Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial was dedicated in 2011 and is located in Washington DC and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

The memorial was sculpted from pink granite by Chinese artist Master Lei Yixin. The memorial depicts MLK as a "Stone of Hope" emerging from a "Mountain of Despair". These words are from his "I have a dream" speech.

There are four tenets inscribed around the memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that distill his ideas and his legacy: democracy, justice, love, and Hope.

Quotations engraved on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

There are 16 quotations at the Martin Luther King Junior Memorial. Two are located on the statue including "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."
From the "I Have A Dream" speech in Washington, DC on August 28, 1963.

Six more quotes are on the South Wall including my personal favorite from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr' "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
Strength to Love, 1963.

Eight more quotes are located on the North Wall including "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Strength to Love, 1963.

MLK statue stands 30 feet tall and is shown with his arms crossed looking towards the horizon. When you visit the memorial you enter through the Mountain of Despair to reach the Stone of Hope. This entrance is symbolic of the struggle for equal rights and the obstacles Mr. King overcame during his life.

The memorial also includes a wall with quotes from Mr. King.

Martin Luther King Jr's Achievements

This memorial honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the key players in the civil rights movement in the United States. He fought for equal rights from the mid-1950s up until his death in 1968. He helped break down the walls of segregation that existed from the days just after the Civil War with the passage of Jim Crow Laws and segregation.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's work led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. His work led to him receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and his commitment to achieving racial justice through non-violent action.

In 1956, Martin Luther King was given the Alpha Award of Honor for “Christian leadership in the cause of first-class citizenship for all mankind” at the 50th-anniversary convention of Alpha Phi Alpha. This was one of Dr. King's happiest moments!

After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's death, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and a Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.

Things to know when planning a trip to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Where is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Located?

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is located along the Tidal Pool Basin at the National Park Mall. It is also located near the spot where Dr. King gave the famous "I have a dream" speech, part of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The Tidal Basin is flooded with visitors to Washington D.C. every year in the spring for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The Japanese Cherry Trees commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City to the city of Washington, D.C.

Address

1850 West Basin Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024

GPS Coordinates: 38.886298, -77.044415

The nearest metro stop is Smithsonian.

Park Hours: The park is open 24 hours a day

Entrance Fees: There is no fee to visit the park

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. There is no specific visitor center for the memorial.

A bookstore is located near the memorial, offering a wide variety of products to commemorate your visit and learn more.

The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Junior Ranger program is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks Junior Ranger Program.

Additional National Parks with ties to Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historical Park, Georgia

Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Alabama

Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

Private Monuments Tour in Washington - If you have limited time, this three-hour trip will hit some of the capital highlights, including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Iwo Jima Memorial and Museum, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Arlington Cemetary, and the Washington National Cathedral.

No-Wait Washington Monument direct entry tickets & guidebook - Get your ticket mailed to you to go to the top of the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. without waiting in hours-long line to get tickets. You will have a brief security line to pass through with your timed entry pass.

Best of D.C. plus US Capitol and National Archives Reserved Entry - Epic 8.5-hour tour that includes priority entry into the US Capitol Building, White House, National WW2 Memorial, Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial(pass by), Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Georgetown, The Pentagon, Lincoln Memorial, Korean Veterans War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and ending at the National Archives Museum(with admission ticket included). Wow, now that's a tour!

Where to stay when visiting Washington DC

There are no National Park Lodges in Washington DC.

Lodging near the Lincoln Memorial includes:

Fairmont Washington, D.C - This aparthotel features an indoor pool, a restaurant, and a health club. Other amenities include a bar/lounge, a sauna, and Wi-Fi in public areas. Each apartment offers Wi-Fi, an iPod dock, and an LCD TV with cable channels. Added amenities include 24-hour room service, wired Internet, and premium bedding.

Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill - 4-star hotel near National Mall. Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill is located close to Union Station Shopping Center and United States Capitol and provides dry cleaning/laundry services, a bar, and a gym. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a conference center and a restaurant.

Riggs Washington DC - 5-star luxury hotel. Close to Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Riggs Washington DC provides a terrace, a garden, and dry cleaning/laundry services. The onsite American cuisine brasserie, Café Riggs, features brunch and light fare. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a bar and a 24-hour health club.

Courtyard by Marriott Washington, DC - Located in Washington (Foggy Bottom), Courtyard by Marriott Washington, DC/Foggy Bottom is within a 15-minute walk of George Washington University and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This hotel is 0.6 mi (1 km) from White House and 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Lincoln Memorial.

Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House - Close to Walter E. Washington Convention Center and George Washington University, Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House, an IHG Hotel provides shopping on site, an arcade/game room, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Be sure to enjoy a meal at Johnny Rockets Restaurant, the onsite restaurant. In addition to a bar and a gym, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Click on the map below to see current rates for vacation rentals and hotels in Washington DC and surrounding area.