King Birth Home Closed For Safety Assessment

ATLANTA, GA -- One of the most famous tourist spots in Midtown Atlanta has been shut down for a safety evaluation, Patch has learned.

The childhood home of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. closed Wednesday and is slated to open later this month, according to the National Park Service.

The home located at 501 Auburn Avenue in the Sweet Auburn historic district will open on March 27 "pending the outcome of a comprehensive condition assessment of the site’s structure," the park service said.

Read: The Forgotten Story of A.D. King, Martin Luther King's Brother

Among the things reported to be assessed is whether the home's second floor can be reopened.

Other buildings on the 35-acre Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site will remain open to visitors.

The residence, built in 1895 and often called the "King Birth Home" entered the King family in 1909 when his maternal grandparents bought it for $3,500.

Image via Jeff Clemmons / Creative Commons license