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Friday, January 31, 2014

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, with Beacon Hill on the horizon, in July 2013


Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, with Downtown Seattle in the distance, in July 2013

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, with Mt Baker Ridge above, in July 2013

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park is located at 2200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S, covering 4.3 acres on the west slope of Mt Baker Ridge, in the Mt Baker neighborhood.  The memorial sculpture/fountain & surrounding pool sits in the Rainier Valley.  It represents a mountain, which was inspired by the civil rights leader's last speech, delivered in Memphis on April 3, 1968: I've Been to the Mountaintop

Robert Kelly designed the sculpture and fountain.  It was dedicated on November 16, 1991.  The land behind the memorial is terraced to form an amphitheater.  Protests, demonstrations & rallies are staged at the memorial.  But it appears to be seldom used or visited.  It is clearly visible to traffic on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S.  The landscaping here in uninspired & the views are unspectacular.

Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Seattle once from November 8 to November 10, 1961.  He spoke at the University of Washington, Temple de Hirsch, Garfield High School & the Eagles Auditorium.  In his lectures, the civil rights leader stressed creative protest to break down racial segregation & discrimination, & called on President John F. Kennedy to use the executive order to declare all segregation unconstitutional.

 

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