Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr

At 501 Auburn Ave NE in Atlanta, this two-story Queen Anne-style house is where Martin Luther King Jr. was born and grew up. A ranger-led tour takes you through the rooms and shares details of his childhood and family life. Tours are free, but daily places are limited, so arrive early to improve your chance of going inside. If you miss a tour, you can still view the house from outside and read historical information across the street about King’s early years and the neighborhood.

A childhood home on Auburn Avenue

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in this two-story Queen Anne-style house on Auburn Avenue. He grew up here with his family. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother was an elementary-school music teacher.

The house gives a view of King’s early life before his work in the civil rights movement. Its rooms and furnishings help place that childhood in a family home, rather than treating the address only as a landmark. The property is part of Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

What to expect on a visit

Rangers lead visitors through the home and talk about King and his family’s experiences there. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Places are limited, and tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan to make arrangements early in the day. The house tour is free.

Access inside may not be available on the day you visit. Across the street, historical signs give information about King’s childhood, and nearby shotgun houses add context to the neighborhood. Cameras are not permitted inside the house. Check with the King Center about tour sign-up before you go.