Students from the Atlanta University Center visit Dr. Martin Luther King's Tomb at Southview Cemetery

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This black and white photograph was taken the day of the first commemorative event for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in 1969. The photograph shows a group of unidentified women and children visiting King's original burial site at South-View Cemetery. There are three woman standing on the far side of the tomb in front of a tomb that reads [REYNOLDS]. A group of unidentified children are standing behind the women. The large white marble gravestone at proper right is partially cut of the image. The tomb reads [REV MARTIN LUTHER KING JR / 1929-1968 / "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, / THANK GOD ALMIGHTY I'M FREE AT LAST."] There is a space in front of the headstone that is filled with small pebbles and lined in stone. At the bottom of the photograph is a small ceremonial flame sitting on the rocks.

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗