Judy Forte, superintendent of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, holds a copy of a book by Coretta Scott King. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the historic district.
Emil Moffatt / WABE
The year before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, his wife, Coretta Scott King, began efforts to preserve the Atlanta home where the civil rights leader was born.
“Dr. King did not want any kind of legacy,” said Judy Forte, who is now park superintendent for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. “But Mrs. King, in her own vision, saw value in the works that he was doing.”
The home, Forte says, became the cornerstone for the historic district, which celebrated its 40th anniversary Saturday.
“On behalf of all the staff who have the chance to meet and greet the thousands of visitors who come here every year, we are grateful for her vision, and we are honored to be a part of her service to the American public,” Forte said at an outdoor ceremony commemorating the day.
The National Park Service is honoring the anniversary with a new exhibit dedicated to Coretta Scott King.
Staff members are putting the finishing touches on the outdoor portion. The indoor portion will make its debut when the visitors center reopens to the public. It has been closed because of the pandemic.
Barbara Harrison, from left, of the King Center; Naomi King, sister-in-law of Martin Luther King Jr.; park superintendent Judy Forte, and Park Ranger Rebecca Karcher help cut the ribbon to a new exhibit honoring Coretta Scott King. (Emil Moffatt/WABE)
“She must be smiling about this day, to see the impact, the experiences that people are able to have,” said Barbara Harrison with the King Center, which is part of the historic district. “You preserve the buildings, but you preserve them so that stories can be told, so we can introduce you to the people that were here.”
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park received a Women in Parks Grant, through the National Park Foundation, to help in honoring Coretta Scott King.
Naomi King, sister-in-law of Martin Luther King Jr., attended the ceremony. She recalled, as an only child, how warmly she was welcomed into the family.
“He said ‘Naomi, I will be a brother to you like you never had,’” said King. “And Coretta said, ‘Naomi, I will be the sister like you have never had.’”
