Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s home in Montgomery, Alabama, holds significant historical importance due to its association with the early years of the civil rights movement. The house is located at 309 South Jackson Street and served as Dr. King’s residence while he was the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Early History and Residency
Dr. King moved to Montgomery in 1954 after being called to serve as the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. He and his wife, Coretta Scott King, along with their infant daughter, Yolanda, moved into the parsonage provided by the church. The parsonage, a modest but comfortable house, became their home from 1954 to 1960.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
The home became a crucial center of activity during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which began on December 5, 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus. The boycott was organized by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), with Dr. King as its president. The boycott lasted for 381 days and ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
During this period, the King residence was a meeting place for civil rights leaders and activists. The house was also the site of significant personal danger for the King family. On January 30, 1956, a bomb was thrown onto the front porch of the house, causing extensive damage. Fortunately, no one was injured, as Coretta King and their daughter were in the back of the house at the time. The bombing only strengthened Dr. King's resolve and the determination of the civil rights activists.
Legacy and Preservation
After Dr. King left Montgomery in 1960 to continue his work in Atlanta, the house remained an important historical site. Recognizing its significance, efforts were made to preserve the home as a monument to Dr. King's leadership and the civil rights movement.
Today, the home is part of the Dexter Parsonage Museum. The museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Dr. King and the broader civil rights movement. It offers visitors a chance to see the house as it was during the King family's residency, with period furnishings and personal items that belonged to the King family. The museum also includes exhibits that provide context about Dr. King's work in Montgomery and the impact of the bus boycott.
The Dexter Parsonage Museum serves as a place of reflection and education, allowing visitors to learn about the challenges and triumphs of the civil rights movement. It stands as a testament to Dr. King's enduring legacy and the importance of the struggle for justice and equality in American history. The preservation of Dr. King's home in Montgomery ensures that future generations can understand and appreciate the significant role this modest house played in the larger story of the civil rights movement.