No Peach State hiatus would be complete without a visit to Atlanta’s wonderful Sweet Auburn District, a mile-and-a-half long historic neighborhood concentrated along Auburn Avenue, just east of bustling Downtown Atlanta-an area rich with the history, heritage and achievements of Atlanta’s prominent black citizens. Wander and explore the streets where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and raised and where many African Americans established flourishing businesses, congregations, and social organizations despite enforced restrictions of the day. The six-square block, traditionally black neighborhood housed Atlanta’s affluent and educated African American community from the turn of the century through the ‘60s; today, it is home to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site which includes a captivating visitor’s center allowing guests to explore MLK’s crucial role in the Civil Rights movement, the restored King Birth Home, burial sites of the beloved Dr. and his wife, the Ebenezer Baptist Church Museum, where he co-pastored with his father and the International Walk of Fame – an interactive memorial created from the bronzed footprints of influential Civil Rights activists. Hungry historians will be delighted to find an authentic taste of the old South at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market – one of Atlanta’s premier farmer’s markets since 1918, tendering health-conscious shoppers fresh produce, meats and dairy from local and organic farms as well as classic Southern delights from Sweet Auburn Barbecue. Annually, a vibrant neighborhood arts community hosts Springfest – the South’s largest African-American heritage festival – and the National Black Arts Festival which attracts nearly 500,000 people over the course of an exciting, three-day celebration.
Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Atlanta Tours
