The Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church

There are two Ebenezer Baptist Churches along Auburn Ave., one is the church exactly located at 400 Auburn Ave. built in 1999, and is currently an active church, and the other one (historic Ebenezer Baptist Church) which is at 407 Auburn Ave., and is now used as a heritage sanctuary, and a tourist attraction.

The new church building at 400 Auburn Ave. is the new Ebenezer Church which is the horizon sanctuary and is not open for tours. It is open to all visitors who want to attend Sunday services though.

The historic Ebenezer Baptist Church has a long, rich history and has been a popular place visited by many tourists due to the fact that MLK (Martin Luther King) Jr.'s life has mostly revolved in this church including his father. Jr. became as a co-pastor in 1960 while his father was the pastor. It was also in this church where MLK Jr.'s funeral was held when he died in 1968.

In 2001, the National Park Service began the restoration which will be completed in 2 phases.

The first phase restoration was done costing to $1,885.000 which included installation of major electrical, heating and air conditioning and fire suppression. Exterior renovations were also done such as the Ebenezer sign that was repaired and lit in 1990, and structural repairs were also made to the roof system as well. The 2nd phase has yet to be determined.

MLK Jr.'s National Historic & Grave Site Tour

Several blocks somewhere in Atlanta neighborhood is a place of history worth visiting about MLK Jr.'s birth home, the historical Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served a pastor, and his grave site.

MLK Jr.'s birth home.

I was able to tour the neighborhood, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance to tour inside his home, which is located at Auburn Ave. His birth home is a 2-storey Queen Anne style house at a neighborhood known as "Sweet Auburn."

The historical Ebenezer Baptist Church where his father and him became as its pastors is a short walking distance from his home which is at the corner of Auburn Ave. and Jackson St.

The church was constructed in 1914 and was completely done by 1922. It is a red brick 3-story building made of stone with stained glass window groupings. Not far from the church is MLK Jr.'s Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. which shows King's works and legacy. In here is where you can see the Freedom Hall too.

At the east of Ebenezer Baptist Church is a cleared lot occupying King's grave site unto Blvd. St. Then, a memorial park was constructed around the marble crypt in 1976.

In 1977, MLK Jr.'s grave site in South View Cemetery was moved in this dedicated tomb. The tomb used to be surrounded by bricks and by a plaza with an arch-covered walkway and later on replaced by a reflecting pool.

MLK Jr.'s tomb was later joined by his wife Coretta's tomb when she died in 2006.