sweet auburn walking tour

• United States

Sweet Auburn District Walking Tour

Atlanta, Georgia

Elevation Gain

Out-and-Back

Description

Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights.

Added by The Outbound Collective

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Sweet Auburn District Walking Tour Reviews

Leave no trace.

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline

Stroll through Deepdene Park

Morningside Nature Preserve Loop

Hike around the Doll's Head Trail At Constitution Lakes Park

Hike the Cascade Springs Trail

Take a Stroll through Blue Heron Nature Preserve

• Local Adventures
• Tours and trips
• Camping Nearby
• Outbound PRO Membership
• Add your property

Mobile Apps

© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy

• Twitter / X
• Readers' Choice
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Travel Guides

Sweet Auburn Walking Tour

Type: Sightseeing , Tours and Excursions

Last updated on August 18, 2016

10Best Says

135 Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30303

404-688-3353

EXPERT TIPS BY: Claudine Williams Atlanta Local Expert

• Tours and Excursions : "Take children on this tour so that the Civil Rights movement will come to life."

things to do

restaurants

Best Tours and Excursions in Atlanta

• 10 Atlanta Introductory Tours
• 9 Ghosts Segway Tour
• 8 SoNo Tour
• 7 Stone Mountain Tour
• 6 Fox Theatre Walking Tour
• 5 Sweet Auburn Walking Tour
• 4 Historic Midtown Atlanta Tour
• 3 Inman Park Walking Tour
• 2 Ansley Park Tour
• 1 Grant Park Tour

Explore Atlanta

A Walking Tour of Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Neighborhood

Even with all its history, there is more to this neighborhood than its past..

• Copy Link copied

The Apex Museum has been open in Sweet Auburn since 1978.

Photo by Kevin C. Rose

Small but mighty, the historically African American neighborhood of Sweet Auburn is where some of Atlanta ’s most important citizens have cemented their roles in history: Born into slavery, Alonzo Herndon opened a chain of barbershops before founding the Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1905; he would become the city’s first black millionaire, with his offices on Auburn Avenue. In 1889, Moses Amos became the first black licensed pharmacist in the state, later opening the Service Company Drugstore in the Odd Fellows Building. And back in the day, the Royal Peacock Club, with its art nouveau–inspired marquee, hosted such iconic musicians as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.

All that aside, Sweet Auburn is primarily known for being home to Martin Luther King, Jr. during his too-short life. Within a few blocks, visitors can see King’s boyhood home, the church where he later preached his sermons, and the mausoleum that holds the graves of King and his wife, Coretta.

The neighborhood’s boundaries are debatable, but it’s generally considered to be east of downtown starting from Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street, running until Boulevard. It’s easily accessed on foot or via the Atlanta Streetcar that runs in a loop from downtown Atlanta (get off at stop 9).

Tours from companies Atlanta Food Walks and Civil Bikes give more context on the neighborhood. But if you’re short on time or want to wander on your own, follow this self-guided tour of the neighborhood’s highlights.

Get a double dose of history

The Apex Museum , also known as the African-American Panoramic Experience, interprets the history of the African diaspora. Filmmaker Dan Moore, Sr. opened the museum in 1978 after being inspired by the life of Dr. Benjamin Mays, a local civil rights leader. Set in the circa 1910 John Wesley Dobbs Building, named for another prominent Sweet Auburn citizen, it has exhibits on the slave trade, the Civil Rights Movement, and Black Codes, which were implemented to restrict the conduct of African Americans. There are also historic photos of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood and its African American–owned businesses.

Just down the street, the neighboring Auburn Avenue Research Library also has exhibits on African American culture and history, including one on the life and legacy of writer Toni Morrison. Although the modern library was officially founded in 1994, its core collection can be traced back to 1921, when it was dubbed the Auburn Branch of the Carnegie Library of Atlanta—the first library in the city open to African Americans.

Refuge Coffee Company’s second location opened in Sweet Auburn this year.

Courtesy of Refuge Coffee Company

Fuel up with coffee in a notable building

The Atlanta Daily World was established in 1928 on Auburn Avenue, covering stories within the community and decrying the violence of the Jim Crow era. It still operates as the city’s oldest African American newspaper, but it moved to Midtown after a 2008 tornado damaged the building.

But the newspaper is only one part of the building’s history, which had previously been home to a coffee company (1918) and shared space with Club Poinciana, a jazz venue that welcomed Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong in the 1940s.

Today, the historic building at 145 Auburn Avenue has been renovated and has apartments on its top levels. Downstairs, visitors will find the second location of Refuge Coffee Co. , which started in the suburb of Clarkston in a truck outside a former gas station. The company employs refugees from Somalia, Syria, and Kenya, and through job training and social networking, helps them make a home in the Atlanta area.

Pick up a book

Local artist Rosa Duffy opened For Keeps Books in 2018 to share the important books she’d grown up reading with the community. The store specializes in rare and used books by African American authors; peek through the stacks, and you might find a signed copy of Report from Part One by Gwendolyn Brooks, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, or The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin. You can also find records and back issues of magazines like Jet , which was first issued in 1951 but ceased publication in 2014.

Inside the space on Auburn Avenue, decorated with prints of notable people like former President Barack Obama, folding tables hold stacks of books and magazines that can be flipped through from the comfort of a midcentury orange chair. (Some of the materials aren’t for sale, but are supplied for in-store reading, like a community library.) Check the store’s Facebook page : For Keeps routinely hosts special events like book signings, coffee pop-ups, and DJs.

Congressman John Lewis has served Georgia’s Fifth District since 1987.

Courtesy of Atlanta Food Walks

Check out some public art

Congressman John Lewis first came to Atlanta from Nashville as a student at Fisk University, planning freedom rides and protests with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. Lewis was one of the speakers along with Martin Luther King, Jr. at 1963’s March on Washington. On “Bloody Sunday” in 1965, when leading a march from Selma to Montgomery, Lewis was brutally beaten by a group of state troopers and sheriff’s deputies and suffered a skull fracture. Since 1987, he has represented Georgia’s Fifth District, which includes Sweet Auburn and most of the city.

In 2012, a large-scale mural of Lewis was unveiled by artist Sean Schwab at Auburn Avenue and Jessie Hill Jr. Drive. For the “good trouble” Lewis continues to get into, the word “Hero” appears above his figure. (Lewis earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his tireless work in the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.)

Lewis isn’t the only one honored with a mural. At Edgewood Avenue and Boulevard, one block from the King Center, there’s a portrait of former Georgia representative Stacey Abrams by visual artist Fabian Williams. Civil rights leader and activist Evelyn G. Lowery has her own “Hero” mural at Auburn Avenue and Bell Street. All are within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Shop for something savory

Since the Municipal Market’s opening in 1918, vendors here have sold fresh meat and produce. Also known as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market —a nod to its former policy of only allowing African Americans to shop at the curb, not inside—it’s the city’s only public market.

Inside, you’ll find vendors selling prepared foods, all of which are produced locally—think South African–inspired savory pies alongside traditional soul food. The market also serves as something of a restaurant incubator to get businesses off the ground: Sweet Auburn BBQ expanded from its stall to open a full-service location in nearby Poncey-Highland in 2014, and Grindhouse Killer Burgers —which started in the market in 2009—now has four locations in the city and an outpost at the world’s busiest airport . Both restaurants still have stalls at the market.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is commemorated with an eternal flame.

Photo by James Duckworth

Learn more about MLK, Jr.

Most travelers come to Sweet Auburn to see the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District, a four-block radius containing several landmarks related to King. Start your visit at the National Park–managed Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site visitor center, which has interactive exhibits on the marches as well as artifacts like the wooden wagon that carried King’s casket through the streets of Atlanta.

Across the street from the visitor center is the original Ebenezer Baptist Church , where King and his father both served as pastors. Visitors can step inside the worship hall where King’s funeral service was held.

Next door, the King Center for Nonviolent Change was created by Coretta Scott King in 1968, after her husband’s death. (The couple is buried here in tombs surrounded by water.) Exhibits feature important items from King’s life like his posthumous Grammy for best spoken word album, “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam,” and the key from his room at Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, where he was assassinated.

The National Park System also oversees the yellow-and-black Queen Anne home where King spent his childhood, located just across Boulevard from the King Center. It was built for the pastor of Ebenezer Church and can be toured on a first-come, first-served basis. (No tickets are available in advance.) The home is furnished to resemble what it would have looked like when the Kings lived there.

On the same block is Fire Station No. 6, which was integrated in 1963. Now a museum, it contains exhibits on the desegregation of Atlanta’s fire department and artifacts like a rare 1927 American LaFrance fire engine.

>> Next: 15 Places to Learn About African American History

Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Walking Tour

Explore how a street shaped a nobel peace prize winner.

• Duration : 2 Hours
• Max Capacity : 12

The name Sweet Auburn was coined by John Wesley Dobbs, was referring to the street that was named “Richest Negro Street in the world in 1956 by Fortune magazine.” Like other Black communities throughout the country, Sweet Auburn’s success was intricately tied to the segregated residential patterns forced on African Americans during the early 20th century–the result of restrictive laws in southern states which enforced segregation of the races, known as Jim Crow laws. It was here that many African Americans established businesses, congregations, and social organizations.

At once intensely historical and painfully cutting-edge, Auburn Avenue is a world apart: home to some of the city’s oldest African American owned businesses like Atlanta Life Insurance Company and historic buildings like the Odd Fellows Building built in 1912-13. Auburn Avenue was the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Of all the ways to explore Atlanta, venturing out on foot is among the best option for locals and visitors alike. On this Sweet Auburn tour, we’ll move beyond Peachtree Street, walking the famous street to paint a portrait of the social, cultural and economic history. The influence this street had on Martin King and so many others in the African American community is immeasurable. The dynamic cultural makeup of Atlanta’s most fascinating street will be overlooked no more.

We will walk along a short mile and a half of Auburn Avenue, in the Old Fourth Ward District. This street reflects the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta’s African Americans. We will embark on an in-depth exploration and history of Sweet Auburn and its transformation over the years. 

Historical sites along the avenue:

• Atlanta Life Building
• The Atlanta Daily World Office
• The Silver Moon Barbershop
• Big Bethel A.M.E. Church
• The Butler Street YMCA
• The Odd Fellows Building
• The S.C.L.C. Headquarters
• WERD Radio Station
• Wheat Street Baptist Church
• Ebenezer Baptist Church
• The Martin Luther King Jr. National Park

(Message Guide)

Have questions about this tour? Concerned with the vaccination status of your guide or the safety measures in place? Or want to request a customized tour? Your guide Roger Pennyman will be pleased to hear from you and answer all your questions.

You can usually expect a response within 24 hours. Followup communications can use standard email. 

Your email address is  protected  and will only be used to respond to this inquiry (and if you opt to receive our communications, see below).

" * " indicates required fields

If the tour already meets your needs:

1. Select your date and time and provide any needed information for your tour.

2. Enter payment information at our secure online payment processor.

3. Tour guide reviews your booking request and confirms their availability and relevant details.

4. If everything is in order, your credit card is charged and the booking is confirmed. In the event your booking is not confirmed, you will be informed promptly and your credit card will not be charged.

If you want to customize your tour:

Notes: Once your tour guide responds (usually within 24 hours), please reply promptly as other travelers may be interested in the same time slot.

Tour guides may not be able to accommodate all change requests.

Meeting location / Pick up at area local hotels.

$60 /person

“Roger did a fabulous job. The tour was great and very informative. I would recommend this tour to anyone that is looking for a overview of the history and the sights in Atlanta. Roger definitely knows the history and great places to see. Thanks again Roger for a great day.”

– Teresa Gilliam

Get in touch

• 135 Auburn Avenue Atlanta GA 30303
• Give Us a Call (404) 499-1000
• [email protected]

Where to find us

Check out these stories

Visiting sweet auburn.

By Kent W. Johnson

Kent Johnson is the co-founder of the digital platform & award-winning travel company for Black millennials, Black & Abroad, where he not only sheds light on the journeys of expats and travelers of color, he also partners with travel-centric brands to create authentic & organic campaigns for the millennial consumer and crafts group travel experiences to destinations worldwide.

Kent has been published in The Huffington Post & Cassius Magazine, featured in Black Enterprise, Ebony, MIC, Rolling Out, VICE & Creative Loafing, named one of the 100 most influential African-Americans of 2017 by The Root and recognized with a Creative Data Grand Prix for his work behind Black & Abroad’s “Go Back to Africa” campaign at the 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He’s spoken at the United Nations, Facebook, MasterCard, and other entities on topics such as social media branding & digital marketing, diversity & inclusion, the travel & spending habits of millennials and technology in travel. In his spare time, Kent hosts a podcast on culture & current events and is a practicing attorney.

Sweet Auburn Historic District remains a cornerstone in both Atlanta’s & America’s history. The area, given its “sweet” moniker by Atlanta hero John Wesley Dobbs, was known in the early 20th century as the “richest Negro street in the world” and functioned as a haven of opportunity for African Americans in Atlanta, giving way to successful Black owned businesses, churches and social organizations in a region of the country where Jim Crow laws left little hope for African American progress in the South. I’ve visited this area of the city quite often, and it’s usually the place I bring family and friends who are visiting Atlanta for the first time, as it brings life to stories they’ve been told and history they may have learned. Atlanta is key to understanding the Civil Rights Movement as a whole, and Sweet Auburn specifically holds many connections to the figures and moments we’ve come to know as pivotal American history. Visiting Sweet Auburn is an ideal way to capture a glimpse of Atlanta’s past and personally explore locations where great moments in the Civil Rights Movement took place. Here’s a quick guide to making the most of your time there.

Food is a perfect gateway to learning about the past, so Municipal Market (better known as Sweet Auburn Curb Market) is a great place to start your Sweet Auburn experience. Located in the heart of Atlanta, the market is home to individual businesses, including traditional produce and meat merchants. It also serves as a place where many of Atlanta’s beloved restaurants started and continues as an incubator for up and coming foodie favorites. Grab a burger from Grindhouse Killer Burgers or a tasty Southern bite from Sweet D’s Pralines. If you’re looking for something light, opt for a cup of tea from Just Add Honey Tea Company or a fresh juice from Rawesome Juicery.

After you’ve indulged in some sweet and delicious treats at the market, work off some of those calories with a quick walk down Auburn Avenue, enjoying the colorful murals honoring Atlanta’s changemakers like John Lewis and Evelyn Gibson Lowery along the way. You’ll also pass the original office building of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the civil rights organization responsible for many of the demonstrations and marches that led to change in America, and holds Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as its first sitting President.

Just a few short blocks away from Municipal Market, you’ll find Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, where you can tour Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home, visit the historic Ebenezer Church, and take a trip back in time through the neighborhood that helped Dr. King grow into the man the world admires today. Ebenezer Baptist Church sits just a few moments away from Dr. King’s birth home and served as a haven for many during the Civil Rights Movement. Both Dr. King and his father were preachers there at one point and the church still holds service today. It’s one of those places where you feel the warmth and the weight of the work done there, the moment you step into the sanctuary. While this area is open to the public, you can also schedule a private tour inside of the King home in advance. Be advised, such an experience is first come, first served.

For a more robust Sweet Auburn experience, hop on Atlanta Streetcar to get a modernized feel for a streetcar ride during Sweet Auburn’s bustling early days. Head towards The National Center for Civil & Human Rights to gain a deeper connection to Atlanta’s history and a clearer understanding of why it’s considered the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. If you want to spend the evening in the area, walk one block over to Edgewood Avenue for a true Atlantan night on the town at local music venues, restaurants and hidden speakeasies which harken back to the area’s heyday. For a true blast from the past, enjoy a drink at Royal Peacock. Originally known as The Top Hat Night Club, this club was heralded as one of the premier clubs for African Americans in the 1930s, hosting performers like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Atlanta’s own Gladys Knight.

The past prepares us for the future, so it’s great to have places in Atlanta like Sweet Auburn that provide access to history at your fingertips. The area stands as a testament to Atlanta’s Black history and to the power of perseverance for equality for all Americans. As a Black man, it’s humbling to be able to walk the same pavement as many of our country’s great change agents, and know that their tireless efforts have afforded me the ability to also effect change and be a part of progress. With every step I take on Auburn Avenue, it feels as though I’m standing on the shoulders of giants, and a comforting sense of pride rushes in. Sitting in the benches at Dr. King’s birth home, knowing that he, at one point, did the same lets me know that the past is just as present as today. Thankfully, the soul of Sweet Auburn provides an opportunity for all of us to step back into history and simultaneously make new memories.

Discover More

Get to know Atlanta, and discover the best things to do around the city.

Top Chefs to Watch Out For in Atlanta

Bebidas de verano en atlanta, ruby velle and the soulphonics, college football: free fun for fans in atlanta.

Welcome to Welcome to

The home of the official the home of the official, 39th annual, sweet auburn sweet auburn.

SPRINGFEST SPRINGFEST

We are We are

STRONGER STRONGER

Together Together

Our event offers FREE ENTRY, so you can save more money while supporting our vendors.

Don't miss this opportunity to discover unique products and shop to your heart's content."

SPIRIT OF SWEET AUBURN AWARDS AND NETWORKING APRIL 11th @ 6:00PM SPIRIT OF SWEET AUBURN AWARDS AND NETWORKING APRIL 11th @ 6:00PM

Sweet auburn link vlog challenge.

Historical Attractions Along Auburn Avenue

Volunteer to lead a walking tour.

​The Sweet Auburn District is full of history and education representing the African American life that once thrived on Aubrun Ave. Join us in helping others learn about the buildings and businesses that were once there and the ones that are surviving today. Be a volunteer to lead a Sweet Aubrun District walking tour.

APEX Museum 1985 Collection of Life and Heritage, Inc. opens Phase1 of a two phase project to establish a national African-American art and history museum

Atlanta Daily World Founded in 1928 by WA Scott, first Black owned daily newspaper.

Atlanta Life Financial Group Founded in 1905 by Alonzo F. Herndon in the glory days of the Sweet Auburn District. The nations 2nd largest Black owned insurance company with assets of over $202 million. Art gallery open Mon-Fri, 100 Auburn Avenue, 404-659-2100

Atrium On Sweet Auburn located in the Odd Fellows Complex, restored and surpasses it's former splendor , A historical place for memorable occasions 236 Auburn Avenue 404-524-7921

Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture & History 101 Auburn Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Telephone: 404-730-4001 Fax: 404-730-5879

Big Bethel AME Founded in 1847; Morris Brown College founded in the basement of the original church; a landmark at this site since 1904; played a major role in the civil rights movement; largest AME congregation in Atlanta; 

220 Auburn Ave, 404-659-0248 

Butler Street CME Atlanta's oldest CME church, founded 1882; the first African American middleweight boxing champ, Tiger Flowers, was a deacon here; features a breakfast ministry Mon-Fri, food pantry for hungry; 23 Butler St, 404-659-8745

Butler Street Y One of the oldest YMCAs, established in 1894 in the basement of Wheat Street Baptist Church Hungry Club Forum Schedule 17 Jesse Hill, Jr., Drive 

CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS The Center will not only commemorate the groundbreaking contributions of Atlantans and Georgians to the historic struggle for African-American freedom and equality, but also serve as a space for ongoing dialogue, study, 

and contributions to the resolution of current and future freedom struggles of all people at local, national, and international levels. 404.658.1877

Citizens Trust Bank Founded in 1921; the 7th largest Black owned bank in the nation, still growing through acquisitions. 75 Piedmont Ave, 404-659-5959

David T. Howard National Alumni Association, Inc. A Community Based non-profit federal tax exempt 501 (c) 3 organization. 551 John Wesley Dobbs N.E. Suite 209, Atlanta, Georgia 30312 404.223.1111

Dr. Martin Luther King's Birth Home On January 15, 1929 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and spent 12 years of his life at the registered national landmark

Ebenezer Baptist Church Founded in 1886 by Rev. John Parker. The home church of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr . 407 Auburn Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30312 Tel: (404) 688-7263 E-mail: [email protected]

First Congregational Church Founded 1847; along with northern missionaries church was instrumental in Founding Atlanta University; National Medical Association was founded here in 1890's; 105 Courtland St. 404-659-6255.

Georgia Coalition For The Peoples Agenda The Coalition is an organized group of representatives from all of the major civil 

rights / human rights / peace & justice organizations and concerned citizens of the state of Georgia. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery is the Convener of this coalition. 100 Auburn Avenue

Georgia Coalition of Black Women The Georgia Coalition of Black Women, Inc. (GCBW) was founded in 1980 in Macon, An affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Coalition has worked to develop and strengthen relationships in the multi-cultural community. The organization sponsors conferences, workshops, and forums which are designed to encourage and support the participation of women, particularly, African American women, in the government and business sectors.

Historic District Development Corporation The Historic District Development Corporation ("HDDC") was organized in 1990 as a neighborhood-based community development corporation to rehabilitate and revitalize residential and commercial property in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site and Preservation District.

100 Black Men of America National HQ An organization designed to improve the quality of life for African-Americans and other minorities... empowering young people through mentoring, education, health & wellness and economic development programs. 141 Auburn Avenue (404) 688-5100 

100 Black Men of Atlanta Founded in 1986, the group serves as role models for grade school-aged youth, often assuming roles similar to that of a father, friend or teacher. They formed the Collegiate 100, a group of local college students who help mentor, tutor and serve as role models for the youth. 100 Auburn Avenue

Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry When the "hunger crisis" first burst onto the national scene, everyone assumed that it would be short lived. Few assumptions have been so wrong. Hunger has become part of the American landscape. Now, nearly three decades later, 20 to 30 million Americans suffer the pains of hunger every day. Even more shocking is the finding of a 1993 study that nearly 43 percent of all emergency food clients were children under 17 years old. With the recent cuts in federal nutrition programs, some 2.6 million more people, including 1.1 million children, will join their ranks.

TRUE COLORS THEATRE COMPANY The name True Colors reflects a promise to search for truth and clarity. By understanding our true colors, we can better understand each other. We intend to be an important voice in the discussion of diversity, functioning as a moveable feast of theatre. We will explore plays and playwrights from various times, cultures and perspectives. We look forward to experiencing theatre with you, theatre that will bring us all together.

Youth Art Connection Boys and Girls Club Art Gallery . 63 Auburn Avenue., NE 404.614. 6233 

fax 404.589.1545

Wheat Street Baptist Church Founded in 1869; named before Wheat Street was renamed Auburn Avenue; formerly Pastured by Rev. William Holmes Borders Sr. who was a major leader in the civil rights movement. 359 Auburn Ave., 404-659-4328

Integral Group  Since its inception in 1993, Integral has developed a number of mixed-use communities across the nation that have resulted in great places to live, work, shop and play. The company has an ability to combine visionary leadership and collaboration to produce extraordinary community development outcomes.

King Center for Non-Violent Social Change  Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of Americas greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.

MLK March / African African-American Renaissance Festival  In celebrating the Martin Luther King National Birthday Holiday, a week of activities have been planned. The -March- is led each year by noted Grand Marshals (to be Announced) 

The NAMES Project Foundation AIDS Memorial Quilt  101 Krog Street, Atlanta, GA 30307Phone: 404)688-5500 -Fax: (404)688-5552 - General email: [email protected]

National Parks Service Visitor's Center The MLK Jr. National Park includes the visitors Center, the King Birth Home and the Center for Non-Violent Social Change. 

National Black Arts Festival Every summer for more than a decade, Atlanta has become the gathering place for people from throughout the region, across the country and around the world. These people have one interest in common -- the art and artists of African descent. 659 Auburn Avenue, NE, Suite 254 404.730.7315 Fax: 404.730.7104 E-mail: [email protected]  

Odd Fellows Complex Buildings  Originally built in 1913, the Odd Fellows complex was the center of business and entertainment. The Royal Theatre was located in the Annex. It was the only movie house where Blacks could be seated on the main floor. The Buildings were restored in the late 1980's and is has established the benchmark for redevelopment for the historical district. 236/250 Auburn Ave. 404.525.5027

Our Lady of Lourdes Founded in November 1912, by Fr. Ignatius Lissner with the assistance of Mr. J. J. Spalding, Our Lady of Lourdes was the first African-American Catholic church in Atlanta. St. Katherine Drexel also provided funds and sent the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to staff the school. 25 Boulevard, NE 404.522.6776

Prince Hall Grand Lodge Built in 1941 by Atlanta's Black Masonic lodge; former HQ of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference: Women's SCLC next store; former home of WERD - nations first African-American radio station which was founded in the 1920's; 135 Auburn Ave 404-521-1358

Rainbow PUSH Coalition Herndon Plaza 100 Auburn Avenue, Suite 101 Atlanta, GA (404) 525-5663 Fax: (404) 525-5233 Email: [email protected]

RENAISSANCE WALK AT SWEET AUBURN The Integral Group/ Destiny Development 158 Condominium Units 30,000 SF Retail.

Rucker Building Atlanta's first African American office building in 1904, constructed by businessman and politician Henry A.. Rucker artist haven begun moving into the facility; 158 - 160 Auburn Ave 

Royal Peacock While there are several places in Atlanta featuring live entertainment, The Royal Peacock is still one of the most exciting night clubs. This legendary hot spot is still located at 186 Auburn Avenue in the historical Sweet Auburn district.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference National Headquarters The Southern Negro Leaders Conference on transportation and Nonviolent Integration is organized by sixty African-Americans from ten Southern States. The organizations name is later changed to the Southern Christian leadership Conference.

SCLC W.O.M.E.N... Inc. Women Organizational Movement for Equality Now was founded in 1979 at the suggestion of the SCLC Board of Directors. Mrs. Lowery, the organizations founder invited a small group of women to join in her home to develop the women's component of SCLC

Southern Education Foundation The Southern Education Foundation has a rich and proud history of bringing about positive change for minorities in the South. SEF was Formed in 1937 by the merger of four funds, the earliest of which dates back to 1867. Each fund was committed to developing educational opportunities for minorities and disadvantaged citizens following the Civil War. 

Spirit of Sweet Auburn SOSA is a vibrant growing affiliation of people interested in the preservation and development of the Sweet Auburn, Atlanta's most Historical District. SOSA is providing dynamic, committed leadership to the task of preserving, rejuvenating and telling the story of the Heritage, History and Spirit of the Sweet Auburn Historical District. 

StudioPlex Built in 1999 by the Historic District Development Corporation; 112 Artists and Technology lofts, showrooms and 

performance center, Located on the eastern end of Auburn Avenue. 

Sweet Auburn Curb Market Completely renovated and offering an amazing array of fresh fruit, meats, international 

delicacies and a food court. 209 Edgewood Ave. 404-659-1665

TRINITY HOUSE - BIG BETHEL is a residential transitional program designed to serve homeless men (many with criminal backgrounds) with issues regarding drug dependency. As a result of Trinity House–Big Bethel’s treatment methods, 50% of those completing the program enter permanent housing. Click on the links below to learn more about this innovative program that has helped over 1,000 men regain control of their lives. (404) 222-0553 or via e-mail at [email protected] .

A walking tour of sweet Auburn in Atlanta

You never really understand a city until you walk around it a bit, and Atlanta's climate makes walking tours an option just about year-round.

In addition to the tour below, consider taking one of the guided walking tours. Also, note that certain attractions are walking tours in and of themselves: Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, Kennesaw Mountain/National Battlefield Park, Oakland Cemetery, and the Atlanta Historical Society in Buckhead.

Sweet Auburn, the focus of the following walking tour, includes the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, which comprises about 2 blocks along Auburn Avenue, plus the surrounding preservation district, about 10 more blocks. A neighborhood that nurtured scores of 20th-century black businesspeople and professionals, it contains the birthplace, church, and gravesite of Martin Luther King, Jr. The area was a vibrant commercial and entertainment district for black Atlantans from the late 1800s until the 1930s, when it went into a steep decline. In the 1980s, the area where Martin Luther King, Jr., was born and raised was declared a National Historic Site, and now, under the auspices of the National Park Service, portions of Auburn Avenue are in an ongoing process of restoration. Although parts of the area are still in sad disrepair, new landscaping has beautified some of the street, and several homes on the "Birth Home" block have been restored to their 1920s appearance. (For more information about the National Historic Site, contact the National Park Service at tel. 404/331-6922 or visit the website at http://www.nps.gov/ .) This walking tour provides insight into black history, the civil rights movement, and black urban culture in the South. If you're traveling with children, it's a wonderful opportunity to teach them about a great American.

Start: The corner of Howell and Irwin streets. To get to this intersection, take I-75/85 south, then exit at Freedom Parkway/Carter Center. Turn right at the first stoplight onto International Boulevard. Follow signs to Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site: You can park in a lot on the north side of Irwin Street between Boulevard and Jackson Street. By MARTA: King Memorial Station is about 8 blocks away; or take bus no. 3 east from the Five Points Station.

Finish: Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street.

Time: Allow about half a day to explore this area thoroughly. If you want to include a tour of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birth Home (stop no. 3) -- and a visit to this area would not be complete without it -- start out early in the day and obtain your tickets at the National Parks Service Visitor Center at 450 Auburn Ave. Only a limited number are available each day.

Begin your stroll at:

1. Howell and Irwin Streets

Walk south along Howell Street, where renovated historic homes and recently built housing (designed to harmonize with the architecture of the neighborhood) provide testimony to the area's continuing renaissance. Note no. 102 Howell, built between 1890 and 1895, which was the home of Alexander Hamilton, Jr., Atlanta's leading turn-of-the-century black contractor. Its architectural details include Corinthian columns and a Palladian window.

Turn right on Auburn Avenue. As you proceed, look for interpretive markers indicating historic homes (mostly Victorian and Queen Anne) and other points of interest en route to 499 Auburn Ave., the:

2. The King Center

The organization here (tel. 404/524-1956 ; http://www.thekingcenter.com/ ) continues the work to which King was dedicated -- reducing violence within individual communities and among nations. Freedom Plaza, on the premises, is King's final resting place. Stop in to take a self-guided tour of exhibits on King's life and the Civil Rights Movement. Admission is free, and the center is open every day from 9am to 5pm.

Now double back a few blocks east to 501 Auburn Ave.:

3. The Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr .

Free half-hour guided tours are given on a continual basis from 9am to 5pm at King's birthplace. On weekends, especially, arrive early, since demand for tickets often exceeds supply. Tickets are obtained at the National Parks Service Visitor Center, 450 Auburn Ave.

Walk back toward stop 2, noting the turn-of-the-century homes in the area, such as:

4. The Double "Shotgun" Row Houses

Standing at 472-488 Auburn Ave., these two-family dwellings with separate hip roofs were built in 1905 to house workers for the Empire Textile Company. They were called "shotgun" because rooms were lined up in a row, and one could (theoretically) fire a shotgun straight through the whole house.

Continue west on Auburn Avenue. At the corner of Auburn and Boulevard is:

5. Fire Station no. 6

This is one of Atlanta's eight original firehouses, completed in 1894. The two-story Romanesque-revival building was situated to protect the eastern section of the city. The station houses a museum, open daily from 9am to 5pm, where exhibits include restored fire engines and vintage fire-fighting paraphernalia. Admission is free. Note the Italianate arched windows on the second story.

Continuing west on Auburn Avenue, a notable stop on your tour is at 407 Auburn Ave., where you'll find the:

6. Ebenezer Baptist Church

This church (tel. 404/688-7263 ), founded in 1886, is where Martin Luther King, Jr., served as co-pastor from 1960 to 1968. Short but informative tours are given Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm, and Sunday 2 to 4pm. The church has built a new sanctuary across the street, but the original building remains as a historic site under the auspices of the State Department of Parks & Recreation. The church is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm.

One block west at 365 Auburn Ave. is the:

7. Wheat Street Baptist Church

This church has served a congregation since the late 1800s. Auburn Avenue was originally called Wheat Street in honor of Augustus W. Wheat, one of Atlanta's early merchants. The name was changed in 1893.

Farther west, on Auburn between Hilliard and Fort streets, is:

8. The Prince Hall Masonic Building

This was an influential black lodge led for several decades by John Wesley Dobbs. Today, it houses the national headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

On the other side of the expressway, at 228-250 Auburn Ave., note:

9. The Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium

This is another black fraternal lodge, which originated in Atlanta in 1870. Completed in 1914, the building later became headquarters for an insurance company.

Across the street, at 231-245 Auburn Ave., is:

10. The Herndon Building

This building, erected in 1924, is named for Alonzo Herndon, an ex-slave who went on to found the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. By 1930, the Auburn business district supported 121 black-owned businesses and 39 black professionals.

Make a left on Butler Street and you'll see:

11. The Butler Street YMCA

Built in the early 1900s, this was a popular meeting place for civil rights leaders. Today, the building is augmented by a modern YMCA across the street.

Continue south along Butler Street to the:

12. Sweet Auburn Curb Market

The market is located just below Edgewood Avenue. Formerly called the Municipal Market, this historic market dates to 1924, when Atlanta was still a segregated city. Whites shopped within, while blacks were only permitted to patronize stalls lining the curb. The market's current name reflects that era. Today, it sells groceries and fresh produce -- including many regional and ethnic items such as ham hocks and chitlins ("We sell every part of the pig here but the oink," says the owner). Fully cooked ethnic meals are available here, and there is seating so you can dig in right away. Open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 7pm.

Take a Break -- The Sweet Auburn Curb Market , 209 Edgewood Ave. (tel. 404/659-1665 ), is a delightful mix of scents and sights. Seating is scattered throughout in case you just can't wait to get home to eat your purchases. Variety abounds with fresh fish, meats, veggies, salads and flowers to take home, plus fully cooked foods from every corner of the earth -- everything from specialty cheesecakes to chitlins. Open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 7pm.

Walk back to Auburn Avenue on Butler Street and turn left. To your right, at 220 Auburn Ave., is:

13. The Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

This church was originally built in the 1890s, destroyed by fire, and then rebuilt in 1924. In the 1920s, John Wesley Dobbs called the Bethel "a towering edifice to black freedom."

Farther along, at 186 Auburn Ave., is:

14. The Royal Peacock Club

This music club's walls are painted from floor to ceiling with peacocks. Closed for years, it presented top black entertainers such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Dizzy Gillespie in its heyday.

At 135 Auburn Ave., the corner of Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street, is:

15. The APEX (African-American Panoramic Experience) Museum

This museum features exhibits on the history of Sweet Auburn and the African-American experience, including a children's gallery with interactive displays. You can call tel. 404/521-2739 to see if there's anything special happening at the museum while you're in town.

Cross the street to:

16. Herndon Plaza

Here, you can see exhibits on the high-powered Herndon family, including patriarch Alonzo Herndon, a former slave who started the Atlanta Life Insurance Company.

If you'd like to do further research on the history of Auburn Avenue -- or on any aspect of African-American history and culture -- continue on to 101 Auburn Ave.:

17. The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History

This is the place to go for answers about African-American history. Operated by the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System, the library's collection includes literature, documents, rare records, and more. A Heritage Center on the premises features special exhibits, workshops, seminars, lectures, and events. Open Monday to Thursday 10am to 8pm, and Friday to Sunday noon to 6pm.

For more on what to see and do in Atlanta, visit our complete guide online at www.frommers.com/destinations/atlanta .

Frommer’s is America’s bestselling travel guide series. Visit Frommers.com to find great deals, get information on over 3,500 destinations, and book your trip. © 2006 Wiley Publishing, Inc. Republication or redistribution of Frommer's content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Wiley.

Sweet Auburn Walking Tour

• Tour Attractions

Historic African American neighborhood and birthplace of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., Sweet Auburn is a fabulous and historically rich destination for educational student groups of all ages.

The area was first developed in the mid-late 19th century and was first occupied by Union soldiers under the name Shermantown. Later, it grew because of its close proximity to the burgeoning railroad industry. The district of Sweet Auburn knew rough times, especially in the decades after the Civil War and those leading up to the peak of the Civil Rights movement. Through all of its pain, sorrow, and tribulations, the spirit of Sweet Auburn and its residents has lived on.

Written by Angie Velasquez

View all posts by: Angie Velasquez

Are you looking for an affordable, customized group trip?

*Privacy Policy