Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Visitors from across the Unites States travel to Atlanta, King’s hometown, to honor the legacy of his work. We invite you to look back at how we arrived at this moment in history.

We believe that there are, indeed, singular and extraordinary historical moments—but we also know that there are countless events in the past that can teach and inspire us. We are excited to share with you some stories of Atlantans who have proven courageous, creative, and steadfast in the face of adversity.

The deaths of Atlanta’s own Constance “Connie” Curry, Congressman John Lewis, and Reverend C.T. Vivian signal the ongoing passage of responsibility to those of us who are making history today. The legacies of these three key figures of the Civil Rights Movement live on in the works of contemporary Atlantans.

After engaging in over 60 years of activism and service to the Atlanta community, prominent Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis has died.

Black soldiers have served this country since the Revolutionary War and their stories are vital in creating a more complete, more accurate picture of America’s past.

In August 2020, we commemorate the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment which guaranteed American women the right to vote. However, this was not an inclusive victory.

In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison’s emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson’s moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.

March is a first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation.

Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history.

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow explores the African American struggle for full citizenship and racial equality that unfolded in the 50 years following the Civil War.

Since 2013 Atlanta History Center has hosted an annual Juneteenth commemoration that connects visitors to this essential moment in national history through a weekend of free programming.

Performance based interpretation is one of our primary tools to introduce our visitors to important historical events, narratives, and individuals that have impacted the world in which we live.

Our Time is Now. In conversation with WABE’s Denis O’Hayer.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. In conversation with Jon Meacham.

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope. In conversation with Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice.