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Take a walking tour of Sweet Auburn
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As a cornerstone of the civil rights movement and African American enterprise, the Sweet Auburn Avenue Historic District has a reputation as one of the most historic and fabled stretches in Atlanta.
As you walk down Sweet Auburn, you'll also want to look for a sign at 334 Auburn Ave. marking the world headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded in 1957 and once presided over by Martin Luther King Jr. But Sweet Auburn offers more than tributes to fallen leaders and landmarks of the civil rights movement. It's a living museum for a world of black businesses, including the Oddfellows Building, 228-250 Auburn Ave., and the Atlanta Life Insurance Co. Steeped in black history, Sweet Auburn's roots stretch back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1956 Fortune magazine heralded it as the "richest negro street in the world." You may want to explore Auburn on your own, but if you'd like a guide, then try The Atlanta Preservation Center tour (404-876-2040) for an overview of the historic district or the National Parks Service visitor center (404-876-2040) for a tour of the King birthplace. Since parking is limited in the area, a walking tour is probably the best way to view -- and fully absorb -- the richness of Sweet Auburn. You might want to pace yourself and pick your spots. While there is much to see on Auburn Avenue, the tour of the King birth home runs 30 to 60 minutes, not counting the time you'll want to spend examining the King Center.
To explore the district on your own, start at Woodruff Park and head east along Auburn Avenue. It's only about a mile from Woodruff Park to the King Center, located at Auburn and Boulevard. Another suggestion is to start at Underground Atlanta's Heritage Row for an overview of Atlanta history. (It will just add a few blocks to your tour.) If you want to preserve a bit of history, bring your camcorder. Some of the early signs, structures and a taste of the legendary lifestyles are still evident. At Courtland Avenue, experience the Auburn Avenue Research Library. The library opened in 1994 at 101 Auburn Ave. The mission is to collect, preserve and disseminate information on the African-American experience, with a special regional focus on Atlanta. Along with its next-door neighbor, the APEX Museum, the Research Library is seen as the western gateway into the Sweet Auburn District from downtown. APEX, the African-American Panoramic Experience Museum, contains exhibits on local black history, figures and neighborhoods. Across the street from APEX and the Auburn Avenue Research Library, you'll find the Herndon Plaza, which contains the home offices of the Atlanta Life Insurance Co., one of the nation's largest black insurers. It was founded in 1916 by businessman Alonzo Herndon. Marvel at the history behind Ebenezer Baptist Church, established in 1886, where Martin Luther King Jr., his father and grandfather preached. It's also where the younger King's body lay in state in 1968 and where his mother was assassinated six years later. Look for the "Jesus Saves" sign on the steeple of the Big Bethel AME Church, and learn about Wheat Street Baptist Church, a community institution that has ties to the Auburn community dating back to the 1800s. Take a walk through the nearby King Center at 449 Auburn and see many of King's artifacts and belongings on display. Also at the center, see King's crypt and walk down the Freedom Hall Plaza. A block or so down Auburn from the center, take a tour of King's birth home. The tours are provided by the National Park Service and begin at the NPS offices across the street from the birth home. While you're waiting for a tour, you can view a short video. The tour also mentions the neighborhood's "shotgun" or "dogtrot" row houses, a style common in the rural South, characterized by a simple design and front and rear doors that face each other -- improving ventilation. -- compiled and researched by Larry Perrault and Matt Konigsmark |
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