Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial adventure.
A larger-than-life granite statue depicts a larger-than-life man. His gaze fixates on some distant, hopeful goal. This is the memorial to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This statue is near the National Mall and the Tidal Basin in Washington DC.
A trail of granite blocks behind the statue has quotes from King's famous speeches. On the statue, it says, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." That's why the designers chose stone to honor the rock and foundation of the Civil Rights Movement. These ideals are ones espoused by King during his "I Have a Dream" speech. He extolled this speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, mere blocks from King's memorial.
The Stone of Hope shows that even amid unspeakable tragedy and turmoil, hope wins. Ranger programs talk about King's life and legacy. They offer occasional guided tours of these white stone monoliths.
You come out of the King Memorial better than when you left. That's what the civil rights leader would have wanted. He helped make a better world for millions of people. This memorial encourages you to do the same.
This memorial sits near several similar sites near the Tidal Basin and National Mall. Take a look at monuments to well-known presidents and key figures in the nation's history. Campsites in and around Washington D.C. give you a temporary headquarters for your trip. Hipcamp can help you find them.