This time each year, the nation honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. as it has since the first nationwide observance in 1986. This February, travelers can retrace his footsteps during a 3-day tour through Washington D.C. hosted by his family.
Washington, D.C., affectionately known as Chocolate City, holds within its fabric a deep connection to the Black community, which once accounted for 70% of the city’s population. While the look of D.C. continues to evolve, both in its landscape and the people that call it home, iconic staples like U-Street, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and the ever-alive spirit of ‘go-go’ music serve as reminders of an undeniably strong, culturally-rich Black population. As the epicenter of American politics, the nation’s capital has been integral in the mission toward progress for minorities, a fact Dr. King understood so many years ago.
“Continuing the Dream,” a multi-day immersive tour, will take place from Feb. 17-20. Members of the King family will lead the event, including oldest son Martin Luther King III, MLK III’s wife Andrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King, the sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
“We invite you to spend the weekend traversing the landmarks that memorialize MLK’s vision, through a unique, three-day, Washington D.C. tour, hosted by MLK’s legacy, his son, Martin Luther King III, his wife Andrea, and their daughter Yolanda,” according to the trip’s description. The event credits the spirit of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech as one that is “sewn into the foundational fabric of D.C.’s institutions, art, memorials, and monuments, embodying the very ethos of Dr. King’s… speech.”
A Lasting Impact: Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech
More than 250,000 people gathered at the nation’s capital on August 28, 1963, to participate in Dr. King’s “March on Washington, for Jobs and Freedom.” The historic event took place at The National Mall in Washington D.C. and is known as the largest human rights demonstration in U.S. history. As such, Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is widely considered one of the most famous speeches given in American history.
Now, 60 years later, the King family is celebrating his contributions to and sacrifice for the civil rights movement, and humanity at large, in time for Black History Month.
Continuing The Dream Tour
A visit to the MLK Memorial and a walking tour of the National Mall kicks off the weekend before embarking on a Black history tour of the Capitol building grounds. Participants will conclude the evening with a dinner and welcome reception with King’s family.
Additional stops along the tour include several historic and cultural institutions celebrating Black American history. The MLK Library, the National Cathedral (with a discussion on Dr. King’s final sermon), and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture are landmark destinations on the itinerary. The trip also includes several walking tours like a Georgetown African American walking tour and a tour of D.C.-based HBCU Howard University.
A cocktail party at the legendary lounge Park at 14th and optional late night events serve as the evening entertainment over the weekend.
On the final night, guests will have the opportunity to sit down to a farewell dinner hosted by the King family.
Continuing the Dream offers the Salamander Hotel and Hilton Washington DC National Mall as accommodation options. Pricing for a spot on the tour starts at $1,899 per person (double occupancy) room and varies depending on the chosen hotel.
Related: Martin Luther King, Jr. Traveled About 6 Million Miles Between 1957 And 1968