November 18, 2023
The historic home is expected to be closed down to the public for two years to allow for the maintenance scheduled
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic birth home will undergo essential renovations, leading to its closure for the next two years.
According to the National Park Service, the Auburn Avenue home, located in the Martin Luther King National Historical Park and Preservation District, will be closed to the public from Nov. 27 to November 2025.
The National Park Service press release confirmed that no tours would be conducted during the shutdown dates. The temporary closure of King’s home will be in order to allow for long-awaited renovations to finally get under way.
The Queen Anne style home was built back in 1895 and the work to be done following Nov. 27 is a part of a routine schedule to continue to upkeep the historic civil right leader’s home.
The National Park Service acquired King’s home in 2018 and plans for renovation and upgrades were laid out for the future that are now continuing to come to fruition. Skilled work crews will rehabilitate the major central systems in the home during the two year closure. The systems to be targeted include the home’s electrical and mechanical systems, as well as a new HVAC and fire suppression system for safety. The crew also intends to build a new crawl space in the home for easier workmen access.
NPS additionally outlined plans for repairs of the windows and doors in King’s home, and a partial replacement of the non-historic interior wall coverings, in order to maintain the integrity of the original home’s structure.
The list for work to be done also includes cosmetic repairs to the exterior, like painting and reinforcing the porch, outside fence, and the driveway leading up the Auburn Avenue home.
NPS reported that the museum collection and other historic items that are typically housed in the home will be removed and stored in a safe off-site location come Nov. 27. Despite the home itself being closed, the Park Service will continue to work with the King Center in order to continue to allow interpretations and other visiting services will continue through the renovation process. The King Center will be offering walking tours of the off-site historical objects, virtual tours of the home, and even special commemorations and events on related holidays.
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