Atlanta, GA

Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change
DESCRIPTION: A National Historic Landmark and the most photographed site in Atlanta; you will be inspired seeing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Dual Tomb set amidst a reflecting pool; Dr. King, who died in 1968, was buried in a typical cemetery until his body was re-interred here with a single tomb dedicated in 1977; in 2006, Coretta was interred beside her husband, making a dual tomb necessary to replace the single tomb; an exposed hall surrounding the pool depicts many interesting aspects of the lives of Martin and Coretta; the complex includes Freedom Hall, which contains over 2 million documents and personal artifacts of the King Family; the center has an active mission to manage non-violence programs for kindergarten through graduate school and seminars to lead youths away from gangs

ADDRESS: 449 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-524-1956

WEBSITE: http://www.thekingcenter.org

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home
DESCRIPTION: A National Historic Landmark; born here on 15 January 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. spent the first 12 years of his life in this house; sign-up for a guided tour at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitor Center down the street

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 501 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-331-3920

Atlanta Life Insurance
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1905 by Alonzo F. Herndon in the glory years of the sweet Auburn district; ranked by Black Enterprise as the 2nd largest African American insurance company; Atlanta Life Insurance Art Gallery features over 300 original works of art by African American artists and the company is also known for hosting a national African American art competition

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-5p

ADDRESS: 100 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-659-2100

WEBSITE: http://www.atlantalife.com

100 Black Men of America
DESCRIPTION: National headquarters for this honorable organization of positive deeds to uplift Black America

ADDRESS: 141 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-659-2100

WEBSITE: http://www.100blackmen.org

Citizens Trust Bank
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1921; this bank is the nation's 4th largest bank on the 2001 Black Enterprise listing; it should be acknowledged for its foresight acquiring other banks to spur faster growth and broaden customer services

ADDRESS: 75 Piedmont Ave

PHONE: 404-659-5959

Atlanta Daily World
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1928 by W.A. Scott is Atlanta's oldest African American newspaper; it represents conservative views in the community and is published twice weekly

ADDRESS: 145 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-659-1110

Rucker Building
DESCRIPTION: Atlanta's first African American office building in 1904, constructed by businessman and politician Henry A Rucker; artists have moved into the facility

ADDRESS: 158-160 Auburn Ave

Odd Fellows Building
DESCRIPTION: This historic building was home to many Black businesses in the early days of Sweet Auburn; today there are a number of small businesses returning

ADDRESS: 228-250 Auburn Ave

Herndon Building
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1931 by Alonzo F. Herndon, it was home to as 121 African American businesses and 39 professionals during the Depression era and extending in the 1950s

ADDRESS: 231-245 Auburn Ave

Butler Street YMCA
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1894 in the basement of Wheat Street Baptist Church; a local activist group met at this location prior to 1920 when the original YMCA building was erected for and by African Americans; the new YMCA is across the street

ADDRESS: 20-24 Butler Street

PHONE: YMCA 404-659-8085

Prince Hall Masons Grand Lodge
DESCRIPTION: Built 1941 by Atlanta's Black Masonic lodge, which was headed by John Wesley Dobbs at the time; it was also the former home of WERD - nation's first African American radio station, founded in the 1920s; most recently it serves as the national headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Women's SCLC is next door

ADDRESS: 334 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-522-1420

Old Ebenezer Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1886; Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr was co-pastor from 1960-1968; Dr King co-pastor this church with his dad, Rev. Martin King, Sr, who was sole pastor until 1975; a National Historic Landmark is under renovation to handle increasing crowd sizes; it is managed by the National Park Service

ADDRESS: 407 Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-688-7263

Fire Station #6 Museum
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1894, this fire station served the first in Sweet Auburn until 1991; learn about the desegregation of the Atlanta Fire Department and view a 1927 American LaFrance fire engine at the museum; although it closed in 1991, it reopened in 1996 as a museum managed by the National Park Service; site includes the Eastern National Bookstore carrying over 200 titles emphasizing African-American History

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p

ADDRESS: Boulevard at Auburn Ave

PHONE: 404-331-6922

Herndon Home
DESCRIPTION: Designed by Alonzo F Herndon (1858-1927), an Black craftsman built this mansion 1910; he went from slave to Georgia's leading barber to founder of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10-4p

ADDRESS: 587 University Place

PHONE: 404-581-9813

Paschal's Hotel Site
DESCRIPTION: A historically Black hotel, that served Civil Rights leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and several US Presidents for over 50 years; has been a a famous restaurant as well; adapted for re-use as a dormitory by Clark-Atlanta University

ADDRESS: 830 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SW

H.J. Russel Company
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1952 by Herman J. Russel; now the nation's largest African American construction firm per Black Enterprise magazine; major projects built include Peachtree Center, City Hall expansion, Olympic/Braves Stadium and airport expansion

ADDRESS: 504 Fair Street

PHONE: 404-330-1000

WEBSITE: http://www.hjrussell.com

Booker T. Washington High School
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1924 and named for the great Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), it was the first Black public high school built in Atlanta; has produced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Romae T. Powell, judge; Dr. Asa Yancy, surgeon and many other outstanding graduates; remained the only Black high school in the city until 1947; a Booker T. Washington Monument was added to the front in 1927; listed on the National Register of Historic Places; since the school is in use, its not open for tours

ADDRESS: 45 Whitehouse Drive near MLK Drive

Roswell, GA

Smith Plantation
DESCRIPTION: An antebellum home built in 1845 by enslaved people; restored buildings include a cook house, carriage house, springhouse, barn and slave cabin; home to 3 generations of the Smith family; Group tours available

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri tours at 11a & 2p, Sat tours at 11a, 12a & 1p

ADDRESS: 935 Alpharetta Street

PHONE: 770-641-3978

Marietta, GA

Upscale Magazine
DESCRIPTION: Celebrates the best life has to offer African Americans each month; founder Bernard Bronner

ADDRESS: 2141 Powers Ferry Road

PHONE: 800-UPSCALE

WEBSITE: http://www.upscalemagazine.com