OCR Text |
Show H4 TRAVEL [he Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, November 23, 2003 Martin Luther King’s home now opento tourists sy PHILLIP RAWLS The Aswcutted Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. The home where Martin Luther King changed from Montgomerypastor to national civil rights leader has been restored to its 1950s appearance, providing another tourist site in a city that describes itself as the “Birthplaceof the Civil Rights Movement.” The white woodframe house near downtown was the parsonage for Dexter Avenue Baptist Church for nearly 80 years, but King was its most famous resident, rising to national prominenceafter black seamstress Rosa Parks was arrested for The home where Martin Luther King changed from Montgomery pastor to national civil rights leader has been restored to its 1950s appearance. The one-story, white house near downtown was the parsonage for Dexter Avenue Baptist Church for nearly 80 years, refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Her arrest launched a yearlong boycott of Montgomery’s bus system, led by the young King and his soaring oratory, that resulted in a court ruling integrating Montgomery's segregated buses. After the parsonage sat emptyfor nearlya decade in the 1990s, church members decided torestore the wayit looked when King livedthere, including much of the furniture that was in thepar- sonage when he called it home from September 1954 to February1960. Members talked with King’s widow, Coretta, to make surethey got it right. With its celery-colored walls, chenille bedspreads, portable record player, and metal kitchen table, it matches the period perfectly “We wanted to provide for Dr. King as a husband, minister and father because wefeel likethat is a piece of history that needs to be put in place,” said Thomas McPherson, vice president of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Foundation. The home, newly opened to the public on Nov. 17, offers tours Monday through Saturday, complementing the tours that arealreadyoffereda few blocks awayat the church King served, now called the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. King was still new to Montgomery when Parks was arrested on Dec. 1, 1955. The current Dexter Avenue minister, the Rev. Michael Thurman, said King hadn't developed any enemies orany debts in Montgomery, which madehimanatural to lead the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organizers of the bus boycott. As a protest against segregated buses andpoli- cies that requiredblacks to goto the rear of the bus or give whites their seats, thousands of blacks refused to ride the buses, walking or car-pooling instead, Largely empty buses traveled Montgomery’s streets until the U.S. Supreme Court struck down but King wasits most famous resident. Puoros sy Dave Martin/TheAssociated Press Montgomery’s segregated bus laws on Nov. 13, 1956. “He was just the pastor until that happened. That is what put him in the limelight,” said Vera Harris, a neighbor of King’s who continues tore- side three doors down from the parsonage. She remembers King as a quiet man. ‘“The only time he spoke loudly was in his sermons,” shesaid. Leading the bus boycott put King’s life at risk. On Jan. 31, 1956, a bomb explodedonthefront porch of the home, knocking out two front windows. His wife and daughter, inside the house, were uninjured. King was leading a mass meeting at First Baptist Church several blocks away when the bomb went off. Avis Dunbar, tourism manager for the King home, was a 5-year-old girl living a coupleof blocks away, and shestill remembersthe night vividly. “Tl felt the ground shaking,” she said. Tiils.Anica\ i quickly settled down the crowd and sent everyone home, further establishing his reputation for nonviolence. The night left Dunbar with a fear that lingered throughout her child- hood. But there were also fond memories of King as pastor and neighborthat she wants to convey through tours at the house. “We want to talk about Rev. King as a pastor and how helived his domestic life. Everybody in the neighborhood knew him. He was a nice man,” she said. Restoring the house \ \ an important part of Alabama’s $6.8 billion travel industry. In a few years, Montgomery will add museums recognizing the Freedom Riders, who integrated interstate buses before being beaten in Montgomery in 1961, and the Selma-to-Montgomery March, which led to passage of the 1965 Voting Rights | Act that opened Southern voting booths to blacks. “Tt creates a compelling destination not just King rushed home. A huge crowd quickly gath- ered, some intent on getting revenge. But King for A sculpture in the walking garden at the King memorial recalls some of the values he espoused. His birthday — Jan. 15 — is a national holiday, and his “I have a dream” speech, delivered during the and opening it to the public cost $450,000, with money coming from federal, state and local funds, and donations from church members and the community. Now, with tour buses already scheduled the first week the house opens,Harris is excited about whatis about to happen on herstreet. “After Rev. King passed, I thought that was the end of it. I didn’t think they’d ever produce anything on Jackson Street,” she said. \ African-Americans, but for all people inter“4 ested in American his| tory,” Sentell said. King, who won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. 1963 March on Washingtonforcivil rights, is one of the most famousorations in modern U.S.history.It . is studied by school children nationwide and replayed on tape so often that King’s distinctively deep and quavering tones and his sonorous,passionate delivery are instantly recognizable to most Americans — even those too young to have heard . the original. The King homejoins a growing list of black heritage attractions in Montgomery, including the Rosa Parks Museum and the Civil Rights Memorial, which honors people slain during the civil rights movement. If you go Location: 315 S. Jackson St., Montgomery,Ala. Getting there: Take Union Street exit off Interstate 85, From Alabama’s tourism agency once sought tourists by billing the state capital as “The Cradle of the Union Street, turn right on High Street and left on South Jackson Confederacy,” where Jefferson Davis took the oath Street. as presidentof the Confederate States. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, But the agencyrealized the potential ofa different lure 20 years ago when,duringthe last administration of King’s old nemesis, Gov. George C. Wallace, it put out a brochure to promote Alabama’s civil rights history. Since then, nearly 1 million have been distributed. Lee Sentell, state tourism director, said black heritage and civil rights attractions are becoming ° @The four-diamond Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, set on 25 acres bordering the Sierra Nevada National Forest, has a Ski Yosemite package, valid Jan. 11 through March 25. It includes two all-day lift tickets to Yosemite’s Badger Pass Ski Area, Rates start at $159 per night. The Weekend Snowshoe package is $149 per night. Information and reservations: 1-877-322-5492; jAMERICAS TRAVEL ero Uno to Latin America! 5 5 IGRRAGUA NAMA US HOMME GUADALAJARA $334 Restrictions apply OAXACA Taxes not included, Subject Kae $555 to availab 888-703-9955 (oiirat ca eRe www.americastravel.net Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites hotel worldwide. Numerous airlines are participating. Register before travel at www.priorityclub.com/ double. heaps ae ue loo mut ‘ Discounted rates on_ selected properties in Park City and Deer Valley (4 night minimum) to give your Thanksgiving festivities that Blooming Touch. We dothe work; you simply enjoy a stress-free time full of thankfulness and joy. Escape for the Holidays! Call 1-800-635-4719 rome ay LDS CRUISES® ‘ a SG)iese“Uy www. eT E tL 1/17/04 “W. Caribbean” ~ Dr. Steve Lamb, Mary Ellen Edmunds..........0......0.0..ccccc0$434 3/13/04 “Book of Mormon” ~ W.Caribbean — Dr. JOWM LUNG... ec csssseecsssseecenn$559 4/18/04 12-Day Panama Canal “Education Days at Sea” Puerto Rico-Acapulco Michael Ballam, Dr. John Lund, Kieth Merrill, James Onell Miner.............. $1399 §/22/04 “Michael Ballam Serenades Alaska” - Michael Ballam & Connie Sokol.......$699 6/5/04 “Book of Mormon” ~ W.Caribbean — Brent & Wendy TOp...............0.cecsceo0s $699 6/18/04 “14-Day Russian/Baltic Capitals” - Dr. John Lund & Roy Christensen.......$1899 7/11/04 “Alaska Family Get-Away” - Dean Hughes, Steve & Claudia Goodman...... $899 7/25/04 “Book of Mormon” - W.Car, - Dr. John Lund & S. Dee Barrett-non smoking ship.....$749 8/1/04 “Family Retreat” -£. Caribbean - Dr. John Lund, Jericho Road & Cherie Call.......$719 9/1/04 “12-Day Mediterranean” -Venice,Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona~ Michael Ballam...$1975 10/10/04 “Book of Mormon”U.E.A. Week - W. Caribbean - John Bytheway, Dr. John Lund......$399 10/24/04 “Book of Mormonin Living Color” —W. Carribbean.........c:ccsssssssssssssssessesussstessssesnsesess $399 11/7/04 “Women’s Retreat at Sea” ~ Mex. Riviera- Barbara B. Jones & Dr. John Lund. $539 11/21/04 “Thanksgiving with Marvin Goldstein & Ruins” — W.Caribbean.................$549 12/5/04 “Loving and Being Loved” £. Carribbean -Dr. John Lund............ iseeed$399 12/12/04 “Book of Mormon” - W. Car — Rand Packer & Dr. John Lund................0«$399 -$1650 1/6/05 “12 Day Australia/New Zealand” — Dr. John Lund & Roy Christensen ‘ 1/30/05 “Parenting - Solutions for Families” — W. Car. Paula Fellingham. 2/13/05 “Valentine Martlage Retreat” — W. Car. Gary & Joy Lundberg.....................‘$449 2/26/05 “Women - A Personal Journey” - W.Car. Vickey Pahnke, Mary Ellen Edmunds...$449 (801).453-9444 a Diane@CruiseLady.com 1-888-707-4386 Oeics CLA]era OURS oe adc) 10277 S. 1300 E. Sandy Ona. 52. ON LAST 766- 2775 1-800-255-3230 ,, oo MEXICO’S COPPER CANYON March 21-29, 2004 5 Star Luxury LDS Tours With Elder Hartman RectorJr. }HYDE’S ENCORE TourRS & TRAVEL 2122 West 5400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84118 (800) 748-4242 or SLC (801) 966-4242 www.hydetour.com or email: info@hydetour.com Sponsored by the U. Of U. Emeriti includes: t/ airfare trom Salt Lake City, 1st class & superior tourist hotels 1st class rail - Copper Canyon, 21 meals, top guides, exciting sights from $1,616 p.p. api Escorted by Barbara West - Emeriti SPRING BREAK ON BROADWAY-7 NIGHTS March 14-21, 2 from $1,826.00 p.p. quadsair Sponsored by the U. of U-Kingsbury Hall Includes 7 nights at the deluxe Marriott Marquis Hotel-Time Square, 6 top Broadway plays, "Gypsy", “Hairspray”, “The Boy From 0Z", “The Lion King”, “Six Dance Lessons”, erin Out” and BYU trained archeologist Shelby Saberon * Book of MormonTour Feb. 5, 2004 (substitutions accepted), sightseeing, welcome dinner, Sunday brunch, + mush more. Escorted by © Yellowstone 3/4-6 * Costa Rica (April 04) * Church History Tour * Hol. Michigan Tulip Fest. 5/2-8 * London Theatre (Oct. 04) (801) 485-3110 Includes r/\ airfare trom SLC to Palm Spring, (non-stop), 3 nights at the Spa Hotel & Casino, 1/2 day tour of Valley, Celebrity homes, date farm with lunch, welcome dinner, 1/2 day tour to Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, “Platinum” seats to the Palm Spring Follies, Desert Museum entrance and more. Escorted by Bob Guymon. Try one of our tours to see whyourclients give us an ENCORE. * Tuacahn/Shakespearean 5-Tours ¢ Christmas Branson 1-Tour (12 Shows, 5 Dinners, 5 Breakfast) * Rose Parade (Fly Or Drive) * Christmas Light Tour (12/5-6) on www.thomas travel.com Toll Free 1-866-LIAHONA See our website forall of our 2004 tours Steamboating-Jan. ‘04, More than 50%off Hawaii-May ‘0: , scandinavian/Russia Aug. ‘04 CALL FOR DETAILS May 11, 2004 THE PALM SPRING FOLLIES, CA only 4 spots tett February 3-6, 2004 $748 p.p.avi SAAN COUnSE 7 NIGHTS agneren STAR” ee Starting at $1990 le Bob Guymon $1,570" p.p. opi Ports: Honolulu, Hilo, ada island, Maui, Kauai Prise includes: r/ airfare from Salt Lake city, airport transfers, port charges, government fees, ; liahonatours. com a Grand Circle Istand tour on Oahu with lunch, inside cabin. *Air Fare Subject to change Peper eeeteeeferere Check these lodging deals for year-end and early 2004 travel. @ Enjoy an American Indianthemed vacation at New Mexico's Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Built on a 500-acre American Indian reservation, the resort is within a half-houroffive Indian pueblos. A $179-per-night rate (minimum two nights) includes two-for-one dinners, casino cash for playat the Santa Ana Star Casino and free Tamayacultural activities. Contact: 1-800-554-9288; http:// www.tamaya. hyatt.com. @San Francisco’s new La Quinta Inn & Suites-San Francisco Downtown offers rates from $89 a night, including breakfast. The 168-room historic hotel recently underwent extensive renovation. It’s near the Civic Center area and is minutes from the California Street Cable Car line, which puts visitorattractions in easy reach. Contact: 800-531-5900; http://www.lq com. @San Francisco's boutiquestyle Hotel Palomar is offering working women a Stay in Touch package Sunday through Thursday from $219 per night. The package includes $25 phone credit, a spa basket, glass of wine, breakfast and free DSL service. The hotel is at 12 Fourth St., steps from the Mosconeconvention center and the theater district. Contact: 1-877-294-9711; http://www.hotelpalomar. com. @The Crowne Plaza Resort Orlando has a Bed & Breakfast package through Dec. 23 thatincludes lodging for up to four people, daily breakfast for two, a family photo and transportation to Universal Studios, Sea World and Wet ‘n Wild. The rate is $89 per night. Contact: 1-800-227-6963; http://www.crowneplaza. com. Contact: 334-261-3270 or http://www.dakmf.org. eoeT 3y ‘l'omM PARSONS Knight Ridder News Service @ ThroughDec. 12 earn double frequent-flier miles beginning with your second qualifying stay at any InterContinental, History: Built around 1912; purchased by Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in 1919 for use as parsonage;King's residence from September 1954 to February 1960. olpelg 2 The hottest deals for winter travel http://www.tenayalodge. om. Cost: $3 adults; $2 children under12. felteat el ol po cot eat cal ol te oeeirot eal cotol eal ee j ¢ |