Wreath and eternal flame laid in front of Martin Luther King, Jr.'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 were taken the day of the first commemorative event for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in 1969. The photograph shows the marble tomb, center, of King's original burial site at South-View Cemetery. 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. Between the tomb and the flame, there is a wreath with a cursive signature [Alpha Phi Alpha / Eta Lambda Chapter]. The flowers are in the shape of the Alpha Phi Alpha greek letters. The wreath is leaning against the tomb with the the flowers and bottom half of the inscription visible.

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗