The home remained in the King family until 1984, when they sold it to the National Park Service.
Martin Luther King, Jr. lived in this home with his parents, grandparents, and siblings until 1941.
The house was built in 1895 and is representative of the middle-class housing once common in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood.
The interior layout features the 'long room,' which served as the primary living space for the multi-generational family.
The home is one of several buildings in the district that were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
The Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a Queen Anne-style house where the civil rights leader was born in 1929 and lived until age twelve. Located in the Sweet Auburn historic district, it serves as the centerpiece of a multi-site National Historical Park. The property was purchased by the National Park Service in 1984 to preserve its mid-20th-century character. Guided tours of the interior are the only way to view the home, providing a glimpse into the King family's domestic life. The surrounding neighborhood, once a hub of Black-owned businesses, remains central to understanding King’s upbringing. The site is managed alongside the nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center. Visitors can see the original front porch and reconstructed interior period furnishings. The home remains a touchstone for the American Civil Rights Movement.
From the sidewalk directly in front of the house to capture the front facade and the historic wrap-around porch.
Check availability at the National Park Service visitor center immediately upon arrival, as interior tours are limited and granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Allow extra time to explore the surrounding National Historical Park, which includes King's final resting place and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Bring a hat and water, as waiting areas for tours are largely outdoors.
Do not arrive late in the afternoon, as daily tour capacity often sells out hours before closing.
The home occasionally closes for structural maintenance and restoration work; always verify status on the official NPS website before visiting.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; photography is permitted in the yard, but specific rules apply to the interior.
