
- The Martin Luther King Jr. School is in Accra, Ghana.
- The Gandhi-King Plaza, a garden, is at the India International Center in New Delhi, India.
- A statue of Dr. King is one of ten statues of important 20th-century figures on the outside of Westminster Abbey in London, UK.
- There is also a Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. (Mexico City) in Mexico City.
Images for kids
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Martin Luther King Jr. Street at Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem.
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The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Yerba Buena Gardens.
