WASHINGTON, DC – On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, visit a national park and see his childhood home, trace his footsteps at a civil rights site, or stand where he gave his most famous speech.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and the National Mall and Memorial Parks are just a few of the National Park Service sites where you can pay tribute to the life and legacy of the great leader.
In honor of Dr. King, all national parks across the country will have free admission on Monday, January 16. It will be the first of 10 days in 2017 when national parks will waive entrance fees for everyone.
“On this holiday, we pause to reflect on a man who was an instrument for change, a leader in our country’s fight for equality and justice for all,” said acting National Park Service Director Mike Reynolds, “Often referred to as a ‘day on, not a day off,’ many national parks will offer special programs or host volunteer opportunities that recall his spirit.”
There are several national parks directly associated with Dr. King:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Georgia, the site of his birthplace, home, church, and grave
- The 45-mile long Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, where he led the 1965 Voting Rights March
- National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C., which include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, where he shared of his dream for America in one of the most famous speeches in American history.
Hear about African American struggles and triumphs connected to Bay Area national parks at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Help prepare wild indigo seeds for planting at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore or assist in pasture restoration at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Repair coastal dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore or remove invasive plants at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. Find more info and events at www.nps.gov.
Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2017:
- January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 20: Presidents’ Day
- April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
- August 25: National Park Service Birthday
- September 30: National Public Lands Day
- November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend
