King, Martin Luther, Jr., Historic District
Why it's listed
Centered on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, this roughly 76-acre district preserves the neighborhood where Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in 1929, lived until 1941, and later served as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Landmarks include the church, completed in 1922, his grave site beside it, and his Queen Anne birthplace at 501 Auburn Avenue, built in 1895. Nearby are Victorian houses of the 1880s, double-shotgun rental duplexes from 1920, the Neo-Classical home of Black contractor Alexander Hamilton II, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Mission of 1912, and Romanesque Revival Fire Station Number 6 of 1894. After the 1906 race riot, Auburn Avenue became the center of Atlanta's Black business and professional life. The district was recognized because these buildings and sites together document King's early years and the wider history of the city's Black community.
Significance in brief: The district contains the birthplace, church and grave site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the neighborhood where he was born, grew up, served as minister and was buried. It also preserves buildings reflecting Atlanta's Black history, when Auburn Avenue became the center of the city's Black business and professional community after about 1910.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74000677, listed May 2, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded roughly by Irwin, Randolph, Edgewood, Jackson, and Auburn Aves., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 2, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000677 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Hamilton II (Black contractor, built his own house at 102 Howell Street); Paul Muldawer, AIA (Ebenezer Baptist Church educational addition) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Victorian, Neo-Classical, Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 5, 1977 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked fair and altered. Fire Station Number 6 still operates, the birthplace was slated for restoration as a house museum, and some buildings were converted to multi-family housing. |
| Acreage | 15.4 |
| Within district | Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 33.75524, -84.37217 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74000677.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5016739
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.