CNN —

Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in the American
South, but his dream of racial equality and social justice
reverberated out of his region, into the whole country and
around the world. And it wasn’t just his vision that spanned
the globe – the man himself embarked on travels far and
wide.

You can honor him on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday,
January 15) – or any other time of year – by walking in his
footsteps figuratively or literally.
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From his homeland in the heart of the South to
unexpected destinations far beyond America’s shores, here
are the places that shaped and inspired the man:

Atlanta, Georgia

Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church is one of Atlanta's most cherished sites.

Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Georgia’s busy capital city is King’s birthplace and his final
resting place. As such, it probably has the biggest claim on
his legacy and MLK-related sites.

Many of them are clustered together at the MLK Jr.

National Historical Park in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood
of downtown Atlanta, including the tombs for MLK and
Coretta Scott King.

Some of the highlights include:

• Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church : This is where MLK was

baptized and where he co-pastored with his father starting
in 1960. It’s been magnificently restored inside and out to
how it appeared in the 1960s and is an ideal place for prayer
and quiet reflection. 407 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
30312.

• MLK Birth Home : You can tour the two-story house where
MLK was raised, when Sweet Auburn was the epicenter for
African American life in Atlanta. 501 Auburn Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30312.

• The King Center : Coretta Scott King established the The

Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
in 1968. Almost 1 million people would visit annually pre-
pandemic to learn more about the Kings’ public and private
lives and to pay their respects at their tombs, the reflecting
pool and the eternal flame. 449 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
30312.

Just a few miles away, prestigious Morehouse College is

King’s alma mater. (In fact, MLK Jr. was one of numerous
King family men to attend college there). The campus
grounds are a lovely place to take a stroll where the young
collegian walked. 830 Westview Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30314.