Chinese artist Lei Yixin and his team carved the enormous sculpture from 159 blocks of granite, including Atlantic Green granite, Kenoran Sage granite, and granite from Asia. The sculpture appears to emerge from ragged stone. ROMA Design Group, the San Francisco architecture firm that designed the project, drew inspiration from words that Dr. King delivered in 1963 as he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial: "With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope." (Read the complete speech: I Have a Dream)
More than a decade went into constructing the memorial project. Ed Jackson Jr., the executive architect for the Memorial, worked with Lei Yixin to develop sculpture that would convey wisdom and strength without appearing aggressive or confrontational. The slow process required many revisions.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial opened to the public on August 22, 2011.
Features of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
- A 30-foot sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- A 450-foot long crescent-shaped wall inscribed with excerpts from King's speeches
- A walkway lined with smaller monuments to persons who lost their lives in the quest for civil rights.
Controversy at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
One of the quotes on the enormous Memorial statue has been shortened. The architect defends his decision to approve the amended quote, but critics say that the revised verbiage creates a false impression of the slain civil rights leader. Learn more:Learn More About the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC
- Pictures of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
- Visitor's Guide to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
News About the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial
- Maya Angelou Protests Memorial Wording (Washington Post)
- Architect Requests More Changes to King Statue (Washington Post)
- Ed Jackson Jr. stands firm to make King Memorial dream a reality (Seattle Times)
