National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel

After we toured Graceland we headed over to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.  The museum at the Lorraine Motel opened in 1991 and tells of why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis.  On the balcony of the Lorraine Motel is where Dr. King was assasinated.  He stayed in Room 306 which is where the wreath is hanging.

On April 3, the night before his assassination he gave a speech at the Mason Temple Church.  He had been called to Memphis to support a sanitation worker's strike.  Just after six pm he was standing on the balcony when a sniper hit him.  You can read about it HERE.  MLK was only 39 years old. You could tour and see inside of room 306 and 307 the adjacent room and look outside on to the balcony.

 Inside the museum itself there was a bus from the sixties and a bronze statue of Rosa Parks.

 Sanitation workers protest.

This was a photograph of his suitcase packed up.  What I love about it is that there is his book, 'Strength to Love' tucked in the side.  It is one of my go-to books for inspiration. The museum is very nicely done and poignant and inspiring for what is happening today.