The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial in Washington will honor Dr. King’s national and international contribution and vision for all to enjoy a life of freedom, opportunity, and justice.

Congress passed a joint resolution in 1996 authorizing the construction of the memorial and a foundation was created to “Build the Dream,” raising the estimated $12 million required for the project. One of the most prestigious sites remaining on the National Mall was selected for the memorial for The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., adjacent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, which is between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.

It will be the first major memorial along the National Mall to be dedicated to an African-American, and to a non-president.