Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Activity Overview

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is one of the most recent additions to the National Mall, a national park in the heart of Washington, D.C. that is the home of several national landmarks, museums, and memorials. This beautiful memorial dedicated to Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was first opened in 2011. Its features include its Inscription Wall and its symbolic Mountain of Despair and Stone of Hope. It is an especially important memorial because it is the first monument to honor an African-American on the National Mall.

Things to Do

• Read the fourteen famous quotations by Martin Luther King, Jr. that are inscribed on the Inscription Wall, which focus on the themes of justice, democracy, hope, and love.
• View the symbolic Mountain of Despair and Stone of Hope, which were inspired by a line in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
• Visit the sculpture of Dr. King on the Stone of Hope, which features two more famous quotations on its sides.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Insider Tips

• When you've finished exploring the memorial, consider visiting other important memorials and monuments along the National Mall such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, or the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
• If you like art, check out the nearby National Gallery of Art, one of the finest art collections in the world, which is free to the public.
• The easiest way to reach the memorial is by taking the Metrorail to the Smithsonian station. From there, it's just a short walk to the memorial.