National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site 540 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Historic Structure Report Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Division Southeast Region 540 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Historic Structure Report May 2017 Prepared by: WLA Studio SBC+H Architects Palmer Engineering Under the direction of National Park Service Southeast Regional Offi ce Cultural Resources, Partnerships, & Science Division The report presented here exists in two formats. A printed version is available for study at the park, the Southeastern Regional Offi ce of the National Park Service, and at a variety of other repositories. For more widespread access, this report also exists in a web-based format through ParkNet, the website of the National Park Service. Please visit www.nps. gov for more information. Cultural Resources, Partnerships, & Science Division Southeast Regional Offi ce National Park Service 100 Alabama Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404)507-5847 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site 450 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30312 www.nps.gov/malu About the cover: View of 540 Auburn Avenue, 2016. 540 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Historic Structure Report Approved By : Superintendent, Date Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Recommended By : Chief, Cultural Resource, Partnerships & Science Division Date Southeast Region Recommended By : Deputy Regional Director, Date Southeast Region Approved By : Regional Director, Date Southeast Region Page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................. xi Management Summary ....................................................................................................................................1 Project Team ........................................................................................................................................................1 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ......................................................................................................................................2 Historical Overview ......................................................................................................................................2 Statement of Significance ............................................................................................................................3 Project Methodology ...................................................................................................................................3 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................................................4 Administrative Data ............................................................................................................................................6 Locational Data ...........................................................................................................................................6 Related NPS Studies.....................................................................................................................................6 Real Property Information ............................................................................................................................7 Size Information ..........................................................................................................................................7 Cultural Resource Data ................................................................................................................................7 Proposed Treatment ....................................................................................................................................7 I.A Historical Background and Context ...................................................................................................9 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................9 Founding and Growth of Atlanta ................................................................................................................... 11 Reconstruction ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Race Riot of 1906 ............................................................................................................................................ 17 The Emerging Middle Class in Atlanta ........................................................................................................... 18 Decline of Sweet Auburn ................................................................................................................................ 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement ............................................................................... 22 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site ................................................................................................ 24 II.B Chronology of Development and Use .......................................................................................... 27 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Initial Construction .................................................................................................................................. 27 Jenkins Family Ownership ........................................................................................................................ 28 Krick Ownership ....................................................................................................................................... 30 NPS and Trust for Public Land Changes ..................................................................................................... 31 Timeline ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 I.C Physical Description .................................................................................................................................. 39 Auburn Avenue and the Old Fourth Ward .................................................................................................... 39 540 Auburn Avenue: The Site ........................................................................................................................ 39 National Park Service v 540 Auburn Avenue: The House .................................................................................................................... 40 Structural Systems ................................................................................................................................... 43 Utilities ..................................................................................................................................................... 45 Exterior Features ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Windows and Doors ................................................................................................................................. 47 Porches and Steps .................................................................................................................................... 48 Interior Features ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Basement 001 .......................................................................................................................................... 50 Crawlspace 002 ....................................................................................................................................... 51 Vestibule 101 ........................................................................................................................................... 52 Living Room 102 ...................................................................................................................................... 53 Hall 102A ................................................................................................................................................. 53 Kitchen 103 ............................................................................................................................................ 54 Bath 104 ................................................................................................................................................. 55 Bedroom 105 .......................................................................................................................................... 55 Room 106 ................................................................................................................................................ 56 Living