Page 101 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

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t Martin Luther
King Memorial
Library
901 G St at 9th St, NW. Map 3 C3.
Tel (202) 727-0321. q Gallery Place–
Chinatown, Metro Center. Open
9:30am–9pm Mon–Thu, 9:30am–
5:30pm Fri & Sat, 1–5pm Sun. Closed
Federal hols. 7 ∑ dclibrary.org/mlk

Washington’s Martin Luther
King Memorial Library is the
only example of the Modernist
architecture of Ludwig Mies
van der Rohe in the city. A
prominent figure in 20th-
century design, van der Rohe
finalized his plans for the library The “Friendship Archway” spanning H Street in the heart of Chinatown
shortly before his death in 1969. y Chinatown
It was named in honor of Dr. marks the center of the
Martin Luther King Jr. when it 5th St to 8th St & H St to I St, Chinatown area. Built in 1986,
opened in 1972, replacing the NW. Map 3 C3 & 4 D3. q Gallery it was paid for by Washington’s
out dated Carnegie Library as Place-Chinatown. sister city, Beijing, as a token
the city’s central public library. of esteem, and is based on
Architecturally, the building The small area in Washington the architecture of the Qing
is a classic example of van der known as Chinatown covers Dynasty (1649–1911). Its seven
Rohe’s theory of “less is more.” just six square blocks. Formed roofs, topped by 300 painted
It is an austere, simple box shape around 1930, it has never been dragons, are balanced on a
with a recessed entrance lobby. very large and today houses steel and concrete base,
Inside, there is a mural depicting about 500 Chinese residents. making it the largest single-
the life of Dr. Martin Luther The area was reinvigorated span Chinese arch in the
King Jr., the leader of the Civil with the arrival of the adjacent world. It is lit up at night.
Rights Movement, painted by Verizon Center (see p104) in During the Chinese New
artist Don Miller. 1997. H Street is particularly Year celebrations in late
The library sponsors numerous lively, with many shops and a January or early Febuary,
concerts and readings, as well as selection of good restaurants. the area comes alive with a
children’s events, and is due to The “Friendship Archway,” a parade, dragon dances, and
undergo a 200-million dollar dramatic gateway over H Street live musical performances
restoration program. at the junction with 7th Street, (see p41).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
A charismatic speaker and proponent of Mahatma
Gandhi’s theories of non-violence, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. was a black Baptist minister and leader of
the civil rights movement in the United States.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929, King’s career in civil
rights began with the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama bus
boycott – a protest of the city’s segregated transit system.
The movement escalated to protests at schools, restaurants,
and hotels that did not admit black people. King’s methods
of non-violence were often met with police dogs and
brutal tactics.
The culmination of the movement was the March on
Washington on August 28, 1963, when 200,000 people
gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in support of civil
rights. The highlight of this event was King’s “I Have a
Dream” speech, calling for support for the movement.
A direct result was the passing by Congress of the
civil rights legislation in 1964, and King was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize the same year. In 1968 he was
assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, triggering riots
in 100 American cities, including Washington. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering a speech

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