After the temporary closure in August 2016 for repairs, the home where Martin Luther King Jr. spent twelve years as a child reopens to the public in January 2017. King was an American Baptist leader and an activist who was a Civil Rights Movement leader. His childhood home, which is located at 450 Auburn Ave. N.E., is one of the buildings in the historic site found in Atlanta, Georgia. It had to be closed for minor renovations as a result of the wear and tear from foot traffic, according to Judy Forte, superintendent of Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta.
King’s birth home, however, is only partly open as the restoration was limited to the first floor. The upper floor of the landmark still needs to undergo refurbishing due to structural damages, Forte adds. Moreover, 30-minute tours inside the house recommences after the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.
Vocabulary:
closure – the act or process of closing something; shutdown
activist – a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change
renovation – the restoration (something old, especially a building) into a good state
wear and tear – damage that naturally occurs as a result of normal wear or aging
foot traffic – term used to describe pedestrian visitors to a business or commercial site
refurbish – renovate
True or False:
- Martin Luther King Jr. was known for being the former president of the United States of America.
- The home of Martin Luther King Jr. is found in Atlanta, Georgia.
- King’s childhood home is now fully open to the public.
Defend your argument:
- Do you agree that it’s right to temporarily close Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home?
- Do you think there should be a limit to the number of people visiting King’s house?
- Do you agree with their decision of partly opening the landmark to visitors?
Express your opinion:
- What do you think are the best ways to preserve a landmark?
- What can you do to promote and at the same time maintain the good condition of historic sites?