Dr Martin Luther King Memorial Washington DC

Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Washington DC

Our self guided tour of the National Mall took us to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial after the DC War Memorial.  Now, I didn’t realize that there was one more memorial, the Korean War Memorial, in the National Mall that we hadn’t yet seen.

We crossed the street because we happened upon a crosswalk.  So we went ahead and crossed over to the Tidal Basin side of the road.  It was at that point that my son pointed out that we still had the Korean War Memorial.  I told him we’d get it on the way back to the car.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was the first stop on the Tidal Basin side.  As we approached, I didn’t really know what we were seeing.  But after we arrived, it was evident, so we talked about Dr. King and his speech.  We discussed how he impacted our country and why he’s still honored today.

Personally, I found it pretty amazing that a sculptor could get such accurate detail from a huge rock.  Mad props to that talent.

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About Dr Martin Luther King Memorial Washington DC

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial consists of three granite pieces standing 30-feet high.  The memorial was designed by Lei Yixin so that visitors pass through the “Mountain of Despair” to symbolize the struggles that Dr. King faced during his lifetime.

After passing through, you arrive at the “Stone of Hope” which has a figure of Martin Luther King carved into it.  Reverend King was the face of non-violent activism during the Civil Rights Movement.  He is recognized internationally for his determination to end racial discrimination and segregation.

His memorial is the newest addition to the National Mall collection of memorials.  It was dedicated on October 16, 2011, which was the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March of 1995 in Washington DC.

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.”

Dr. King refocused his efforts toward ending poverty and the Vietnam War toward the end of his life.  He was named Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1963 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.  Sadly, he was assassinated in 1968.  This memorial exemplifies his fundamental values during his quest for freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all.

Located near the National Mall at 1964 Independence Avenue SW, the memorial is free to visit and open 24/7/365.  Phone: (202) 426-6841.

Summary

By this point in the trip, it’s safe to say that straying from our Roadtrippers itinerary was the best decision we made on this trip.

We spent a few minutes walking around this memorial and reading the inscriptions.  What a nice memorial.

I definitely recommend stopping by and visiting this memorial if you’re in the area.

Have you been there?  I’d love to hear what you thought of it.  How has Dr. King impacted your life?

Please drop a few lines in the comments box below and let me know how your visit went.

In the meantime, safe travels!

~Kris M.

P.S.  If you happen to use travel journals, be sure to check out the travel journal I created for my future Washington DC Road Trips.

Written by Kris M.