The Ebenezer Baptist Church is just one building in a group that make up the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Other buildings included are Martin Luther King Jr.'s boyhood home, the King Center, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame and the the Gandhi Promenade.
The church was founded in 1886 when the Reconstruction Era was taking place in the south. At that time John A. Parker was the reverend, a man born into slavery.
In the many years since the church was founded the congregation has had many homes, the most current being the one on 407 Auburn Avenue.
In 1931, Martin Luther King Jr's father became pastor of the church and before him it was his father-in-law, A.D. Williams. In 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. became co-pastor until his death in 1968.
While he was civil rights leader the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was held at the church. Many of the meetings, rallies strategy sessions and speeches were held there as well. Including "The American Dream" from July 4, 1965, "The Drum Major Instinct" from February 4, 1968 and "Unfulfilled Dreams" from March 3, 1968.
On September 10, 2007 the church closed it's door to begin a nearly year long Phase II Restoration Project. Phase II represented the work that needed to be done to bring the church back to a period of historical significance, the 1960s.
When the church is not undergoing restoration efforts it is open to the public for tours.
Fast Facts:
- Founded in 1886
- First pastor: John A. Parker
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia,USA
- Moved to Auburn Avenue in 1922
- Is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
- Phase 1 took place from April 2001 to January 2002
- Headquarters for Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Later known as the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
- Phase II Cost: Nearly $4 million
- Original church structure was box-like on Airline street
