Monday, January 20 • 8:00am-6:00pm
FREE ADMISSION for all

made possible by 
 

donate nonperishable food items & blood drive donations

On the national holiday Monday, January 20, the National Civil Rights Museum will remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most prolific humanitarians and leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement.  The focus of the celebration is community service and social justice in honor of Dr. King’s impact on the global society. Activities include daylong performances, family friendly activities and entertainment and the National Civil Rights Museum experience. In the spirit of service, the Museum will hold its annual drives for Mid-South Food Bank and Vitalant (formerly Lifeblood), and serve as a center for community resources and engagement. 

 

FREE ADMISSION OPTIONS

  • All guests receive free museum admission on King Day, thanks to FedEx. 
  • Guests who donate canned goods to King Day Food Drive also receive $2 off one future museum visit in 2020. Donations benefit Mid-South Food Bank to help feed families in the Mid-South.
  • Guests who donate to the blood drive benefitting Vitalant (formerly Lifeblood) receive free King Day admission for four people, express entry to the museum, PLUS museum guest passes for up to four people to visit any day in 2020.

 

SPONSORS

 

 

King Day HighlightS

  • A full day of activities including Main Stage performances, children’s activities,  trivia contest with prizes, and more.

  • Visitors can visit the museum from 8am–6pm. Included in the tour is the exhibit From the Vault 2020, a glimpse of recent acquisitions of art and artifacts in the museum's Collection.

Street Closures

There will be a few street closures allowing for pedestrian-only traffic around the Museum's campus.

  • Huling Avenue at South Main Street
  • Huling Avenue at St. Martin Street
  • Butler Avenue at South Main
  • Mulberry at G.E. Patterson

  • LIMITED ACCESS to St. Martin Street from Second Avenue to G.E. Patterson

PARKING

The Museum's visitor parking lot will be closed Thursday, January 16 - Monday, January 20, due to setup of the Pavilion for children's activities and community resources for the holiday.  On-street parking and public parking lots (some paid) are available off campus.  Nearby paid parking include:

  • Central Station, Curio Hotel lot for $10 per vehicle for the first 75 vehicles.
  • LAZ Parking located at 2nd Street and Lt. George W Lee Ave. LAZ garage will be available for $10 until 2pm before the Grizzlies basketball game at 4pm. Parking prices will increase to $20 per vehicle after 2pm.

 

Security check

Museum visitors should leave behind weapons, tools, self-defense items that might trigger an alarm during the metal detection and bag check process. Guests will be asked to return any prohibited items to their vehicles before entering the Museum.

Photography NOTICE

Visitors may be photographed or recorded by a museum-commissioned photographer or videographer. It is not always possible to notify those who photographed. Individuals or groups photographed do not receive any compensation or have review opportunity. Images may be used for Museum archival, educational or promotional purposes.

Annual Mid-South Food Bank Drive

Admission with Canned Good/Non-Perishable Food Donations

FoodBank_logoObserved as a day of service, the King Holiday at the Museum is a chance for visitors to give back to the community and receive discounted admission by making food donations to benefit Mid-South Food Bank. Visitors bringing canned goods or non-perishable items receive special admission on January 20 only.  

Non-perishable items include canned meats (tuna, stews, chili, Spam, soups), canned fruit and veggies, canned juices, and peanut butter. NO glass containers.

The Food Drive is just one way everyone can serve the community and take in important history while honoring Dr. King's legacy. One of Dr. King's last initiatives was the Poor People's Campaign, so giving to help those in need furthers this cause. Feed the need!

About Mid-South Food Bank

King Day Vitalant blood Drive

With blood donation, receive free admission for up to 4 people.

LifebloodLogo2014Give the gift of life during the King Holiday. Vitalant (formerly Lifeblood) mobiles will be onsite on the January 20 from 8:00am to 4:00pm to receive blood donations. Donors receive free admission with express line access on King Day for up to four people PLUS four guest passes for up to four people to visit the museum again any day in 2020. Donors must be present January 2o to receive additional passes. Also, donors who give blood the week of January 13-20 at Vitalant Centers receive an admission voucher.

About Vitalant

Thank you!

The Museum thanks the following in-kind sponsors and corporate volunteers without whom the King Day festivities would not be possible.

IN-KIND SPONSORS

Central BBQ
Palazola Produce Company
Krispy Kreme
McDonalds
Starbucks Coffee
Kroger
Big Momma & Granny's Catering

Corporation/Organization Volunteers

A-PLUS
AABE (MLGW)
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Apple
Aspire School District
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
Caesar's Heroes - Horseshoe
Cargill
Cummins, Inc.
FedEx
Georgia Pacific Cellulose
International Paper
LeBonheur Children's Hospital
MGM International-Goldstrike
Millington Navy Base
Muse Primary Care
Omega Psi Phi
ProTech
Smith & Nephew
Starbucks
United States Army Corps Of Engineers
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Valero
Veterans Affairs
Victory In Christ Church

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTS:

African Drums with Ekpe Abioto
Balloon Artists – Balloon Grammy and Ms. B-Loonie
Button Making – NCRM Volunteers
Craft Activity Workshop – Home Depot
Face Painting – Just As Beautiful
Girls Scouts Heart of the South
Girls Inc. of Memphis
Magician – Magic Mr. Nick
Making Chenille Stem Glasses – Southern College of Optometry
Making Protest Signs – NCRM Volunteers
MLK Commemorative Stamp Making – NCRM Volunteers
Painting for Peace Activity – Alivepaint, Make-and-Take 
Puppeteers – Les Passees Kids on the Block
Singer/Storyteller – Sue Schnitzer, the Singing Librarian from Memphis Public Library, Ben Hooks branch
Storyteller/Stamp Collector – Earnest Shinault Librarian from Memphis Public Library, Cornelia Crenshaw branch

FAMILY/COMMUNITY TENT ORGANIZATIONS:

AARP
Center for Transforming Communities, Inc
City of Memphis
Department of Safety & Homeland Security: REAL ID
Keepers of 306
Memphis Public Libraries: LINC211
Momentum Nonprofit Partners
Memphis Urban League Young Professionals
Shelby County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee
OUT Memphis
United States Census Bureau
Up the Vote 901

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.