Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. (Atlanta) facts for kids
Martin Luther King Jr. statue (2020)
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 Location in Downtown Atlanta
Location in Atlanta
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 33°44′57″N 84°23′15″W / 33.74917°N 84.38750°W |
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| Location | Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Designer | Martin Dawe |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze Granite (pedestal) |
| Height | 8 ft (2.4 m) (plus 3 ft (0.91 m) pedestal) |
| Dedicated to | Martin Luther King Jr. |
The Martin Luther King Jr. statue is a special public monument in Atlanta, Georgia. It honors Martin Luther King Jr., a famous leader who worked for civil rights. He fought for equal rights for all people. This statue was created by artist Martin Dawe. It was first shown to the public in 2017. You can find it at the Georgia State Capitol, looking over Liberty Plaza.
Contents
How the Statue Came to Be
Planning the Monument
In February 2014, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a law. This law allowed for a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. to be built. It would stand on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.
The next year, Governor Deal chose two State Representatives. Their names were Calvin Smyre and Joe Wilkinson. They worked with the King family to plan the statue.
Choosing the Artist
Later in 2015, a sculptor named Andy Davis was picked. He was from McDonough, Georgia. The statue was expected to take about six to seven months to make. The cost was estimated to be $350,000. A Georgia law said that no public money could be used. So, private donations covered the cost.
Andy Davis hoped to finish the statue by Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January 2016. Sadly, the project stopped when Davis passed away. He died in a motorcycle crash in July 2015. Before his death, Davis had made some great sketches for the statue.
In June 2016, a new artist was chosen. He was Martin Dawe from Atlanta. Dawe based his design on a photo of King. In the photo, King was walking with Bayard Rustin during the Montgomery bus boycott. Dawe wanted King to look hopeful, not too serious. He wanted the statue to show King "stepping off," like a new beginning.
The statue was finished in 2017. The final cost was $300,000. This money came from several groups. These included the Georgia Building Authority and The Coca-Cola Company.
The Unveiling Day
The statue was officially shown to the public on August 28, 2017. This date was special. It was the 54th anniversary of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Many important people were there. Several members of King's family also attended.
Governor Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed spoke. King's daughter, Bernice King, and his sister, Christine King Farris, were also there.
The statue was unveiled after a replica of the Liberty Bell rang. This bell is in nearby Liberty Plaza. This statue is the second time King has been honored at the Capitol. An oil portrait of him was placed there in 1970.
About the Statue's Design
The Martin Luther King Jr. statue is made of bronze. It stands on a granite pedestal. The letters "MLK" are carved in gold on the front of the pedestal.
The statue itself is 8 feet (2.4 m) tall. The pedestal adds another 3 feet (0.91 m) to its height. The statue faces east. It looks out over Liberty Plaza and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Before this statue, a Korean War memorial was in the same spot. It was moved before the King statue was built.
